ORU Golden Eagles 2025 Season Preview

Brandon Schultz is a super fan of both ORU and OU baseball. He is also a cohost of The Oklahoma Baseball Experience. Just like he did in 2024, Schultz if back with a preview of the Golden Eagles’ 2025 season. You can follow him on X @brandonschultz012.

Though the College World Series run now seems like 5 years ago it is hard to believe it occurred just 2 seasons ago. A run that will be solidified in ORU sports history continues to change the trajectory of the program.

There is still a remnant of the 2023 Omaha team on the 2025 roster in Price Allman, Hudson Hart, Dalton Patten, Dawson Walls, and Dylan Wipperman. Highlighted by Dalton Patten, this group looks to bring that much need postseason experience to an almost completely revamped roster.

The coaching staff also brings back Omaha experience as Head Coach Ryan Folmar and Assistants Ryan Neill and Wes Davis continue to lead this consistent program. Add to that the addition of ORU CWS squads first baseman Jake McMurray who is taking over as the Director of Player Development. This is a coaching staff that knows how to win at the highest level and looks to get back to the promise land again in 2025.

2024 Recap

Though the 2024 season did not quite go the way anyone would have expected, it ended
in similar fashion… yet another Summit League Conference Tournament Championship and
subsequent NCAA Regional appearance. Combine this with some much-needed facility
upgrades and there is zero doubt that the Golden Eagles will continue their prowess as one of the most consistent Mid Major programs in the country,

Since the Omaha run, the Eagles have been able to bring in high-level transfers in the last two off seasons. In 2024 ORU brought in many D1 transfers from higher profile programs like Tennessee and Arizona as well as transfers with proven Division 1 success. This strategy was relatively new for ORU and head coach Ryan Folmar. Historically ORU’s transfer standouts have come from the smaller 2-year college ranks. Though the result was the same (a 30th NCAA Regional appearance) the team never really seemed to mesh and find consistency until very late in the season.

In 2025 the Eagles are back to their bread-and-butter by picking up more JUCO and Community College transfers that are sure to make an immediate difference. They will need to make an impact against a schedule that will see the 2025 ORU squad face college baseball powerhouse programs like Arizona State, Dallas Baptist, Arkansas, OU, and OSU.

Offense

ORU has been known for its consistent and pesky offenses for years and though last year’s
offensive group had bright spots it never really lived up to that type of relentless lineup. The
coaching staff had to replace all 5 of its top hitters from 2024. The biggest loss of this group will be Holden Breeze. It will be strange not to see his name in the lineup at the hot corner this year. His .345 average and .429 OBP in 2024 will be difficult if not impossible replace. Folmar also needed to replace top producers from last season: Kyle Booker, Elijah Rodriguez, Alex Rodgers, and Drew Stahl. Though there has been a lot of turnover in the lineup, I am, somehow, very bullish on the ORU offense this season and looking forward to see how this lineup comes together.

The fully retooled outfield will be a major key to success this season. Transfers Makani Tanaka, Will Edmondson, and Tyler Brodrick look primed to cover the outfield in 2025. The Hawaii native, Tanaka, made some noise in summer ball this year and will look to replicate his 2023 season at Saddleback College where he batted .365 and stole 18 bases. Another new face that has potentially the highest ceiling is Arkansas transfer senior Will Edmunson. The Luther, OK native had massive success at Hutchinson Community College in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to Arkansas (Yes that Arkansas). During his sophomore season in 2023 Edmunson slashed a ridiculous .454/.534/.741 in 58 games and took home conference MVP honors. Rounding out the potential immediate impact outfielders is Tyler Brodrick. In 2024 he hit .376 with a nearly .500 OBP at Grayson College. However, it is not just the hitting tool that will make this group valuable. These three combined for 48 stolen bases in their most recent full seasons. This seems to be a trio that prioritizes bat to ball skills and speed that will make them a blast to watch. Other potential outfield contributors are senior Cooper Combs a transfer from Kansas and true freshman Owen Coil from Stillwater HS. Coil can also play in the infield so it will be interesting to see where he gets his opportunities to play at a school that has dominated his hometown college in recent years. If ORU is going to be successful, this group will be a major part of it, and I am looking forward to see if the high OBPs translate to the 2025 schedule.

