Angel Laya Bursts Onto the Scene with Electric Debut for Oregon Baseball
Angel Laya didn’t just step into college baseball-he kicked down the door.
The Oregon freshman made an immediate statement in his debut weekend, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after powering the Ducks to a four-game sweep of George Mason. Starting in right field, Laya looked anything but wide-eyed under the bright lights.
Instead, he played like a seasoned vet, slashing a jaw-dropping .538/.600/1.077 with a 1.677 OPS. That’s not just hot-it’s scorching.
Two home runs, a double, and relentless pressure at the plate made it clear: this kid came ready.
From the jump, Laya was in rhythm. He opened his Oregon career with a 3-for-4 showing in the season opener, tacking on a double and scoring twice.
That performance set the tone for a weekend that just kept getting better. In game two, he flashed the kind of power that turns heads, launching two home runs and driving in three runs.
And he wasn’t done-he followed that up in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader by reaching base twice, including a hit-by-pitch, and scoring a run. On Sunday, he capped the weekend by getting on base two more times and adding another RBI to his tally.
Across all four games, Laya found ways to contribute-whether it was with his bat, his patience at the plate, or just his ability to stay locked in. He had multiple hits in each of the first two games and reached base more than once in all four. That kind of consistency is rare, especially from a freshman making his collegiate debut.
But for Laya, this wasn’t about trying to do too much. It was about sticking to the process and trusting the standard that Oregon baseball sets every day.
“I played to the standard,” Laya said. “It’s fun to compete with the guys, but playing to the standard and succeeding will help you start.”
That mindset-focused, grounded, and team-first-stood out just as much as the stat line. Laya knows baseball is a game of ups and downs, and he’s not getting carried away after one hot weekend.
“Everyone has some flaws,” he added. “I could’ve gone 0-for-4 today, but tomorrow is a new day and today is over.”
That kind of perspective is rare for a freshman, especially one who admitted the nerves were real heading into opening weekend. But Laya found his calm in routine and self-belief.
“I was generally nervous, but I calmed myself down and reminded myself I’ve done this all my life,” he said. “Pregame I have no music or energy drinks. I stay to myself, focus, and do my thing.”
Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski wasn’t surprised by Laya’s breakout. He’s seen enough to know that preseason rankings and projections only go so far-what matters is what happens between the lines. And Laya wasted no time proving he belongs.
“I don’t know. The gurus that think they got this thing wired-I don’t fault any of the publications that don’t have people listed,” Wasikowski said.
“The kids will earn their stripes. The play takes care of itself, and by the end of it, the dust will settle, and everyone’s going to know who the best players are.”
Laya came into the program with plenty of buzz. He was ranked as the No. 12 freshman nationally by Perfect Game, and earned high marks across the board: No. 6 outfielder and No. 17 player in California by Prep Baseball Report, No. 7 outfielder and No. 23 player in the state by Perfect Game, and nationally ranked as the No. 21 outfielder and No. 108 overall prospect by PBR.
So yes, the potential was there. But potential is just a word until it shows up on the field.
And this past weekend, Angel Laya showed up-and then some. If this is what he looks like out of the gate, Oregon fans have every reason to be excited about what’s coming next.