SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Heading into the Pac-12 Tournament, nine Oregon players have been named to the All-Pac-12 Conference team including one first-team selection, while two Ducks were named to the league’s all-defensive team.
Freshman Maddox Molony was the lone Oregon player named to the all-conference first team while senior Bryce Boettcher and junior Jacob Walsh were each selected to the all-defensive team. Junior RJ Gordon, sophomore Grayson Grinsell, sophomore Chase Meggers, senior Logan Mercado, senior Bradley Mullan and sophomore Mason Neville were all named honorable mention all-league.
Molony (Springfield, Ore. / Thurston HS) is just the second Oregon freshman to earn first-team all-league recognition since the program was reinstated. He joins Kenyon Yovan who was a first-team pick as a relief pitcher following the 2017 season. The Ducks’ shortstop has set a program record for most home runs by a freshman (10) while leading the team in hitting with a .368 batting average. Molony, who missed the first nine games with an injury and did not become a regular starter until March 28, has 12 multiple-hit and nine multiple-RBI games in his 32 starts.
Boettcher (Eugene, Ore. / South Eugene HS) earned a spot on the Pac-12 Conference All-Defensive Team while also being named honorable mention all-league. The two-sportathlete leads Oregon in stolen bases (12), runs scored (42) and outfield assists (6) while batting .290 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and seven doubles. He heads into the Pac-12 Tournament with a .912 OPS.
Walsh (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Oasis HS) is Oregon’s leader in both home runs (17) and RBI (55), while batting .281 with 13 doubles and 37 runs scored. Already the program’s career home run leader with 39, the Ducks’ first baseman needs just one home run at the Pac-12 Tournament to tie the single-season home run record set last season by Sabin Ceballos. His 55 RBI ranks seventh all-time at Oregon and he needs 16 more to set a new program record.
Gordon (Santa Clarita, Calif. / West Ranch HS) served as Oregon’s Friday night starter all season and finished the regular season 7-4 with a 4.83 ERA. He allowed 46 runs (42 earned) on 69 hits while striking out 77 and walking 27. He held opposing batters to a .237 batting average while tying for the team lead with five quality starts.
Grinsell (Reno, Nev. / Reno HS), who was named to the all-tournament teams at the Pac-12 Tournament and the Nashville Regional last year, started the year in the bullpen before moving into the rotation as Oregon’s Saturday starter. He finished the regular season 6-2 with a 4.21 ERA while allowing 33 runs (32 earned) on 45 hits with 88 strikeouts and 38 walks. He led Oregon in strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .190 batting average. He leads the Pac-12 in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.93) while ranking 20th in the nation. He also is tied for fifth in the Pac-12 in WHIP (1.21).
Meggers (Rocklin, Calif. / Rocklin HS) finished the regular season batting .317 with four home runs, six doubles, 27 RBI and 30 runs scored. A versatile player, he made starts at catcher, left field, right field and designated hitter finishing with 31 total starts and a .408 on-base percentage.
Mercado (Pasco, Wash. / Tri-Cities Prep) heads into the Pac-12 Tournament with a 0-1 record and a 4.67 ERA with a team-best eight saves. He ranks second on the team in appearances with 24 and has fanned 41 batters in 24.2 innings pitched. The Ducks’ right-hander is third in the Pac-12 in saves, as well as 25th in the nation, and ranks 10th in the league in appearances.
Mullan (Chino Hills, Calif. / Damian HS) boasts a 4-0 record and a 1.25 ERA with four saves after the regular season. He has fanned 33 hitters in 36.0 innings pitched and is holding opposing hitters to a .185 batting average. The Ducks’ lefty leads Oregon in appearances (25) and ERA, while ranking second on the team in saves. He is tied for seventh in the Pac-12 in saves and is fourth in appearances.
Neville (Las Vegas, Nev. / Basic HS) finished the regular season batting .260 with 16 home runs, four doubles, two triples, 41 RBI and 33 runs scored. He slashed .260/.356/.715 and leads the Ducks with a 1.071 OPS. He has homered in 16 of 29 starts this season and has 13 homers in his last 22 starts. The Ducks’ outfielder is hitting a home run every 7.7 at-bats this season. A starter over the last 16 games, Neville is batting .323 with 10 home runs, 21 RBI, one double, one triple and 18 runs scored. During that stretch, he slugged a homer every 6.2 at-bats.
