March 22, 2023

The University of Oregon and their Canadian Influence

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Playing in the Pac-12 Conference, the University of Oregon Ducks finished the 2022 season with a 36-25 record, winning 18 of 30 games within their conference.

Coached by Mark Wasikowski, the Ducks finished third in NCAA Division I regionals last season, falling to the University of Michigan Wolverines in their opening contest but besting Southeast Missouri State Redbirds (18-6) in their next game. They would eventually fall to Louisville Cardinals in their next elimination game, ending Oregon’s quest for the College World Series.

Ranked by D1Baseball.com as the 25th program in their pre-season rankings, Oregon features three Canadians on its roster this season – OF Owen Diodati, RHP Turner Spoljaric, and RHP Matthew Grabmann.

Diodati (Niagara Falls, Ont.), a Great Lake Canadians alum, spent the past three seasons at the University of Alabama Crimson Tide after not signing with the Toronto Blue Jays following the 2019 draft (29th round), appearing in 122 games and amassing a .247 batting average with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs, earning freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball News and First Team All-Canadian honours (2019) by the Canadian Baseball Network.

After splitting his time in the outfield and the DH spot with the Crimson Tide, Diodati entered the transfer portal last summer and decided to join Wasikowski at Oregon for his senior season.

Diodati, Spoljaric, and Grabmann Highlight Canadian Contingent at Oregon

Speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network, Diodati highlighted his time at the program and how he feels about playing alongside his Canadian teammates.

“Having the opportunity to play with other Canadians at the University of Oregon has been really special,” Diodati said. “The culture here is similar to the culture I believe Canadian baseball players are all about. Blue collar, gritty and hard working.

“I am excited to see how the Canadian pipeline continues to grow here at Oregon.”

So far this season, the lefty-batter is slashing .171/.239/.293 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs, appearing in 14 games for the Ducks while recording 19 putouts in the outfield with one assist. Diodati is currently ranked as the 8th-ranked Canadian on the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2023 Draft List.

Joining Diodati on the Ducks roster with Canadian ties are freshmen Spoljaric (Lisle, Ont.) and Grabmann (Dartmouth, NS).

Son of former Blue Jays pitcher Paul Spoljaric, Turner is starting to carve out his own career, joining the University of Oregon after appearing in eight games for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League last summer.

The former Toronto Mets right-hander has appeared in three games this year for the Ducks, throwing two scoreless relief outings against Xavier Musketeers and UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (4 1/3 innings pitched with three walks and five strikeouts combined) before struggling against Niagara in his first college start, allowing three earned runs and two walks with three wild pitches in one inning of work.

Grabmann, who finished his high school playing days at TNXL Academy outside of Orlando, Fla., after pitching for the Okotoks Dawgs, is standing out so far with Oregon. Through six appearances (three starts), the Nova Scotia product has pitched to a 2.16 ERA through 16 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out 13 batters (8.9 K/9).

The right-hander has struggled with his command at times, with 15 free passes allowed on the season, but Grabmann has been able to limit the damage and pitch himself out of tough situations regularly and owns a 1.320 WHIP.

Canadian Impact on the Oregon Ducks in 2023

While all three members are alumni of the Canadian Junior National program, Diodati brings the most experience of the group, having spent the past three seasons in an established D1 program while also getting regular reps in the Cape Cod League with the Wareham Gateman (2021 and 2022).

Both Spoljaric and Grabmann are just starting their college careers but are gaining valuable experience in regard to their development of becoming established arms with the hopes of turning professional in the near future while Diodati is a name to watch on the draft radar later this summer.

All three should play a huge role on the Ducks’ roster this season as they continue to work their way to put themselves in a position to compete for the Pac-12 Championship and the College World Series later this year.

The Ducks have been on a bit of a roller coaster this season, winning their first four games against Xavier before being swept by Santa Barbara the following weekend. They would then go on to sweep the University of San Diego Toreros in early March and over their last seven games, they have a 3-4 record and have fallen outside of the Top 25 D1 program rankings, with 37 games remaining on the schedule.

There is still lots of time left in the season to improve upon their 11-7 record and will be facing Northwestern State Demons this weekend, who are 13-7 record on the year in the Southland Conference.