Expectations were high for Oregon baseball in 2025 as it hosted a regional, boasting the power at the plate and experience necessary to make a potential run to Omaha for the College World Series.

But after winning 42 games in the regular season, the Ducks flamed out in the postseason with losses to Utah Valley and Cal Poly as their pitching staff struggled to contain two teams from outside the power conferences.

Now, Oregon enters the 2026 campaign with many of its biggest contributors at the plate having graduated, preseason ranked at No. 13 by Perfect Game but unranked according to D1Baseball.com and Baseball America.

“They’re very athletic, probably a little bit more athletic than the club that we had a year ago,” Ducks coach Mark Wasikowski said. “And so, we’ll play maybe a little bit of a different style of play. But overall, it seems like there’s depth in a lot of places.”

Among the leaders for the Ducks are junior infielder Maddox Molony — a Thurston product receiving plenty of attention from MLB scouts — and designated hitter Dominic Hellman.

That local connection for Molony, seeing his work pay off at the collegiate level on his way to a potential pro career, is set to be a key storyline for the Ducks this season. Molony hit .309 for Oregon last season including 15 home runs and 45 RBI, stealing 10 bases.

“I was a local kid and didn’t get recruited a whole lot, and came here and I thrived,” Molony said. “And I’m very fortunate for the opportunity, blessed to have the help of the coaches and everyone who’s been a part along the way with that journey. But as far as my concern now, I’m focused on this team, what we’re gonna do in college baseball. And ultimately, the only difference is that one of my dreams could come true at the end of this year.”

Another dream for the Ducks is that elusive trip to Omaha. The power of players like Hellman could help them get there, if everything falls into place.

“When opposing team comes to our ball field, you can for sure tell that we’re a very physical team, not only size wise, but also in the weight room, too,” Hellman said. “I’m feeling pretty good about my swing, especially being an experienced guy coming back. Been here for four years and not going through the motions anymore, and just know how to attack things. And the things that I want to refine are not only swinging mechanic things, but also mentally and how I can get to the mental side of the game.”

It is a big year for Oregon’s pitching staff, seeking to overcome the mental strain of last year’s postseason struggles. Wasikowski added to the group through the portal, bringing in Gonzaga lefty Miles Gosztola, San Diego right-hander Cal Scolari, and three right-handers from the junior college ranks.

Add Division II All-American Devin Bell to that mix from Western Oregon, and the Ducks seek to get the most out of a staff without much high-level experience but plenty of talent.

“The kids that are transferred in, yeah, there’s some good ones,” Wasikowski said. “There’s some good arms that have been successful in the past and are coming in to the program. Cal Scolari’s got a really big arm. I think he gets a lot of the hype that’s out there, and he deserves it. It’s a power arm, and he’s a big kid, and the pro scouts are excited about what they see in him. Miles Gosztola, he’s a loose, whippy, left-handed guy that, again, pro scouts are super excited to see him.”

Those losses in last year’s home regional still linger in the minds of those returning to Oregon, and they provide a source of motivation as the 2026 season begins at 3:05 p.m. Friday in Eugene with the first of a three-game series against George Mason.

“There’s a lot of fuel,” Molony said. “That was not how we wanted to go out. We had a very talented team. But I think the main thing we took away is that you’ve got to work, you’ve got to work together as a team. You’ve got to be a team. And I think this year we have a group guys that are a lot closer, and I think that’s what’s gonna separate us.”