Oregon Ducks Baseball Squad Gets Stability After Transfer Portal Losses

In just a matter of two days, the Oregon Ducks Baseball squad went from a collection of some of the most exciting young talents in the nation to a roster with losses that leave quite a few question marks.

However, despite the transfer portal departures of freshman outfielder Angel Laya and redshirt freshman infielder and right-handed pitcher Naulivou Lauaki Jr., it appears the Ducks will retain two of their most reliable pitchers from the 2026 season.

Sophomore right-handed pitchers Tanner Bradley and Will Sanford both replied to comments on Laya and Lauaki's exits from the Ducks with GIFs that indicated the two weren't leaving the program anytime soon.

Sanford, who was the first to comment out of the two Ducks athletes, replied to a comment saying, "Don't leave us too bro," with a GIF featuring a world championship tag athlete giving a thumbs up with the words "I got you" in the corner of the reaction video.

Bradley, Oregon's go-to closer during the 2026 season, replied to another comment made by saying "[Bradley] got us" an hour later. Bradley's reply GIF included the text "I'm coming back for you baby".

Though these social media comments shouldn't be considered official statements from the athletes, seeing both Ducks seemingly express loyalty to the program during the transfer portal period instead of abandoning ship does signify a bit of stability for coach Mark Wasikowski's future roster.

With the departure of Lauaki and Laya, Wasikowski will now need to pick up a few big hitters to join freshman star Brayden Jaksa in the lineup. Plus, there's still the chance junior second baseman Ryan Cooney and junior shortstop Maddox Molony could pursue dreams of going pro with the news of the two latest departures.

Both Cooney and Molony received invites to the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, happening June 23 through June 25. However, that does not mean the two athletes will declare for the draft as juniors.

On Monday, Sanford, Bradley, and Jaksa all got nods to join the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, competing with 53 players around the country for a spot on a 28-man roster. That's just one of many accolades showing these three are on a clear path to be the tentpoles for Oregon's squad moving forward.

Bradley led the Ducks in appearances, ERA, and batting average against during the 2026 season, going 5-1 with a 1.66 ERA.

On the other hand, Sanford took a second-place Big Ten ranking for his 126 strikeouts throughout the season. He also set a modern-era Oregon record for the 37 looking strikeouts in a single season.

With these reliable pitchers sticking around for the Ducks, fans can breathe a sigh of relief. But now the main task is to get the offense going, which is crucial for a team that could potentially be a dark horse in the 2026 college world series.

The team is expected to have some strong newcomers who may be able to help fill the void left by Laya and Lauaki. One thing is certain, with Tanner Bradley, Will Sanford, and Brayden Jaksa on board, the Ducks will definitely be a force to be reckoned with come March.

Fans, stay tuned for more updates on the Ducks this off-season.

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