The Oregon State baseball club has used the transfer portal to improve its pitching staff. In recent days, the Beavers have received pledges from three separate pitchers with Northwest ties, bringing an injection of seasoned arms to a staff that will lose numerous important players from last season’s club.
Shortly after right-hander Jack Hostetler announced that he will play his final college season for the Beavers, Oregon State coaches got verbal commitments from left-handers Max Fraser and Tanner Douglas.
Fraser, a 6-foot-1 rising sophomore, made 13 appearances with a 1-1 record and an 8.80 ERA, including five starts, in his freshman season at Washington. Fraser, a Camas native, struck out 14 batters while allowing 46 hits and seven walks in 30 2/3 innings for the Huskies. His best effort came on April 16 against the University of Portland, when he pitched five perfect innings to earn his sole college win. Fraser fired 40 of his 55 pitches for strikes during the strong performance.
Douglas, a 6-2 rising junior, started his career at Tacoma Community College before playing his sophomore season at Portland. In 23 appearances, the Pilots’ closer went 4-0 with 10 saves and a 3.32 ERA, while recording 40 strikeouts and allowing 29 hits in 38 innings. Douglas, who is from Medford, was named the Stopper of the Year midseason watch list in 2024 after leading the West Coast Conference in saves, and figures to be the leading contender to replace Bridger Holmes as the Oregon State closer next season.
Hostetler, a 6-3 right-hander from Encinitas, California, is joining the Beavers after playing three seasons at Whitman. He earned first-team all-Northwest Conference honors in 2024 after finishing 6-2 with a 4.54 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings.
The Beavers are poised to lose multiple key contributors from their pitching staff, including their top two weekend starters (Aiden May and Jacob Kmatz) and closer (Holmes) to the MLB Draft, opening numerous roles on next season’s staff