Moving to the infield we will see more new faces. Though there are a few new guys to introduce I am still most excited to see Martell Davis back in the blue and gold (and baby blues) in 2025. He was a bright spot to me during the fall in 2023, but didn’t quite have the success I thought he would in 2024. That being said the tools are there and if he puts it all together watch out. He is one of the more athletic infielders you will see and has shown some seriously smooth glove work up the middle. I also think there is more power in his bat which I hope comes out in 2025. Another infield returner is Cooper Kelly. Kelly had a redshirt year last year, but when he was healthy this summer he showed signs that he could be a big contributor for ORU in 2025. A true new name on the 2025 roster to keep in mind is Jack Schark from Central Missouri. Jack might have the highest ceiling in the infield. A career .349 hitter at Central Missouri he also drove in 107 runs in his 3 seasons with the Mules. And you guessed it, he has featured a well above .400 OBP every year in his college career. Other names to remember in the infield are 3 transfer Juniors Keaton Campbell from Cowley, Ethan Fender from Crowder, and Matthew Brandt from Howard College. Last but not least Dylan Wipperman returns for his 4 th season at ORU and looks to have a breakout year. I’ll also add legacy player Tanner McMurry on this list as a utility guy that looks to develop at the same program his brother helped lead to Omaha.

Saving one of my favorite positions for last was intentional. ORU has a proud history at the
catcher position. Many names come to mind like Bennett Pickar, David Genao, Matt Whatley,
Jacob Godman, and of course current MLB and former Platinum Glove award winner Jose
Trevino. Wailele Kane-Yates might be a name that gets added to that list after the 2025 season. The junior from Hawaii transfers in via Yavapai College. Kane-Yates earned First Team All-Conference honors hitting .354 with a .441 OBP and 13 homers while proving to be a strongdefender. His hobbies are listed as surfing and welding… need I say more? Dawson Walls returns for his 5th year on the ORU roster and will look to take some time behind the dish as well. Matthew Mainord is another name that will look to take some of the backstop duties. Mainord comes to ORU as a true freshman and was the 13 th overall catcher in the state of Texas per Perfect Game.

Overall the offense on paper will create a very long line up for opposing pitchers. The power
numbers may or may not show up but the constant threat on the basepaths will make for some high scoring games. The biggest stat ORU will need to improve on this year will be LOB. The Eagles struggled to bring in runs last year though they seemed to consistently have runners on. Big strikeout numbers contributed to that challenge, but this lineup seems to have the skills to counteract that.

Pitching

I may be the most interested to see how Wes Davis handles the pitching staff this year. Losing Jakob Hall and Brooks Fowler creates some continuity challenges for the staff. Though I really like some of our returning pieces there are a ton of questions. A few of the returning names I have my eye on are Dalton Patten, Jared Ure, and Conner Floyd. Patten’s return gives some much need experience on the staff. I am not sure of what his role will be but he has a proven track record of getting guys out and is a fiery competitor. Connor Floyd returns this season looking for his first fully healthy season in an ORU uniform. He had one of the more impressivemfastballs on the staff last year before an early season injury took him out for the year. Between his fastball and mound presence I could see him being the go to out of the pen or even closer. Jared Ure will likely be a weekend starter and look to improve on a very solid 2024 campaign. Standing at 6’6 Jared will be one of the most imposing pitchers on the staff. Another 6’6 pitcher with promise is Westin Rouse transferring in from OSU. Weston went 9-0 as a senior at Fort Gibson and pitched to video gamesque .38 ERA. Trent Martin and Jack Hill are two other names that could provide some quality innings this season for the Eags. Lastly Bartlesville true freshman Brendan Asher will look to develop and follow in former high school teammate Jakob Hall’s footsteps for the Golden Eagles.

Outlook

There are plenty of other names I would love to see make contributions this season. There are so many true freshmen on this year’s team which means Folmar and crew have a great
opportunity to develop the future. The season cannot start soon enough. If you are a baseball fan and live in the Tulsa area there is no reason to not come catch some games at JL Johnson Stadium this season. It is some of the most fun baseball you will ever watch. It is also a very low-cost way to enjoy a spring Saturday in a family-friendly environment. I am obviously very biased, but I truly think this will be an improved squad in 2025. If the offense clicks the way I think it will, and the pitching staff comes together throughout the year; they will be a team nobody in the country will want in their regional come June.

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