OU baseball: Get to know the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners roster, schedule

NORMAN — OU baseball opens its season Friday in the Shriners Childrens College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

The Sooners are set to face Oregon at 3 p.m. Friday, No. 9 Tennessee at 7 p.m. Saturday and Nebraska at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

OU was forced to replace key players such as pitcher Braden Carmichael, who signed with the MLB’s Colorado Rockies, and infielder Dakota Harris, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Besides their leading bat from a year ago, the Sooners’ offensive core from 2023 is mainly intact with a few additions to bolster depth. However, Sooners coach Skip Johnson rebuilt nearly his entire weekend pitching rotation and bullpen during the offseason.

Here’s a look at OU’s 2024 baseball roster:

More: Three storylines for Oklahoma Sooners ahead of 2024 season opener

Pitchers

Braden Davis

Junior, Keller, Texas: Davis, a transfer from Sam Houston State, has competed for a spot in the weekend rotation. The lefty recorded a 2.78 ERA with 61 strikeouts last season for the Bearkats.

Carter Campbell

Senior, Keller, Texas: Campbell appeared in 34 games, including one start, a year ago. He finished the season with a 5.61 ERA with 39 strikeouts. Spent two years at Western Oklahoma State College before his time in Norman.

David Dean

Junior, Owasso: Dean spent the 2023 season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and pitched 45.2 innings with 52 strikeouts.

Jace Miner

Junior, Justin, Texas: Miner, a transfer from Wichita State, was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2023. He led the Shockers with a 2.05 ERA in 24 appearances.

Grant Stevens

Redshirt senior, Elk Grove, California: Stevens transferred to OU after four seasons at Pacific, where he was the primary Friday starter in 2023. He started 14 games and tossed three complete games last season.

James Hitt

Redshirt junior, Magnolia, Texas: Hitt is OU’s best returning arm. He started 12 games in 2023 and finished with a 4.89 ERA. Expect him to be in Johnson’s weekend starting rotation.

Ty Zahradnik

Freshman, Keller, Texas: Zahradnik was ranked the No. 500 overall player nationally and the No. 204 overall player in Texas out of high school by Perfect Game.

Jacob Gholston

Freshman, Flower Mound, Texas: Despite being drafted in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2023 MLB Draft, Gholston elected to play for OU. He was ranked the No. 31 overall player in Texas out of high school by Perfect Game.

Austin Henry

Redshirt freshman, Dell Rapids, South Dakota: Henry transferred to OU from Wichita State this offseason. The consensus No. 1 player from South Dakota out of high school redshirted during his freshman season last year.

Malachi Witherspoon

Sophomore, Jacksonville, Florida: Witherspoon transferred to the Sooners from Northwest Florida State College. He appeared in 13 games last season and finished with 24 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings pitched.

Kyson Witherspoon

Sophomore, Jacksonville, Florida: Malachi’s brother, Kyson, also transferred from Northwest Florida State College. He appeared in 17 games for the JUCO and finished with a 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts. Kyson has competed for a starting weekend rotation spot.

Ryan Lambert

Junior, Excelsior, Minnesota: An offseason addition from Missouri State, Lambert made five relief appearances in 2023. He previously played at Northern Iowa Area Community College, where he pitched 12 2/3 innings and compiled 27 strikeouts.

Jett Lodes

Senior, Yukon: Lodes made 16 relief appearances on the mound in 2023. He pitched 26 innings, recorded 30 strikeouts and finished with a 5.88 ERA.

Brendan Girton

Redshirt junior, Gage: The Sooners landed the former Shattuck star from Texas Tech during the offseason. He started seven games last season and finished the season with 36 strikeouts and a 5.82 ERA. Expect him to be a key piece of the starting rotation.

More: Get to know the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners softball team and schedule

Carson Atwood

Senior, Ardmore: Atwood appeared in 22 games last season, including three starts on the mound. The former Silo star finished the season with a 6.28 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.

Brad Pruett

Freshman, Corinth, Texas: Pruett was rated as the No. 18 right-hander and No. 48 overall prospect in the state of Texas and top-200 right-hander and top-500 overall prospect nationally by Perfect Game.

Reid Hensley

Junior, Lufkin, Texas: Hensley transferred from Tyler (Texas) Junior College after recording 16 appearances and 29 strikeouts in 2023. He previously played at Incarnate Word in 2021, pitching 3 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Dylan Crooks

Junior, Euless, Texas: Crooks, the younger brother of former OU star and current St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Jimmy Crooks, previously played for Paris (Texas) Junior College.

Will Carsten

Senior, San Antonio: Carsten made 18 appearances and five starts in 2023, registering a 5.77 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings pitched. Prior to his time with the Sooners, Carsten pitched at McLennan Community College.

Myles Meyer

Junior, Auburn, California: Meyer spent 2023 at American River College in North Highlands, California. He appeared in 22 games and recorded 48 strikeouts. Meyer spent the 2022 season at Sacramento State.

