Dear Pat Casey,

Mike Thurman was drafted 31st overall in 1994.  Thurman went on to enjoy a six-year stint in the Show.  Mason Smith was drafted in the 18th Round, #510 overall.  Smith and Thurman were Oregon State's best two starters in 1994, accounting for 21 of the 35 wins in 1994.  Oregon State also lost Jason Myers and John Schultz out of the bullpen.  All-told, the Beavers were left with six pitchers who had pitched in 1994.  One was Kevin Hooker who was played both second base and pitcher.  He broke his wrist in the 11th game of 1994 and missed the rest of the season, receiving a medical redshirt.  He returned in 1995 to start all but one game at either second base or pitcher.

Oregon State's four best hitters were Todd Black, Kevin Hooker, Jason Larson and A.J. Marquardt.  Only Hooker returned in 1995.  Larson graduated and Black and Marquardt never played again at Oregon State because of academic issues.  

Watts played the most of any offensive player in 1994 and gradated at season's end.  Black had the third-most starts.  

Oregon State's first baseman, Jim Champion, had the sixth most starts in 1994 and was the third Beaver drafted in the 32nd Round, #883 overall.  

Even though he missed 14 games, Marquardt had the eighth most starts.

Brooke Knight, who spelled David Schmidt behind the plate and was also the placekicker for the football team, had the ninth-most starts and graduated at the end of 1994.

Of the regular starters in 1994, the only players who returned in 1995 were Marc Malloy (who had taken over starting duties in right field three games into the 1994 season), catcher David Schmidt, Scott Hardin (who had taken over for Kevin Hooker at second after Hooker was injured) and shortstop Allen Snelling.  As it happened, Hooker returned in 1995 to take over at second and pitch.  Hardin moved over to third to make room for Hooker.  Chris Wakeland, a George Fox transfer was supposed to take over at first base.  But, because Black was academically ineligible, Wakeland took over in left field.  Meiwes, a jack of all trades, took over for Champion.  True freshman Darren Bland took over for Marquadt in centerfield.

By 1996, the only players leftover were Eric Lovinger, who had worked his way up to team ace; Chris Sturgeon, who only made two relief appearances his senior year; and David Schmidt, who had started all three years at catcher.  Schmidt would be selected in the 8th Round, #218 overall.  Lovinger was selected in the 47th Round, #1,384 overall.

By 1997, all players were players that Casey had recruited to Oregon State.