When the door of opportunity opens, even if only a crack, Stephen Nogosek has a habit of barging in and making himself comfortable.
The lanky right-hander did so as a freshman for the Oregon baseball team in 2014, drawing a spot start in NCAA Regionals and throwing seven innings of one-run baseball at eventual national champion Vanderbilt.
Nogosek did so last season as the Ducks’ setup man, striking out more than a batter per inning. And he rose to the occasion again last summer, capitalizing on a courtesy invitation to the USA Collegiate National Team by becoming arguably the most impressive pitcher on that staff.