Naulivou Lauaki Jr. is quickly becoming a name to watch in Oregon baseball—and for good reason. After stepping into the everyday lineup, the redshirt freshman has emerged as a legitimate power threat for the Ducks, while also setting his sights on becoming a two-way player on the mound.
The Oregon Ducks have faced their share of challenges this season, but a strong finish against UCLA and USC has them in prime position to host a regional. Just a few weeks ago, the team was struggling offensively, with losses to Portland and a tough road series against Michigan exposing some cracks in the lineup. That’s when head coach Mark Wasikowski decided to shake things up.
He turned to Lauaki, who had seen limited at-bats earlier in the season, and inserted him into the lineup over veteran slugger Dominic Hellman. It wasn’t a random move. Wasikowski had been watching Lauaki absolutely crush batting practice and knew it was time to give him a shot.
“Early in the year, he was not in the lineup,” Wasikowski said during a press conference. “Dom Hellman actually was the Big Ten Player of the Week one week. And this kid, Junior, was looking even as good as Dom was in batting practice. I was just like, ‘Holy cow, this guy’s absolutely killing it.’ He always had power, but there were some tweaks he made in his swing with the hitting guys Brett Thomas and Jack Marder. I really felt like he made huge progress and strides.”
Since entering the lineup in early April, Lauaki has made the most of every opportunity. Batting from the bottom half of the order, he’s already mashed seven home runs and driven in 17 RBI. His breakout moment came during a road trip to Illinois, where he launched three homers in the series—including a jaw-dropping 496-foot shot that sent shockwaves through college baseball.
But Lauaki isn’t just a flash in the pan. He’s proven he has real, consistent pop, sending baseballs soaring beyond the fences at PK Park and into the parking lot. “It’s freakish,” Wasikowski added. “When you start seeing guys hitting balls over 500 feet, and just his physicality and the strength…”
With his power surge and potential on the mound, Lauaki is shaping up to be a versatile weapon for the Ducks—and a player every fan should keep an eye on as the postseason approaches.