Which former Ducks are playing on MLB Opening Day?

Story by

Logan Brown, Ducks Wire

Thu, Mar 26, 2026 ·

4 min read

The Oregon Ducks' baseball program has taken big strides since returning to the field in 2009, and even bigger steps toward developing pros since Mark Wasikowski took over the program as head coach in 2020.

Now, the Ducks have been good enough for long enough to send five former players to the MLB, with many more on their way. Oregon has built a solid alumni base in professional leagues in other sports, and now the baseball team is starting to build one of its own.

The MLB season gets started this weekend, and the Ducks have some representation worth keeping an eye on. Let's take a quick look at which Ducks cracked a 26-man Opening Day roster around the league.

Spencer Steer , Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) rounds third base scoring on a hit from Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (35) in the second inning between the Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sept. 3, 2025.

Position:First base and outfield

Experience:Year 5

Years at Oregon: 2017-2019

Spencer Steer played three seasons with the Ducks before becoming a third-round pick in 2019 by the Minnesota Twins . He was traded to the Reds, made his MLB debut there, and has been a middle-of-the-order slugger ever since. He's hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past three seasons, finishing with 21 big flies and 75 RBI last season as a primary first baseman. Steer will play left field more this season. Steer's versatility in the field began at Oregon, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and was part of the Pac-12 All-Defensive team in 2019, playing all around the infield.

David Peterson , New York Mets

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) pitches the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning on Aug. 24, 2025, at Truist Park.

Position:Left-handed pitcher

Experience:Year 7

Years at Oregon: 2015-2017

David Peterson was Oregon's second-ever first-round pick, taken by the Mets at No. 20 overall in 2017. Since debuting in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Peterson has been a regular starter in Queens. In 30 starts for the Mets last season, he pitched to a 4.22 ERA and racked up 150 strikeouts. Peterson will open the season as the Mets' No. 2 starter. In Eugene, Peterson was the first Duck to earn consensus All-American honors and was a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.

Jonny DeLuca , Tampa Bay Rays

Aug. 8: Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca dives but is unable to catch a ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Brendan Donovan.

Position:Outfield

Experience:Year 4

Years at Oregon:2018-2019

A true grinder, Jonny DeLuca was picked in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 after a couple of seasons in Eugene. DeLuca slowly worked his way up the pipeline and debuted with the Dodgers in 2023, but he was part of a trade to Tampa Bay after his rookie season that sent all-star pitcher Tyler Glasnow back to Los Angeles . He missed most of last season with a variety of injuries, but will start on Opening Day for the Rays in right field. With the Ducks, DeLuca hit 11 home runs and swiped 19 stolen bases in two seasons.

Garrett Cleavinger , Tampa Bay Rays

Sep 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Garrett Cleavinger (60) delivers during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Position:Left-handed pitcher

Experience:Year 7

Years at Oregon:2013-2015

Garrett Cleavinger was picked in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and has become an underrated bullpen arm for the Rays. After being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and Dodgers earlier in his career, he landed in Tampa Bay in another trade in 2022 and has been a stable piece ever since. Cleavinger pitched to a 2.35 ERA in 67 appearances last season and secured a spot on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring. At Oregon, he was a third-team preseason All-American in 2014 out of the bullpen, and he tossed 40 innings with a 1.58 ERA in 2015.

Ryne Nelson , Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) throws to the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning during a spring training game on March 16, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.

Position:Right-handed pitcher

Experience:Year 5

Years at Oregon:2017-2019

Ryne Nelson was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round in 2019 and has grown into a reliable starter in the desert. Nelson was part of Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. He made 23 starts in 2025 and another 10 appearances out of the bullpen, finishing the season with a career-high 3.39 ERA and 132 strikeouts. Due to some injuries, he enters the season as the No. 2 starter for the Diamondbacks. In three seasons with the Ducks, Nelson earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019 as a bullpen piece with 104 strikeouts.

Who's knocking at the door?

The Ducks have several former players who could join the big-league ranks at some point this season and add to Oregon's growing representation in the MLB. Here's who to watch for to make the jump from the farm to the show this season:

LHP Robert Ahlstrom ( Texas Rangers , Triple-A)
LHP Tyler Anderson (free agent, 10-year MLB veteran and two-time all-star)
SS Josh Kasevich ( Toronto Blue Jays , Triple-A)
LHP Matt Krook (Athletics, Triple-A)
LHP Nico Tellache ( Seattle Mariners , Triple-A)
OF Aaron Zavala (Texas Rangers, Triple-A)
RHP Kenyon Yovan ( Los Angeles Angels , Triple-A)

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five former Oregon Ducks playing on MLB Opening Day