Oregon State Pitching Ace Dax Whitney Exits Early with Tightness in 12-4 Win Over Hawaii

No. 6 Oregon State secured a 12-4 victory over Hawaii on Friday night at Goss Stadium, but the win was overshadowed by an early exit from sophomore ace pitcher Dax Whitney. Whitney left the game in the middle of an at-bat during the seventh inning after experiencing tightness in his throwing arm, prompting immediate concern from the coaching staff and medical team.

According to Oregon State coach Mitch Canham, Whitney signaled to the dugout after throwing a fastball for a strike to reach a 3-2 count against Hawaii’s Noah Rodriguez. Canham and the training staff quickly evaluated Whitney and removed him from the game as a precaution.

“I don’t know yet, he just said he felt some tightness,” Canham said after the game. “We’re going to take it as that. Obviously you never get excited about those moments.”

Despite Whitney’s early departure, the Beavers’ offense delivered a powerful performance, collecting 15 hits and scoring 12 runs. Adam Haight led the charge with a three-run homer, while Paul Vasquez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Vasquez also scored three runs, embodying the team’s offensive momentum.

“Hitting is contagious,” said Vasquez. “That’s the oldest saying in baseball. There is a fight at the bat rack, and you want to get up there.”

Oregon State jumped out to an early lead, overcoming a 1-0 deficit after Kamana Nahaku’s leadoff home run for Hawaii. The Beavers responded with a three-run inning, fueled by an Easton Talt walk, a Bryson Glassco single, and RBI hits from Bryce Hubbard and AJ Singer. Paul Vasquez later added to the lead with a double-play groundout that still plated a run.

Whitney had retired seven consecutive batters before his exit and was in the midst of a strong outing. Through 6⅔ innings, he had allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven. His final line showed 89 pitches thrown, with a 6-1 record on the season entering the game.

Whitney, a right-handed pitcher from Blackfoot, Idaho, entered the 2026 season as one of the nation’s top pitching prospects. A sophomore, he was already drawing attention as a potential top pick in the 2027 MLB Draft. In 2025, he earned multiple All-America honors, including Third Team from D1Baseball.com and First-Team Freshman All-America recognition from Baseball America, Perfect Game, and the NCBWA. He finished last season with a 6-3 record, a 3.40 ERA, and 120 strikeouts in 76⅔ innings — the eighth-most single-season strikeouts in Oregon State history.

His 2025 season included standout performances against Louisville and Florida State, where he struck out nine and ten batters, respectively, in postseason play. He also earned Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week honors on February 18, 2025, and was named to the Corvallis Regional All-Tournament Team.

As of Friday’s game, Whitney had maintained a 1.28 WHIP and held opponents to a .216 batting average. His ability to miss bats and limit hard contact has made him a cornerstone of Oregon State’s pitching staff and a key reason for the team’s No. 6 national ranking.

No further updates on Whitney’s condition were provided following the game. The Beavers said they would monitor his status closely and refrain from speculation until medical evaluations are completed.

Oregon State improved to 31-9 on the season with the win, while Hawaii fell to 20-17. The Beavers look to continue their series against the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, pending Whitney’s availability and the team’s pitching adjustments.