Here is the 2022 Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball roster breakdown and schedule

STILLWATER — Each spring, the expectations are high at Oklahoma State. It’s no different this season.

The eighth-ranked Cowboys have Omaha aspirations behind a deep and talented roster.

“You want that kind of energy surrounding what you’re about to do,” OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday said. "Every year you go into a season with the ultimate optimistic view of what’s possible and then the real challenge is to go do the things every single day that make that a reality.

“Don’t get too caught up in talking about a bunch of stuff that’s at the end of the road. We just try to do what today allows us to do.”

OSU opens the season Friday at second-ranked Vanderbilt for a three-game weekend series. It’s a quick test on a schedule full of tough opponents.

But the Cowboys are built for a grueling schedule.

They return 13 players from last season’s run to an NCAA regional tournament. OSU also added six Division I transfers along with a deep recruiting class.

Here is a look at the Cowboys’ roster entering the season:

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Starting pitchers

Justin Campbell, RHP, Sophomore: The Cowboys’ big 6-foot-7 right-hander sits atop the rotation following a stellar second season that included a no-hitter and second-team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game. Campbell, who also appeared in 30 games as a hitter, is a consensus preseason All-American entering what is likely his last season with the Cowboys.

Victor Mederos, RHP, Sophomore: The Miami transfer was picked as the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and for good reason. He’s loaded with potential and a high-velocity fastball. Mederos made 12 appearances — including eight starts — as a freshman for the Hurricanes, going 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA. He was a three-time prep All-American and the MVP of the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game.

Bryce Osmond, RHP, Sophomore: A Jenks graduate, Osmond enters his third season in the rotation. Last season, he made 10 starts in 13 appearances and was third on the team with 67 strikeouts. A Perfect Game All-American in high school, Osmond has struggled in two seasons, going 3-6 with a 6.90 ERA. Control has been an issue but he has the talent to overwhelm opponents when on.

Others

Kale Davis, RHP, Sophomore: The Westmoore graduate led OSU with 26 relief appearances last season. He’ll get a chance to start but could also remain a valuable reliever.

Mitchell Stone, LHP, Junior: A former Deer Creek High star, the 6-foot-9 southpaw bounced between the bullpen and rotation last season, using his breaking ball to become a very valuable starter down the stretch after injuries struck others.

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Relief pitchers

Trevor Martin, RHP, Sophomore: The former Asher star showed no fear as a freshman out of the bullpen last season and this season he’s likely the first option to close games. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound flamethrower made 22 appearances and a pair of starts as an opener. He was 2-0 with 21 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings during Big 12 play.

Roman Phansalkar, RHP, Junior: Phansalkar, a former Heritage Hall star, is entering his third season since undergoing Tommy John Surgery and missing the 2019 season. And Holliday is glowing about Phansalkar entering the season. The Arizona transfer is in line to help close or set up games after a huge summer in the California Collegiate League and fall camp.

Others

Colton Bowman, LHP, Sophomore: The third-year pitcher made 18 appearances out of the bullpen last season with a 6.75 ERA.

Dillon Marsh, LHP, Junior: A Kentucky transfer, Marsh made 20 starts in 32 appearances, going 5-5 with a 5.77 ERA and 93 strikeouts as a sophomore. He’ll likely bounce between the rotation and bullpen.

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Catchers

Chase Adkison, Sophomore: Adkison began his career at Boise State but played last season at San Jacinto (Texas) College, hitting .296 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs in 62 games.

Ian Daugherty, Freshman: A three-sport athlete at Kingfisher, Daugherty has really impressed the Cowboys in a short period of time. He and Adkison are expected to split time, at least early in the season.

David Mendham, Junior: Holliday said in the preseason the Cowboys are comfortable with the new trio of catchers handling all of the innings. Mendham’s experience is a big factor. The South Carolina transfer made 52 starts and played in all 54 games for the SEC program last season after two seasons at Connors State.

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Infielders

Marcus Brown, Sophomore: The blossoming shortstop started nine of the final 10 games he played last season following the injury to Hueston Morrill. Brown had a huge summer, too. He was named the Appalachian League Player of the Year after he batted .407 and led Elizabethon in RBIs, runs and walks.

Griffin Doersching, Graduate Student: The 6-foot-4, 251-pound slugging first baseman spent four seasons at Northern Kentucky and now brings his big personality to the Cowboys. Last season, he set Northern Kentucky records with 20 homers and 50 walks, batting. 316 with 12 doubles and 48 RBIs. He also ranked top 10 nationally in walks, homers and slugging percentage.

Nolan McLean, Sophomore: A two-sport athlete for the Cowboys a year ago, McLean is now focusing only on baseball. The highly-regarded pro prospect battled a back injury last season, but still started 39 games at four positions and hit eight homers. He also pitched twice in relief. Now healthy and settled into third base full-time, he’s perhaps the most feared hitter in the OSU lineup.

Hueston Morrill, Junior: A mainstay in the lineup the past three seasons, the veteran will move to second base to open the season after starting 34 games at shortstop a year ago. As a true freshman, he started 56 games at second base. Last season was cut short due to an arm injury when he made his pitching debut against Bedlam rival OU. Morrill could also see more relief work this spring.

Roc Riggio, Freshman: The Cowboys’ top incoming freshman, Riggio underwent shoulder surgery in November. It’s unclear when he will debut. Riggio was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round last summer but did not sign. He’s also played for USA Baseball national teams since he was 14. He’s got a high skill level that Holliday believes will lead to an early impact once healthy. Riggio will primarily play second base but could also play in the outfield as needed.

Outfielders

Jaxson Crull, Sophomore: The former Bixby star played in limited action as a true freshman, but did start in seven of the 12 games he played. He collected six hits, walked four times and scored seven runs. Crull, who is likely coming off the bench, was also an Appalachian League All-Star over the summer.

Zach Ehrhard, Freshman: The freshman from Tampa, Florida, was drafted in the 13th round of the draft last summer by the Red Sox, but did not sign. The speedy right fielder won the 2021 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award — given to Hillsborough County, Florida’s top player or team who displays outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements.

Garrett Martin, Junior: The 6-foot-4, 216-pound junior-college transfer spent three seasons at McLennon (Texas) Community College, leading it to a national title last season. In 2021, he batted .355 with 20 homers and 69 RBIs.

Jake Thompson, Graduate student: Thompson was huge for the Cowboys last year, both at the plate and in the field. He started the year in left field but injuries forced him to take over at first base, where he remained a solid defender. At the plate, he led the Big 12 with a .393 conference batting average and reached base safely in the season’s final 17 games. Thompson is expected to primarily play left field.

Caeden Trenkle, Sophomore: Trenkle was a menace at the plate last season, reaching base 30 straight games at one point and recording multiple hits in 16 games. The center fielder has been an on-base machine in two seasons. He’s also a dynamic gap hitter and enters the year with eight career triples.

Utility

John Bay, Freshman: The three-sport star at Shattuck redshirted last spring. He’s expected to be a contributor in the lineup, primarily at designated hitter. He led the Appalachian League with 10 homers over the summer.

Lyle Miller-Green, Sophomore: The 6-foot-6, 229-pound transfer began his career at George Mason in the shortened 2020 season and played last season at Chipola (Florida) College, where he batted .326 with three homers, three doubles and 17 RBIs in 36 games. Holliday said Miller-Green also has impressive power at the plate. He can play outfield and infield, but is also expected to be a designated hitter alongside Bay.

Jacob Unruh covers college sports for The Oklahoman. You can send your story ideas to him at junruh@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

2022 OSU baseball schedule

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State baseball: Cowboys roster, schedule for 2022 season