Does a returning starter plus an electric left-hander plus a freshman phenom equal one of the college baseball’s best pitching staffs?
The answer for the Oregon State Beavers is, yes, according to D1Baseball.
The national college baseball website unveiled rankings of the nation’s top 150 starting pitchers and all three pieces of Oregon State’s presumed weekend rotation landed on the list, stretching from No. 47 to No. 145.
Who made the list? Scan below for details:
(See a breakdown of the Beavers’ infield rankings here and a breakdown of their outfield rankings here)
NELSON KELJO
After enjoying a late-season breakout in 2024, the hard-throwing left-hander seems poised to fill the most coveted role on Oregon State’s staff: Friday night starter. After an up-and-down first two seasons in Corvallis, Keljo dominated in four postseason appearances last year, tossing 11 scoreless innings, during which he allowed just two hits and recorded 15 strikeouts. It was a promising development for a player with Big League stuff. And expectations only grew in the offseason, when Keljo fared well at USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team training camp — and added a lethal changeup to a three-pitch arsenal that includes a 96.6 mph fastball. The 6-4, 228-pound junior is ranked No. 47 on D1Baseball’s list of the nation‘s top 150 pitchers.
DAX WHITNEY
Few freshman pitchers have arrived in Corvallis with more hype that Whitney, who was viewed as a potential first-round selection in the 2024 MLB draft. But Whitney made it to campus and team insiders think he will be a star. Heck, if Keljo weren’t around, Whitney might just be the Beavers’ Friday night starter. The 6-5 right-hander throws four pitches, including a 98 mph fastball and knee-buckling curveball, and coaches have raised about his poise and ability to process information. How dominant was Whitney in high school? He went 10-0 with a 0.27 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings during his senior year in Blackfoot, Idaho, tossing a perfect game and no-hitter along the way. Whitney is ranked No. 70 on D1Baseball’s list even though he hasn’t thrown a pitch in college.
ERIC SEGURA
Segura is no stranger to Beavers fans. The 6-2 right-hander went 6-1 in 15 starts as a freshman, finishing with 4.93 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings, to earn Pac-12 all-conference honorable mention honors. He struggled down the stretch, going 1-1 in his final eight appearances, so the Beavers’ likely will limit his pitch count early in the season to keep him fresh for the postseason. But now a year older, wiser and stronger, Segura should open the season as a Sunday starter and be a fixture in the rotation. He’s ranked No. 145 on D1Baseball’s list.
For more on the Beavers’ rotation, read this preseason sneak peak of the OSU pitching staff.
— Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | @freemanjoe.bsky.social | Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
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