James Nesta

Freshman, Huntersville, North Carolina: Nesta arrived on campus in January and was rated as the No. 10 overall prospect and the No. 5 right-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Perfect Game. He also joined OU football’s 2024 recruiting class as a four-star linebacker.

Jason Bollman

Redshirt junior, Peoria, Illinois: Bollman transferred to OU after two years at LSU. He previously pitched at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, in 2021, where he threw two complete games and finished with a 3.97 ERA.

Big 12 power rankings: OSU transfer Kelly Maxwell fitting in nicely for No. 1 OU softball

Catchers

Easton Carmichael

Sophomore, Prosper, Texas: Carmichael was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team last season after appearing in 51 games and making 41 starts. He batted .306 with a .346 on-base percentage and slugged .482, registering 59 hits, eight doubles, four triples and 48 RBIs. Carmichael also hit a two-run home run in OU's NCAA Regional win over Army.

Mason Strong

Junior, Santa Clara, Utah: After transferring from BYU ahead of the 2023 season, Strong appeared in eight games and started in one.

Scott Mudler

Junior, Johns Creek, Georgia: Mudler is one of the depth pieces the Sooners added during the offseason. He appeared in 47 games for Northwest Florida State College in 2023 and batted .359 with 41 RBIs.

Houston Russell

Junior, Midwest City: Another depth addition, Russell transferred to OU from Seminole State College. The former Carl Albert High School star appeared in 43 games at Seminole State, batting .391 with four home runs, a .531 on-base percentage and 52 total hits.

Infielders

Anthony Mackenzie

Senior, Houston: Was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention last season after transferring from Sam Houston State. He started in all 60 games, batting .306 with six home runs and 41 RBIs.

Michael Snyder

Redshirt senior, Woodland Hills, California: A graduate transfer from Washington, Snyder started 53 games at third base for the Huskies last season. He hit .254 with a .482 slugging percentage, recording 11 home runs, 49 RBIs and 36 runs scored.

Isaiah Lane

Freshman, Chula Vista, California: Lane was the No. 22-ranked shortstop and rated top-100 overall prospect in California by Perfect Game.

Patrick Engskov

Sophomore, Little Rock, Arkansas: Engskov made 11 appearances and started two games last season.

Jackson Nicklaus

Junior, Overland Park, Kansas: After helping lead OU to the College World Series in 2022, Nicklaus made 59 starts at second base in 2023 and batted .234 with six home runs, nine doubles, 39 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 51 walks and nine stolen bases. Nicklaus recorded nine multiple hit games and eight multiple RBI games.

Jaxon Willits

Freshman, Fort Cobb: Johnson announced Willits, the son of Sooners associate head coach Reggie Willits, will likely start at shortstop. Was named The Oklahoman’s All-State Player of the Year last year.

Oklahoma All-State baseball: How OU signee Jaxon Willits set tone for Fort Cobb-Broxton

Outfielders

Kendall Pettis

Redshirt senior, Chicago: Pettis, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023, is entering his fifth season at OU. He played in 54 games and made 53 starts — 41 in the outfield and 12 as designated hitter — while batting .309 with one home run, six doubles, 24 RBIs, 50 total runs scored and 17 stolen bases.

John Spikerman

Junior, Montgomery, Texas: Spikerman was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after starting 59 games in the outfield for OU in 2023. He boasted a .270 batting average with three home runs, 33 RBIs, 44 total runs scored and 27 stolen bases. His stolen base total ranked second in the Big 12. He was also named to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team.

Dakota Howard

Freshman, Van Alstyne, Texas: Howard ranked as the No. 5 outfielder and No. 25 overall prospect in Texas by Prep Baseball Report.

Bryce Madron

Senior, Blanchard: Madron was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023 for OU following his transfer from Cowley College. He started 60 games for the Sooners last season and batted .320 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs. In OU’s final postseason game last year, he finished 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI against East Carolina.

Carter Frederick

Junior, Chelsea, Alabama: Frederick appeared in 53 games for Snead State (Alabama) College in 2023 and hit .463 with 14 home runs. Before attending the junior college, Frederick redshirted his freshman year at Auburn. Johnson has raved about Frederick’s power.

Rocco Garza-Gongora

Sophomore, Laredo, Texas: Garza-Gongora plays in the outfield and at first base. He hit .293 with six doubles, one triple and 27 RBIs last season for the Sooners.

Dasan Harris

Freshman, Plano, Texas: Harris, listed as an infielder and outfielder, ranked as the No. 37 outfielder in the state of Texas and a top-500 overall prospect nationally by Perfect Game.

Utility

Jason Walk

Freshman, Acworth, Georgia: Walk was ranked as the top infield prospect and No. 34 overall recruit in Georgia and No. 2 infielder and a top-270 recruit nationally by Prep Baseball Report. Expect him to make an impact sooner rather than later.

—Colton Sulley, Staff writer

2024 OU baseball schedule

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU baseball: Get to know the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners roster, schedule