In our preview of the upcoming 2024 college baseball season, we have chosen the most outstanding player from each school currently in the Pac-12. Join us on a trip down memory lane as we commemorate the final season of the Pac-12 as we currently know it.
Terry Francona, Outfielder
Kenny Lofton, one of Arizona’s most notable alumni, had a more prominent basketball career and even made it to the Final Four during his college days. However, Francona, who played for the 1980 national champions, deserves recognition. He had an impressive batting average of .401, with 84 RBIs and 105 hits. Francona was awarded the prestigious Golden Spikes Award and was named the College World Series MOP. His achievements place him among the top 10 all-time hitters for the Wildcats in various categories, such as hits, doubles, RBIs, and total bases. After being drafted in the first round in 1980, Francona quickly made it to the majors within 15 months. Although his career was plagued by injuries, he managed to hit .274 and went on to have a successful managerial career, winning two World Series championships with the Red Sox and earning three Manager of the Year awards.
Bob Horner, Second Baseman
Despite fierce competition from players like Sal Bando, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, Oddibe McDowell, Floyd Bannister, and Eddie Bane, Horner stands out as the best player from Arizona State University. He led ASU to a national title in 1977 and helped the team reach Omaha in all three of his seasons. Horner still holds the school record for the most home runs with an impressive 56. Although Spencer Torkelson came close with 54 homers, the 2020 pandemic prevented him from surpassing Horner’s record. Horner had a remarkable batting average of .400 in his final two seasons and was selected as the first overall pick by the Braves in the 1978 draft. He went straight to the major leagues and had a successful 10-season career, hitting .277/.340/.499 and even achieving a four-homer game.
Xavier Nady, Second Baseman/Third Baseman
Nady, named the Freshman of the Year in 1998, holds the record for the most home runs in his school’s history with an impressive 57. His record was closely challenged by Andrew Vaughn, who was selected as the third overall pick in 2019 and hit 50 home runs. Nady also holds records for slugging percentage (.729) and RBIs (191). It is worth noting that Nady achieved these power numbers despite the NCAA’s implementation of heavier, lower-performing bats after the 1998 season. Nady went on to have a successful 12-year career in the majors, hitting 104 home runs and maintaining a batting average of .268/.323/.432 overall.
John Stearns, Catcher
Although Colorado’s baseball program was disbanded after the 1980 season, Stearns deserves recognition for his outstanding performance. He entered Colorado’s sports hall of fame in 2008 after excelling in both football and baseball for the Buffs. Stearns led the NCAA in home runs (with wood bats) in 1973, hitting .492 in Big Eight Conference play the following year. Throughout his career at Colorado, he maintained a batting average of .366 and hit 26 home runs. Stearns went on to have a successful 10-year career in the major leagues.
Dave Roberts, Third Baseman/Shortstop
The University of Oregon’s baseball program was dormant from 1981 to 2008, but since its rebirth, it has produced some notable players. Roberts, inducted into the Ducks’ athletic hall of fame, had an impressive freshman season with a batting average of .328 and five home runs. He continued to excel in his junior year, hitting .410 with 12 home runs, 25 walks, and only nine strikeouts in 144 at-bats. Roberts was selected as the first overall pick in the 1972 draft and made his major league debut that same year. He played in the majors for 10 seasons, hitting 21 home runs in 1973. However, back problems hindered his power for a significant portion of his career.
Adley Rutschman, Catcher
Rutschman, highly regarded as a kicker and catcher, played for three seasons and had an impressive batting average of .353/.473/.559. He hit 28 home runs and had more walks (156) than strikeouts (117). In 2017, Rutschman led the Beavers to a 56-6 record and went on to win the national championship in 2018. He was named College Player of the Year in 2019. Rutschman is considered one of the best catchers in MLB and holds the title of the best catcher in college baseball history.
Mark McGwire, Third Baseman/Right-Handed Pitcher
USC has produced numerous exceptional players, including Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Randy Johnson. However, McGwire stands out among them. In 1984, he set the Pac-10 record for the most home runs with 32, contributing to USC’s record of 54 homers. McGwire had an impressive batting average of .334/.449/.717 in three seasons. He also had a brief pitching career, going 7-5 with a 2.93 ERA in 83 innings. McGwire went on to hit 49 home runs and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1987. However, his career was marred by his admission of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Jack McDowell, Right-Handed Pitcher
Stanford has had the best conference record since 1999 and has made eight trips to Omaha during that time. McDowell was a key player on Stanford’s first national championship team in 1987. He ranks among the top 10 in wins (35, second), innings (372.2), and strikeouts (337) in Stanford’s history. Although Mike Mussina had a more successful MLB career, McDowell’s victory over Oklahoma State in the 1987 title game, along with his two-time All-American status and solid MLB career, sets him apart. McDowell was selected as the fifth overall pick in 1987, spent 12 seasons in the majors, and won 127 games, including two 20-win seasons.
Trevor Bauer, Right-Handed Pitcher
UCLA has produced a remarkable lineup of big league players, including Chris Chambliss, Troy Glaus, Chase Utley, Brandon Crawford, and Gerrit Cole. Bauer, however, stands out with his impressive record of 15 complete games, which ranks second in program history. He broke Tim Lincecum’s single-season Pac-12 strikeouts record with 203, earning him the College Player of the Year award in 2011. Bauer holds the record for the most wins (34) and strikeouts (460) in UCLA’s history. He and Cole were instrumental in helping the Bruins reach the College World Series finals in 2010. Bauer won a Cy Young Award in 2020 but also faced the longest suspension ever under MLB’s domestic violence policy.
C.J. Cron, Catcher/First Baseman
Cron’s career coincided with Division I’s offensive Dead Ball Era, which began in 2010. Despite this, he managed to hit a school-record 46 home runs and maintain a batting average of .396 over three seasons. Cron ranked in the top 25 nationally in home runs during his final two seasons and in the top 15 in batting average. In 2011, he led the country with an impressive slugging percentage of .803, making him Utah’s first all-Pac-12 choice in baseball after joining the conference.
Tim Lincecum, Right-Handed Pitcher
Lincecum made an impact from the moment he stepped foot on campus as a starting pitcher. After impressing in the Cape Cod League in 2005, he had a dominant 2006 season, leading the nation with 199 strikeouts and setting the Pac-12 career strikeout record with 491 in just three seasons. The Giants selected Lincecum as the 10th overall pick in 2006, and he went on to win back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009. Lincecum played a crucial role in helping the Giants win World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
John Olerud, First Baseman/Left-Handed Pitcher
Olerud holds the Pac-12 career records for batting average (.434) and slugging percentage (.824), which is particularly impressive considering the offensive explosion of the post-Covid years. His 1988 season, during which he became the first sophomore to be named College Player of the Year, is widely regarded as the best single season in college baseball history. Olerud hit an outstanding .464 with 52 walks, 23 home runs, and only 22 strikeouts. He also had an impressive pitching career, going 15-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 122.2 innings. Although a brain aneurysm affected his 1989 season, Olerud recovered and went on to have a successful 17-year MLB career, accumulating 2,239 hits, 255 home runs, and three Gold Gloves.
According to the Source baseballamerica.com