Baseball America: 2021 Pac-12 Conference Preview (article)

By Joe Healy on February 4, 2021

Baseball America
2021 Pac-12 Conference Preview
February, 4, 2021

Going into last season, the Pac-12 had a clear favorite in Arizona State, a couple of other teams ranked in the Top 25 and then a lot of question marks beyond that.

That analysis turned out to have underrated UCLA, but it is a similar story entering 2021, with the Bruins now playing the role of favorite. There are once again a couple of other teams ranked in the preseason, and once again, there are a lot of questions about the rest of the league and how it will shake out.

Arizona could assert itself as a title challenger. The Wildcats have been accumulating talent at an impressive rate the last couple of years. Arizona State, which lost a ton of production on offense, but returns a talented pitching staff mostly intact, could also play that role. Or maybe Washington, a steady contender in the conference that seems to get the most out of its team more often than not, makes a jump.

Predicted Order of Finish (2020 record)

9. Oregon (8-7)

Coach Mark Wasikowski and his staff are currently in year two of a rebuild at Oregon that may not bear its sweetest fruit until a few years down the road, but the staff seemed to have hit on some things last season that bode well for success in 2021. One was the emergence of Kenyon Yovan as one of the best power bats in the Pac-12 after his value for the Ducks had come mostly on the mound prior to 2020. The fifth-year junior hit .429/.566/.714 last season and is back to hold the DH role. Also back in the lineup are fifth-year senior first baseman Gabe Matthews (.339/.500/.518), who is also a plus defender, and third-year sophomore Aaron Zavala (.418/.493/.491), who has good positional versatility and will likely find a home in right field. The Ducks will next look for a continued breakthrough from a guy like second-year freshman catcher Jack Scanlon (.293/.400/.488) or a star turn from second-year freshman center fielder Anthony Hall (.250/.346/.432).

For the Ducks to be more competitive in the Pac-12 this coming season, they will need fourth-year junior lefthander Robert Ahlstrom (2-1, 6.08) and fourth-year junior righthander Cullen Kafka (0-1, 4.91), who are slated to be the team’s Friday and Saturday starters, to be more consistent than they were early in 2020. With fourth-year junior righthander Hunter Breault (0.00, 9.2 IP), whose fastball sits in the mid 90s, and fourth-year junior lefthander Kolby Somers (0.00, 8 IP) back in the fold, the bullpen could be a strength.


Top 2021 Draft Prospects
Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
Kevin Abel, RHP, Oregon State
Noah Cardenas, C, UCLA
Sean Sullivan, RHP, California
Tyler Thornton, RHP, Arizona State
Nick Nastrini, RHP, UCLA
Jamal O’Guinn, 3B/OF, Southern California
JT Schwartz, 1B, UCLA
Ryan Holgate, OF, Arizona
Jacob Palisch, LHP, Stanford
Mac Bingham, OF, Arizona
Darren Baker, 2B, California
Justin Fall, LHP, Arizona State
Jesse Bergin, RHP, UCLA
Grant Holman, RHP, California
Jack Filby, INF/RHP, UCLA
Zach Pettway, RHP, UCLA
Braiden Ward, OF, Washington
Donta’ Williams, OF, Arizona
Chase Silseth, RHP, Arizona