Names to know on Sooners pitching staff: Elite staff offers intrigue

The high expectations that come with Oklahoma Sooners baseball’s inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference are in part because of this team’s strength. Its pitching staff has a chance to be elite. 

Headlined by a weekend rotation of Kyson Witherspoon, Malachi Witherspoon and LSU transfer Cameron Johnson, this staff has the ingredients to become a special group.

Here’s the names to know as Oklahoma opens the regular season this afternoon with a double-header playing host to Lehigh. 

Pitchers

Kyson Witherspoon – Junior – 2024: 17 appearances, 11 starts with an 8-3 record

Witherspoon settles into the Friday night role with Oklahoma this season as one of the premiere arms in college baseball. Following a superb summer in which Witherspoon starred for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and impressed at the Cape Cod Baseball League, expectations are as high for the Jacksonville (Fla.) native as you can get. Think likes of Cade Cavalli and Cade Horton, both of whom were selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. After breaking onto the scene last season leading Oklahoma with a 3.71 ERA, Witherspoon could be just scratching the surface. Most simply: Kyson Witherspoon is one of the best pitchers in the country and it should be appointment viewing come Friday nights this season. 

Witherspoon’s list of preseason accolades is lengthy, including All-American honors from Baseball America (second team), D1 Baseball (second team), NCBWA (second team) and Perfect (game) as well as All-SEC (second team). 

Malachi Witherspoon – Junior – 2024: 21 appearances, five saves

With twin bro Kyson earning most of the national attention, it’s Malachi that enters this season perhaps a little bit under the radar. Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson recently praised the 6-foot-3, 211 pound junior’s off-season, cleaning up his mechanics on the bump, seeing a bump in velocity over the course of the fall. Witherspoon makes an official move from the bullpen into the starting rotation and will look to take the next step in his career and in the eyes of scouts. This after a successful run this summer also pitching on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. 

Cameron Johnson – Sophomore – 2024: Louisiana State University

One of the big pick ups from the transfer portal, Johnson leaves the preseason earning a starting spot in the weekend rotation. The LSU transfer made just 13 relief appearances for the Bayou Bengals last season, throwing nine innings with 13 strikeouts, but the talent is obvious. He was ranked the No. 2 left-handed pitcher in the 2023 class and No. 11 prospect overall. In summary: Johnson is another premiere arm that will serve as Oklahoma’s Sunday starter standing at 6-foot-6, 250-pounds. 

Jason Bodin – Sophomore – 2024: Texas A&M 

Made two relief appearances last season in College Station but should get more opportunity this season out of Oklahoma’s bullpen. 

Michael Catalano – Freshman – 2024: Frisco High School 

Arrives in Norman after a stellar senior season at Frisco High School where he earned Texas District 9-5A MVP honors, ranking as the No.16 overall prospect in the state of Texas. 

Cade Crossland – Junior – 2024: Weatherford Junior College

It may come as a surprise, but the Weatherford JC transfer pushed for a starting spot in the weekend rotation. One of the better change-ups of draftable pitchers in college baseball, Crossland will be a key figure in the larger scheme of Oklahoma’s pitching rotation this season after going 9-2 in 14 appearances with a 2.37 ERA and 100 strikeouts (68.1 innings) in 2024. Certainly will be an arm that could be a difference maker come the end of the season in a regional. 

Dylan Crooks – Senior – 2024: Made 25 appearances 

Returns to the Oklahoma bullpen after making 25 appearances last season, finishing with a 4.11 ERA and a 1-0 record in 32 innings. Could be easy to predict you’ll see Crooks in high-leverage situations this season. 

Jacob Gholston – Sophomore – 2024: Made two appearances 

Could be argued there is not a more intriguing arm on the Oklahoma roster than Jacob Gholston. Highly touted out of Flower Mound High School, Gholston’s freshman season was a year of development and he parlayed that into an outstanding summer in the Appalachian League where he was named an All-Star, starting seven games and striking out 36 batters in 33.1 innings of work. Another draftable arm that could fill into a midweek starting role. 

Reid Hensley – Senior – 2024: Made 17 appearances 

Another arm that will return with plenty of experience after making 17 appearances last season, finishing the year with a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings of work. Should be a dependable arm for Skip Johnson out of the bullpen. 

Jamie Hitt – Senior – 2024: Made 17 appearances and seven starts

There’s no way around it. Jamie Hitt had a rough end to the 2024 season, striking out 32 but walking 14 in 35.1 innings a season ago. Control was an issue but perhaps more than anything looked like a pitcher that had lost a ton of confidence on the mound. Hitt will still be an arm Oklahoma trusts out of the bullpen as he looks to make things right following the disappointment of 2023. 

Gavyn Jones – Sophomore – 2024: McLennan Community College 

A two-way player that could see time at the plate as a designated hitter for Oklahoma but he also made eight appearances on the mound last season at McLennan. 

James Nesta – Redshirt Freshman – 2024: Redshirted

While Nesta didn’t make any appearances last season a freshman, he should get more opportunities on the bump this season. Made two tackles in the football team’s season opener versus Temple. Nesta is a really intriguing option on the mound and was the No.10 overall prospect out of the state of North Carolina as ranked by Perfect Game. 

Grant Stevens – Graduate Student – Made 18 appearances and nine starts

Getting someone like Grant Stevens to return to school should be quite fruitful for Skip Johnson. Could be a perfect extended innings option out of the bullpen this season but also could be used as a starter. Finished last season as a key piece of the Oklahoma rotation, finishing with a 4.28 ERA and a 6-1 record in 54.2 innings, ranking third on the team with 54 strikeouts and 28 walks. 

Dylan Tate – Junior – 2024: Jefferson Community College

The Eureka (Mo.) native made 11 appearances in 2024 at Jefferson College, striking out 63 and walking just 18 batters with a 3.90 ERA. Could be tabbed as Oklahoma’s closer. 

Catchers 

Easton Carmichael – Junior – Played in all 61 games 

Hard to imagine what the encore will look like after hitting .366 with seven home runs, 19 doubles and five triples, leading an outstanding offense a season ago with a team-high 93 hits and 64 RBIs. Also led the Big 12 in conference play with 52 hits, 39 RBIs and four triples while posting a .406 average in conference play. One of the true leaders on a young ballclub that will see time behind the plate and first base. One of two Oklahoma players named to the 2025 Golden Spikes Award watchlist, you can pencil Carmichael in the lineup everyday. 

Scott Mudler – Senior – 2024: Played in 47 games and 40 starts 

One of the true surprises from a season ago, Mudler excelled behind the plate for Oklahoma hitting .279 with four home runs, six doubles and 31 RBIs. Was a Norman Regional All-Tournament team selection and carried that success into the Cape Cod Summer League. Could also serve as a designated hitter when not behind the plate. 

Cole Hansen – Freshman – 2024: Norco High School 

Ranked as the No. 61 prospect out of the state of California, Hansen will take a backseat to Easton Carmichael and Scott Mudler this season but could be the catcher of the future for Oklahoma. He is the younger brother of graduated OU softball superstar Kinzie Hansen.