Oregon State in Rivals.com Pre-Season Top-25 Baseball Rankings

Oregon State, coming off two straight national championships, is one of those top 25 teams in the Web site’s pre-fall rankings.

Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Although it’s too early to completely rank collegiate baseball teams for the 2008 season, Rivals.com has named the nation’s best teams for the upcoming season.

Oregon State, coming off two straight national championships, is one of those top 25 teams in the Web site’s pre-fall rankings.

Rivals.com cites the return of senior Mike Stutes, a ninth-round selection by St. Louis in the most recent MLB draft, as well as College World Series Most Valuable Player Jorge Reyes, just a freshman in 2007, as major reasons for the Beavers to be rated among the nation’s best.

Oregon State will also welcome a strong recruiting class to campus, which includes middle infielder Garrett Nash, whom Rivals.com ranked as the No. 6 “Fab Freshman” for the 2008 campaign.

Also included in that recruiting class are left-handed pitchers Tanner Robles and Josh Osich, right-handed pitchers Greg Peavey and Kevin Rhoderick and outfielder Brandon Hayes.

That recruiting class will take to the field for the first time on Monday when Oregon State begins fall practices at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.

Just days later, on Sept. 21, members of both the 2006 and 2007 national championship teams will visit the White House to celebrate the titles.

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