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Oregon ace Isaac Ayon could be set to return to Ducks' rotation 'very soon'

Jarrid Denneyby: Jarrid Denney03/30/23jarrid_denney
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Cameron Parker/ScoopDuck

Oregon could potentially see its top pitcher return to the starting rotation in the near future, according to head coach Mark Wasikowski.

While meeting with reporters on Wednesday, said that junior right-hander Isaac Ayon could make a return to the mound for the Ducks (15-7, 3-3 Pac-12) in early April.

Ayon, who was expected to be Oregon’s Friday-night starter this season, has been sidelined with an arm injury for the entirety of this season.

“He’s back up and throwing, and so he’s day to day,” said Wasikowski. “As soon as he’s ready to pitch in games, we want him pitching for us, he’s that good. And he’s a competitor. He’s chomping at the bit. And with everything he’s doing, I know he’s excited to get back with the ball club. We can’t wait to have him back.”

Last season, Ayon went 4-4 with a 5.67 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 81 1/3 innings.

He delivered his best outing during the final start of the regular season when he tossed a complete game to lead the Ducks to a 4-3 win over No. 25 Arizona.

With Ayon — as well as junior right-hander RJ Gordon — sidelined, the Ducks have leaned on their young arms during the early portion of the season.

Freshmen Leo Uelmen leads the Ducks with 27 2/3 innings in six starts this season. Freshmen Matthew Grabmann and Jackson Pace have also made four starts apiece.

Junior righty Jace Stoffall (2-2, 4.64 ERA) has been Oregon’s most effective starter this season and took over the Friday-night starting spot recently.

On Wednesday, Wasikwoski said the Ducks will roll with a rotation of Stoffall, junior righty Logan Mercado, and Uelmen, when they travel to Tucson to face Arizona (13-8, 3-5 Pac-12).

Mercado has spent much of the 2023 season working out of the bullpen. But he produced his best outing of the year with a 6.0 inning, five strikeout performance against MNorthwestern State last weekend to earn a starting nod against the Wildcats.

“I thought it was a tremendous outing that (Mercado) had. His (pitch count) was right where we wanted to get him to,” Wasikowski said. “I don’t think stretching a guy out, it’s about effectiveness for us. If a guy’s ineffective at 50 pitches, then why get him to 60? But if he’s effective at 90 then yeah, let’s get him to 100, 105 or whatever. It’s about effectiveness and just using your eyeballs and seeing if he’s getting them out and if the ball is coming out of his hand.”

Oregon and Arizona will open their series Friday at 6 p.m. PT.

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