Naulivou Lauaki Jr. emerging as power threat, potential two-way player

When Lauaki came to Oregon from Springville, Utah, the plan wasn't for him to even step into the batter's box. He considered himself a two-way player, but the Ducks wanted him on the mound. After an injury forced him to take a redshirt and sit out for his freshman season, his goal in the offseason was to work himself back slowly.

"Coming back for my second fall, everything was much slower compared to my freshman year," Lauaki said. "Having a year of experience on the bench has gave me a lot to learn with pitching, hitting, how everything works. Taking a year off was honestly a blessing, now that I'm 100%. No problems in the long run, and I'm super grateful."

The goal in the offseason was originally to build up his arm strength to become a factor out of the bullpen. Instead, with some convincing from the freshman, the Ducks gave him a helmet and left the glove on the bench.

"I had to beg (Wasikowski) to give me the bat. When I walked on my freshman year, I had to beg him, 'Let me hit. Please, please let me hit.' Pitching was just going to be my primary thing. Things just changed in the last bit. Didn't think I'd be the DH for right now."

Lauaki is hitting .355 this season as the primary designated hitter, with some time at first base as well. Lauaki played third base primarily in high school when he wasn't on the mound, so he had to learn how to play on the other side of the diamond while getting stronger to slug at the plate.

As Oregon gets set for a potentially season-altering series in Los Angeles against No. 1 UCLA, Lauaki has become more than just a streaky hitter at the bottom of the lineup. With some of the Ducks' pitching staff banged up, as well as the offense's inconsistency at times, Lauaki has become a focal point. There might not be a better pure power hitter on the team.

"This past summer was a major part of my journey," Lauaki said. They kept me over here, kept me on campus during the summer to work out and build my arm strength back up. Every day lifting with (strength coach Darrell Hunter) during the summer really helped everything. The first practice back, during batting practice, I was just launching balls. I was like, 'Oh, I didn't think that weight room got me like that.'"

Wasikowski didn't decide to move Lauaki into the lineup over a veteran like Hellman lightly. However, it's all part of his recruiting and coaching philosophy, which centers around patience.

As the Oregon baseball program continues to grow in national relevance, some of the country's best high school hitters and pitchers are turning their heads and considering a move to Eugene. Still, as Wasikowski has preached, some will have to wait their turn.

Oregon has a pair of freshmen who have led the charge offensively this season with Brayden Jaksa and Angel Laya, and while Lauaki took more time to get regular at-bats, he's proven Wasikowski right for taking a chance. As a coach, that's where he has to thrive and set the tone for the roster.

"Those opportunities usually don't necessarily come on their time frame, especially when you're dealing with an injury like he was," Wasikowski said. "He had to sit and kind of wait a little bit behind some guys, and boy, is that hard. None of these guys are being recruited to the University of Oregon or like schools where they're used to sitting on a bench or waiting their turn. They're actually the stars of the team. For them not to be inserted in there and be in there every single day is a really, really hard thing for these guys because they've never done it.

"When those guys aren't in the lineup and kind of putting yourself in their shoes on how they feel, I think that's really important. Junior was able to overcome all that stuff to where he did get his opportunity."

Part of that success has come from Lauaki being on the same page as his coach. After an offseason of working closely together, Lauaki knows where to keep his bat in the zone and where to finish his swing.

Through the Pepsi sign in right-center field, of course.

That landmark might be gone on the road, but the Ducks need Lauaki's bat in the lineup for a critical series against UCLA to continue the team's pursuit of a regional round in Eugene. However, while his power surge has been a key to Oregon's success lately, there is more that Lauaki wants to accomplish as a Duck.

Once preparing to dominate on the mound at PK Park, now showcasing his power at the dish, Lauaki doesn't think it's unreasonable to do both in the future. Could Oregon have its own Shohei Ohtani in the future?

Lauaki hasn't shied away from the idea of pitching again, and he's made sure Wasikowski knows he is staying primed if the opportunity comes.

"Every game, I'm telling them, 'Hey, I'm on the hot sheet. You see me, I'm available for the right-handed pitchers. Don't be afraid to send me down to the pen to come close a game,'" Lauaki said. "I just give (Wasikowski) a hard time every game. But if they threw me in, I'd be ready."

The book isn't closed on that idea, and Lauaki still has more time in Eugene before he has to think about the next level. But when that time comes, Lauaki knows the path he wants to take. Now, it's all about regaining the trust of the coaching staff on the mound, just as he did with the bat in his hands.

"I think for my career right now, I want to stick with two-way," Lauaki said. "That's my thing. I've always been really good at doing both, and I think I can legit do both, especially in pro ball. I have no doubt that two-way is part of my career."

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Naulivou Lauaki Jr. powering Oregon's offense ahead of postseason run