Same show, new season, new conference coming up for OU baseball

It didn’t take long for OU head coach Skip Johnson to say the quiet part out loud Wednesday during his season opening press conference. Not even three minutes into local media day, the elephant in the room was addressed. 

There’s no turning back now. 

“We’re excited about being members of the Southeastern Conference. It’s the best baseball conference in the country. Five of the last six national champions come from this conference. We play four of them at L. Dale Mitchell this season. Our non-conference (schedule) is going to be really good and is going to prepare us for our conference (schedule),” said Skip Johnson, who opens his eighth season at the helm next Friday in Norman. 

They know what they’ve signed up for  

The conference slate is challenging, to say the least. Oh, and about that non-conference schedule? You can add No. 2 Virginia and No. 7 Oregon State to the tab of former national champions that appear on Oklahoma’s schedule. The Cavaliers left Omaha with the title in 2015 and Oregon State did the same three seasons later, making for seven opponents that have won a national championships over the last decade. Welcome to the big show, I guess. 

“Everybody understands what our culture is and how we go about our practice. Fall went really well,” Johnson said. “Playing in the SEC is like playing in a football environment in a baseball arena. We’re excited about that.” 

Replacing production can be scary

Excited is one thing. Prepared is another. Oklahoma will look to replace a lot of production from last season’s team that brought a postseason regional back to Norman for the first time in 14 years.

What will be key for Oklahoma in the first month of the season is finding a way to replace 65% of its offense and 55% of its innings pitched from a season ago. A scary proposition when you take a look at the schedule and see Wednesday’s release of the SEC preseason poll, where Oklahoma was picked to finish 11th. 

“When you look at those numbers, it scares you, but if you just think about winning pitches and lose yourself in the process instead of dealing with the results, then all of the sudden you start looking up the middle of the field and you’ve got Easton (Carmichael), you’ve got (Scott) Mudler back, you’ve got Jaxon Willits and Jason Walk in centerfield,” Johnson said. “Up the middle of the field is where you want to be strong and you want to have some experience and those guys are coming back with some experience.” 

It starts on the bump

The conversation around Oklahoma’s lofty internal expectations begin (and possibly end) in the middle of the diamond.

Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon head into their junior seasons headlining a rotation that – simply put – has a chance to develop into one of the elite staffs in college baseball.

Skip Johnson said this afternoon Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon are two of the best pitchers he's been around in 35 years of coaching.

Also, good luck picking them apart. pic.twitter.com/nWpQryCuCC

— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) February 5, 2025

Don’t believe me? Ask Johnson who has worked with some of the best hurlers this sport has seen over the last three and a half decades. 

“What’s funny is you hear everybody talk about our offense well you’ve got two of the best pitchers that I’ve coached in 35 years sitting to my right,” Johnson said. “Their leadership sets a standard in our program for our other pitchers and other players in how they go about their business. I think they were aware of it playing for Team USA in how you stand for the national anthem and how you go about your business. I think that’s what has been exciting.

“The growth in Malachi has really been exciting. A little bit of a change in his delivery has really helped him be more consistent, and we’re looking forward to watching them compete. The game is an imperfect game. It’s not a perfect game. I know one thing when I sit over in the dugout that they are going to give you effort and that’s all you can ask out of them. They can’t be superheroes. They just have to be themselves, and that’s good enough for us.” 

Honoring the Red, White & Blue

A highlight for Johnson came last summer when he informed the twin brothers they had been selected for the Team USA collegiate squad. 

“Probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had was last year when I got the phone call that those guys were going to play on Team USA,” Johnson said. “I called them both in my office – and I kind of get emotional talking about it– because you see guys get called up to the big leagues all the time. But when they got that opportunity they were so excited. It means so much for them to play for their country. It was cool to see their reaction to it.”

Kyson became a known in the college baseball world and a staple in the Sooners weekend rotation a season ago, starting 11 games and making 17 appearances. He was a second-team preseason All-SEC selection on Wednesday. 

“I think that experience playing with the best people around the world. Names that I’ve seen playing the game – top guys, really – helped with the experience and the confidence coming back and really trying to share our experience with our teammates,” said Witherspoon on Wednesday. 

A sentiment echoed by brother Malachi, who transitions from the Oklahoma bullpen where he made 21 appearances as a sophomore.

“Knowing that my name was called to be on the biggest stage with some of the biggest names really was a big confidence boost,” Malachi Witherspoon said. “Knowing that my name is on the Team USA jersey and coming back here knowing what I can bring to the table with my guys, trying my best to be a leader and show what we can do this year. I’ve got a ton of confidence in this team. Big brotherhood here. Compete everyday. I love it here. I feel like we can be really great this year.” 

It’s not just the Witherspoon twins

LSU transfer Cam Johnson will figure into the weekend rotation as well as junior college lefty Cade Crossland, who Baseball America recently tabbed as the owner of one of the best change-ups amongst draftable pitchers in 2025. 

“I’d for sure say Cade Crossland. Having an older brother who is a big change-up guy, I get to reminisce a little bit when I catch him,” said junior catcher Easton Carmichael. “He has a lot of feel for that pitch. He’s awesome to catch.” 

As for Johnson? The prized transfer portal addition from LSU has been as advertised, learning from the Witherspoon brothers and working alongside Johnson and Carmichael. 

“He’s fun to catch because it’s one where I can really talk him through some stuff and we can really get through it together,” Carmichael said. “It doesn’t really feel like I’m catching as much as we’re working together as a battery, so I love catching him as well.” 

Trust the process offensively

Replacing the likes of John Spikerman, Jackson Nicklaus, Kendall Pettis, Anthony Mackenzie, Bryce Madron and Michael Snyder won’t be easy. Specifically, Oklahoma will look to replace its entire outfield.

“(Jason) Walk has matured a lot. He understands that he’s going to play centerfield. Sometimes he plays so hard he kind of plays reckless. He’s learned how to get through that a little bit. Brandon Cain has done a great job. Dasan Harris is a great story for us,” Johnson said. “He came into our program as a walk-on and he’s got better every year. He’ll see a lot of playing time. Sam Christiansen has had a really good spring. And here of late, Trey Gambill has swung the bat really well. We’re excited about that.

“They’re really dynamic athletes, all of those guys in the outfield. We moved Drew Dickerson from the infield to the outfield,” Johnson said. “This guy has a lot of power and a lot of ability. He reminds me a lot of Tyler Hardman as a freshman. Has a lot of ability and just putting in pieces where he can succeed and let him go.” 

The buzz surrounding junior college infield transfer Dawson Willis continues to grow, as well getting the sign off from two of the best arms in college baseball only adds to the hype. 

“Dawson Willis. He’s a tough out pitching to him especially on the base paths. He’s a real athletic guy. Stealing a lot of bags. Every attempt. He gets on base and he’s stealing bags. He’s just a ball player. Pretty much everyone I throw to. Everyone is a tough out in the box but especially on the base paths with Reggie (Willits),” said Kyson Witherspoon of his early impressions on Willis. 

Oklahoma opens the season next Friday by hosting Lehigh for a three game series at L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark.