The Oregon baseball season has finally arrived.
One of the beauties on this opening day is that I’m extra curious. This is because the faces out in the field are entirely different from a year ago. Sure there are returners, but none have the same role they did last season.
Shaun Chase, Oregon’s starting catcher who led the Pac-12 in home runs last year, was competing for a job a year ago. Mitchell Tolman, Oregon’s leading hitter and RBI man, is at a new position.
There’s plenty more to look forward to. Opening day, I’m glad you’re here.
As mentioned, a year ago the catcher position was a battle between returner Shaun Chase, Josh Graham and Jack Kruger. Oregon head coach George Horton was going to give everybody a look. It began as a catcher-a-day kind of season – everyone got an opportunity. Horton kept looking. Then Shaun Chase took off – or at least the ball did. Now a senior, Chase is the guy. And a guy that’ll look to produce.
On the mound, Oregon has their ace back: Cole Irvin. Elsewhere, the outlook is uncertain. Oregon lost its workhorse, Tommy Thorpe, to the draft. Matt Krook is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2015 season recovering from an injury that required Tommy John surgery.
Irvin is set to start Friday but will be limited by a 30-35 pitch count (he missed the entire 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery and is in the closing stage of his recovery). The Saturday starter will be freshman David Peterson.  Then it’s onto Trent Paddon, a guy who had a tough rookie campaign but showed glimpses of dominance. Rounding it all out is senior Jack Karraker. Last season, Karraker had one start and a near four ERA. So this is his shot.
The infield, yes, is different. Sure-fielder Aaron Payne is gone. A.J. Balta is hurt. Mitchell Tolman is switching positions. And Mark Karaviotis is the everyday shortstop. Karaviotis was second in-line a year ago. But now he’ll be starting opening day in his home-state. Tolman finally gets his chance to play second base – the position he was recruited for.
Matt Eureste, who transferred from San Jacinto Community College, is at third. Eureste has impressed the coaching staff defensively and in the box. Brandon Cuddy, a transfer from Seminole College, is expected to be a powerful bat at first. He, like starting designated hitter and fellow Seminole College transfer, Phil Craig-St. Louis, were compared to Mitchell Tolman and Shaun Chase by Horton on Monday.
The outfield seems out of sorts, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Horton plays around with it. Center field is expected to be a battle between Nick Catalano and Austin Grebeck. It hasn’t become one yet. Grebeck is under-preforming and Catalano just isn’t. Then again, the season hasn’t even started. Scott Heineman returns from a season shortened to just 35 at-bats in right field. But Heineman can play virtually anywhere – he can even pitch – and his bat will be sure he does. Senior, Steven Packard gets the call in left. He hit .290 last season.
The bullpen was one of the first things Horton told media about when previewing the 2015 season. Garrett Cleavinger is their closer. He’s earned it after locking up the 8th inning for Jake Reed and All-American Jimmie Sherfy the past two seasons. From there,  Cooper Stiles has dropped his arm angle down a level and Josh Graham expects to be used at the back-end of the bullpen, according to Horton. Yes, the catcher-to-pitcher switch may happen.
Oregon’s season is set to begin. Questions may persist but the outlook looks bright. Today is the day, opening day.
Curious yet?
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly