30 MLB Prospects With Improved 90th Percentile EV, Miss Rates & Chase Rates In 2025
Baseball is a constantly-evolving sport, in part because it’s the one game where players can change their entire archetype in a single offseason. Adjustments to swings, approaches and physical strength can see players return to play out of the offseason new and improved. We’re now around a quarter of the way through the minor league […]
Baseball is a constantly-evolving sport, in part because it’s the one game where players can change their entire archetype in a single offseason. Adjustments to swings, approaches and physical strength can see players return to play out of the offseason new and improved.
We’re now around a quarter of the way through the minor league season in 2025. Many of our metrics have standardized at this point, giving us some signal to identify true skill gainers.
Below, we’ll take a look at 30 players who have improved their miss rate, chase rate and 90th percentile exit velocity the most. The sample size for each category is a minimum of 50 plate appearances, and all of the names listed have samples larger than that in each of the last two seasons. While imperfect, this sample does give us some understanding of how players adjusted over the offseason.
90th Percentile Exit Velocity Gainers
One of the stickiest exit velocity metrics, 90th percentile EV gives us an idea of a hitter’s high-end power by looking at their top 10% exit velocities. This correlates to game power and, ultimately, slugging percentage.
Below is the list of the 10 hitters who increased their 90th Percentile EV the most:
player
org
age
level
bats
2024 90% EV
2025 90% EV
90% EV Diff
Nick Peoples
WSH
20
Low-A
S
105.7
114.2
8.5
Lyle Miller-Green
CWS
24
Low-A
R
103.3
110.6
7.3
Davis Diaz
ATH
22
Low-A
R
97.1
104.2
7.1
Adrian Rodriguez
AZ
21
Low-A
R
96.2
103.2
7
Dillon Lewis
NYY
21
Low-A
R
102.4
109.3
6.9
Dante Nori
PHI
20
Low-A
L
94.5
101.3
6.8
Eddie Micheletti Jr.
TOR
23
High-A
L
98
104.8
6.8
Drew Gilbert
NYM
24
Triple-A
L
100.7
107.3
6.6
Luis Peña
MIL
18
Low-A
R
99.9
106.5
6.6
Caden Powell
HOU
21
Low-A
R
103
109.4
6.4
Our biggest EV gainer is the Nationals Low-A outfielder Nick Peoples, a 2022 12th-round pick who’s struggled over the first three seasons of his professional career. Peoples has shown absurd raw power early, but it has not come with production, as he’s hitting just .200/.273/.389 on the season.
Luis Peña has been one of the true breakout stars of 2025. After a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League last year, Peña has shown a significant increase in power in 2025. This portends well for future power development, as Peña boasts strong plate skills to go along with this newfound power. It’s a perfect combination of traits for a burgeoning prospect.
We covered Mets prospect Drew Gilbert last week and noticed his much-improved data in 2025. More than any hitter listed in this section, Gilbert has turned his added EV into increased production. He is not only showing improved exit velocities but also excellent angles on contact and plus plate skills. He’s been very unlucky on balls in play, but taking a look under the hood, I anticipate Gilbert’s numbers will begin to climb in the coming weeks.
Astros 2024 sixth-round pick Caden Powell cracks the list, as the juco standout has put together a very solid showing in his professional debut, albeit against Low-A competition. While swing-and-miss is very much a concern, there’s legitimate impact in Powell’s bat, and his .200 isolated slugging is a testament to that.
Miss Rates Improvers
Despite the influx of advanced information made available for player evaluation in modern baseball, at the end of the day, the ability to simply get the bat on the ball is still an important foundational skill. While one doesn’t need to be an elite contact hitter to be a productive or even star player, there is a baseline of contact important for all archetypes of hitters.
Below, we’ll look at 10 hitters who are making more contact at the highest rates in 2025:
player
org
age
level
bats
2024 miss%
2025 miss%
miss% diff
Vance Honeycutt
BAL
21
High-A
R
42.70%
26.20%
16.50%
Jordan Sprinkle
CWS
24
High-A
R
30.00%
15.90%
14.10%
George Wolkow
CWS
19
Low-A
L
46.70%
32.70%
14.00%
Braden Barry
TOR
23
Low-A
R
31.90%
17.20%
14.70%
Yordys Valdes
CLE
23
Triple-A
S
36.00%
21.50%
14.50%
Bernard Moon
CIN
20
Low-A
R
31.50%
17.10%
14.40%
Jorbit Vivas
NYY
24
Triple-A
L
25.00%
11.10%
13.90%
Kaden Hollow
SD
24
Low-A
L
28.80%
15.00%
13.80%
James Tibbs III
SF
22
High-A
L
32.10%
18.90%
13.20%
Tommy White
ATH
22
High-A
R
29.00%
16.50%
12.50%
This list features a trio of day-one 2024 draftees: Vance Honeycutt, James Tibbs and Tommy White. Of all the players on the list, the added bat-to-ball ability for Honeycutt might be the most welcomed sign. That said, it has not led to a reasonable strikeout rate, as he is still striking out in 37.1% of his plate appearances. Of the three, only White has turned his skill gain into production, as he’s hitting .299/.390/.467 so far in 2025.
After putting together a nice 2024 in spite of concerning strikeout rates, George Wolkow is showing far more reasonable swing-and-miss in 2025. It hasn’t culminated in improved production, however, as he’s still only hitting .203/.288/.341, but Wolkow’s strikeout rate is down from 40.3% in 2024 to 31.3% in 2025. This improvement shows in the contact rates, as Wolkow went from having swing-and-miss that was a true dealbreaker to showing enough contact for his power to play. That’s yet to happen, but time till tell if the improved contact unlocks more game power for the 6-foot-7 slugger.
Jorbit Vivas has seen time in 15 games with the Yankees this season, and while the production in the majors has been underwhelming, he’s showing improved contact skills this season in Triple-A. He’s walked in 12.9% of his plate appearances while striking out in just 6.9%. This outlier strikeout-to-walk ratio is exactly what Vivas needs to take another step towards a future full-time MLB role.
Chase Rate Improvers
While power and bat-to-ball ability are important, the ability to identify balls and strikes while attacking the right pitches is paramount. Often, the biggest gains in production year over year are the product of an improved approach. While chase rate doesn’t fully capture all the elements of approach, it does give us a good idea of which hitters are aggressive and which are passive.
Below, we’ll look at 10 hitters who have improved their chase rates the most in 2025:
player
org
age
level
bats
2024 chase%
2025 chase%
chase% diff
Wilman Diaz
LAD
21
High-A
R
33.30%
16.10%
17.20%
Christian Moore
LAA
22
Double-A
R
29.20%
13.00%
16.20%
Tre Richardson
STL
23
High-A
R
26.10%
10.70%
15.40%
Emaarion Boyd
MIA
21
High-A
R
33.20%
18.30%
14.90%
Robert Moore
PHI
23
Double-A
S
28.70%
13.80%
14.90%
Tommy White
ATH
22
High-A
R
38.80%
24.00%
14.80%
Adrián Sugastey
SF
22
Double-A
R
45.70%
31.00%
14.70%
Victor Rodrigues
LAD
20
Low-A
R
28.10%
13.70%
14.40%
Ivan Brethowr
CHC
22
High-A
R
29.90%
15.50%
14.40%
Ryan Ritter
COL
24
Triple-A
R
34.90%
21.00%
13.90%
After two years of sub-10% walk rates for Emaarion Boyd, he’s showing a much-improved approach in 2025. With the improvement in chase rate, he’s seen his year-over-year walk rate increase from 6.8% in 2024 to 14.5% in 2025. This gain in approach has resulted in a 114 wRC+, a 20-point increase from last season.
The son of former Royals president of baseball operations Dayton Moore, Robert Moore was a standout at Arkansas who took some time to find his sea legs as a professional. This season, Moore is enjoying a career year to start with Double-A Reading, hitting .235/.353/.439 for a 125 wRC+. His 15.7% walk rate is a direct result of improved swing decisions, and it’s having a positive impact on his production despite poor luck on balls in play.
Tommy White makes his second appearance in this article, as his swing decisions have improved tremendously this season. White’s approach was a pock mark on his profile entering the draft, but in his first full professional season, he looks to be answering those questions emphatically.
On a team loaded with stars, the Dodgers’ Victor Rodriguez is enjoying an under-the-radar breakout season. He’s hitting .253/.431/.360 with a 22.5% walk rate to a 12.7% strikeout rate. While the power has been underwhelming, Rodriguez’s ability to get on base is noteworthy.
One of the more under-appreciated prospects in the upper minors at the moment is Ryan Ritter. A strong infield defender, Ritter can play all over the dirt, and over the last two seasons, he has shown improvements at the plate, too. Year-over-year, Ritter has improved his swing decisions tremendously, and it’s showing up in his production. Over 40 games with Triple-A Albuquerque, he is hitting .265/.397/.503—good enough for a 122 wRC+. He’s walking at the highest rate of his career while striking out at the lowest rate. Everything is clicking for Ritter at the moment, as he is showing above-average plate skills and power at the highest level of the minors.
Watch: Malta waterpolo women’s U-16 team beat Ukraine for their first win at European Championship finals
MALTA 13 UKRAINE 12 (3-5, 2-1, 4-5, 4-1) The Malta women’s U-16 national team bagged their first win at the European Championship finals when they edged Ukraine 13-12 in a thrilling encounter in Istanbul. It was a spirited performance from Aurelien Cousin’s girls, who had to come from behind to see off their opponents and […]
The Malta women’s U-16 national team bagged their first win at the European Championship finals when they edged Ukraine 13-12 in a thrilling encounter in Istanbul.
It was a spirited performance from Aurelien Cousin’s girls, who had to come from behind to see off their opponents and put themselves in a strong position to finish among the top 12 countries in the continental finals.
Malta is now sharing top spot in the group with Romania and will now await the result of Sunday’s clash between the Romanians and Ukraine as a win for the former will see Malta secure a place in the Top 12 phase of the competition.
But whatever happens on Sunday, the win over Ukraine is a major achievement for Cousin’s squad, which is formed by several young players.
One cannot not mention the performance of 11-year-old goalkeeper Mia Clarke Spiteri, the youngest player to be playing in this championship, and Elly Micheli, scorer of four goals.
The result somewhat atones for the tough 14-10 defeat in Friday’s opening group match, where the Maltese girls had also come close to upsetting their more-quoted opponents but came up just short in the final stages of the match.
“I could not be more prouder of the effort the girls today,” coach Aurelien Cousin told the Times of Malta.
“Yesterday, the girls were very disappointed as they felt that they could have achieved a better result against Romania. But in the afternoon we regrouped as a team and this morning, they were determined to go out for the win and try and leave everything they had in the pool to achieve their goal.
“As the match progressed, the players started to listen to my instructions more and more and the team spirit was amazing.
“I am very pleased with this result as it shows that all the work we have put in is finally paying off. Winning against Ukraine is a major achievement, as despite all their problems, they are still a much bigger country than us, who boast much more resources and players.
“Ending the group with one win and one defeat is an amazing result, and we now just wait for the result of Sunday’s match between Romania and Ukraine to see if we will progress to the Top 12 or not.
“Whatever happens, we will keep working hard to continue to make Malta proud.”
Ukraine were off to a strong start as they raced into a 5-3 lead by the end of the opening session, with Malta’s goals coming from a brace from Chloe Amato and another from Kaylon Cutajar.
The Maltese girls fought back in the second session, and goals from Micheli and Luisa Borgia enabled them to change ends 6-5 behind.
The third session turned out to be a hard-fought affair with the Ukrainians seemingly gaining a crucial two-goal lead before the final quarter – 11-9.
Amato stood out for Malta when netting a hat-trick with the other goal coming from Nevise Agius.
But the character of the Maltese girls came to the fore in the final session as Micheli scored a fine hat-trick to pull her team level at 12-all to throw the match wide open.
It was the Maltese girls who managed to hold control of their nerves with Agius firing home a brilliant goal to hand the team a fine victory.
MALTA: R. Babiker, L. Borgia 1, K. Portelli, C. Amato 5, H. Camilleri, M. Grech, K. Cutajar, E. Micheli 4, M. Tully, E. Cushing, N. Agius 2, M. Clarke Spiteri
Harding Women’s Track and Field Earns Five Academic All-District Honors
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SEARCY — Five members of the Harding women’s track and field team have been named to the Academic All-District Team by the Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly CoSIDA, recognizing their achievements in both athletics and academics. Seniors Cadence Sansom and Kiera Blankinship, both All-Americans on the track, will now advance to […]
SEARCY — Five members of the Harding women’s track and field team have been named to the Academic All-District Team by the Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly CoSIDA, recognizing their achievements in both athletics and academics. Seniors Cadence Sansom and Kiera Blankinship, both All-Americans on the track, will now advance to the Academic All-America ballot.
To qualify for the Academic All-District team, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically, hold a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average, and be ranked in the top 50 regionally in at least one event.
Harding’s honorees include:
Josie Parks (Jr., D, Columbia, Tenn.) Parks, an exercise science major with a 3.87 GPA, was a standout in distance events. She was ranked seventh in the NCAA Division II Central Region and 40th nationally in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:52.71. This season, Parks claimed the 2025 Great American Conference (GAC) championship in the 1,500 meters (4:40.27) and finished third in the steeplechase (11:00.55).
Dinah Winders (Sr., D, Mansfield, Tenn.) Winders, an accounting major, achieved a perfect 4.00 GPA. She was ranked 31st regionally in the outdoor 1,500 meters with a time of 4:40.58. At the GAC Championships, Winders secured a second-place finish in the 1,500 meters (4:40.81) and placed fifth in the 5,000 meters with a personal-best time of 18:01.53.
Veagen Jones (Sr., MD, Edmond, Okla.) Jones, an exercise science major, earned a 3.50 GPA. She was ranked 30th regionally in the outdoor 800 meters, clocking a time of 2:14.21. Jones also placed fifth in the 800 meters at the GAC Championships with a time of 2:15.79.
Cadence Sansom (Sr., PV, Lago Vista, Texas) Sansom, a criminal justice major with a 3.85 GPA, distinguished herself in the pole vault. She was ranked sixth regionally and 11th nationally in the indoor pole vault (4.03m, 13-2.5). Sansom earned Second Team All-America honors in both the indoor pole vault, finishing 11th with a mark of 4.07m (13-4.25), and the outdoor pole vault, where she placed 10th with a jump of 3.92m (12-10.25). Sansom’s achievements will now be considered for Academic All-America.
Kiera Blankinship (Sr., HJ, Chickasha, Okla.) Blankinship, a marriage and family counseling major, was ranked seventh regionally and 21st nationally in the outdoor high jump (1.72m, 5-7.75). She earned Second Team All-America honors in the outdoor pole vault with a 10th-place finish at nationals, clearing 1.68m (5-6). Blankinship joins Sansom on the Academic All-America ballot.
The CSC Academic All-America program highlights student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, providing national recognition for their comprehensive success.
Bonnies add Walter to track & field coaching staff
Matt Walter
College Sports, Local Sports, Sports
June 27, 2025
ST. BONAVENTURE – St. Bonaventure head cross country/track coach Bob Macfarlane has announced the addition of Matt Walter to the Bonnies coaching staff for the 2025-26 season. Walter will work exclusively with Bona’s growing track program. […]
ST. BONAVENTURE – St. Bonaventure head cross country/track coach Bob Macfarlane has announced the addition of Matt Walter to the Bonnies coaching staff for the 2025-26 season. Walter will work exclusively with Bona’s growing track program.
“We’re thrilled to have Matt join our staff. His experience and knowledge in developing sprinters and hurdlers will be a tremendous asset to our program,” Macfarlane said. “Matt’s addition strengthens our commitment to providing comprehensive training for all of our track athletes and we’re excited about the impact he’ll make.”
Walter was a collegiate track student-athlete at Lock Haven University where he was a two-time member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
Following graduation, the Bradford, Pa. native returned to the area as athletic director for Johnsonburg (Pa.) Area School District, overseeing the operation of seven junior high programs and 12 high school teams. He also has over a decade of experience in the business sector working with area banks.
St. Bonaventure’s running programs continue to expand with nearly 80 student-athletes set to compete for the Bonnies in the coming academic year. Macfarlane and assistant coach Sarah Lonzi will continue to focus on the cross country/track programs while Walter’s focus will be on Bona’s sprinters and hurdlers as the program continues to expand in those events for both indoor and outdoor track.
Ottawa High School Best 2025 – OttawaSportsPages.ca
The Ottawa Sports Pages’ 2025 High School Best Series profiles some of the top local student-athletes graduating from high school this year and moving on to the next level in their sport or studies. Leading up to Canada Day, we’ll post a new story each day on OttawaSportsPages.ca to tip our caps to these great […]
The Ottawa Sports Pages’ 2025 High School Best Series profiles some of the top local student-athletes graduating from high school this year and moving on to the next level in their sport or studies.
Leading up to Canada Day, we’ll post a new story each day on OttawaSportsPages.ca to tip our caps to these great grads. You can also follow along and read each story on this webpage.
Late switch from paddling to rowing sends Henrik Neuspiel to Dartmouth College
Henrik Neuspiel is a natural athlete. Pick a sport and he has likely given it a try and had success. Sport was a natural avenue to follow as his father Victor competed in three world championships in kayaking and his mother Margaret Nelson Neuspiel played for Canada’s women’s water polo squad. For 12 years, he’s played hockey in the winter and paddled in the summer. READ MORE…
Hugo Djeumeni taking his impressive running game to Yale University
Fifty years ago this August, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band released their third studio album called Born to Run. Fifty years later, there’s an Ottawa athlete who deserves to have that title stitched on his jersey to summarize his high school football career. If you put a football in the hands of Hugo Djeumeni, stand back, he was born to run and run and run. READ MORE…
Kaiya Woodcock plans to represent University of Guelph Gryphons in soccer, athletics
When Kaiya Woodcock wasn’t using her blazing speed to accomplish this, that and everything at various sports venues, she would stop to think about her future. There was a time she wanted to go to university on a basketball scholarship. She played point guard for the West Ottawa Hornets, loved the team aspect of the game and used her acceleration on fast breaks. READ MORE…
Syracuse Orange fulfilled Nissi Ogbebor’s quest for an NCAA football scholarship
Sometimes older brothers can learn from younger brothers. Nissi Ogbebor will confirm that. He was only attracted to tackle football because his younger sibling Rohi was enjoying all aspects of the game. “My younger brother started to play when he was 11 or 12. I saw how much fun he was having and I said I should give it a shot,” Nissi said. READ MORE…
Ella Beltran looks to ‘eat, sleep, breathe rugby’ with Queen’s University Gaels
When Ashbury College grad Ella Beltran heads to Kingston next season, the Queen’s University Gaels will add more than just a gritty scrum half to their roster, they’ll be gaining a player with rugby in her blood. Love of the game runs deep in Ella’s family, with both of her parents having played rugby in high school. She’s got Ashbury in her veins too. READ MORE…
Christos ‘The Big Greek’ Zigoumis excited to join the Dog Pound with UConn Huskies
The moment that shaped the trajectory of Christos Zigoumis’ young athletic life came on a tykes football field. His Orleans Bengals were down by two points at the end of the fourth quarter in their under-10 contest and his team scored a game-winning touchdown. The thrill of that early victory has stayed with Zigoumis throughout his career. READ MORE…
St. Louis-bound CCA player Jahda Denis’s dawg mentality ‘comes from love’
Jahda Denis was sitting in the back seat of coach Fabienne Blizzard’s van. For the second consecutive season, their Capital Courts Academy had had their hopes quashed by their arch-nemesis at Crestwood Prep, this time by a humiliating 94-55 scoreline in the championship game. But Denis had an epiphany in that moment. READ MORE…
Daniel Cova earns 3 gold at NCSSAA track finals, NCAA scholarship
On a cold and wet final day of the NCSSAA track and field championships at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, it continued to rain records for athletes from the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club. Daniel Cova wasn’t among the record-setters, but the Louis-Riel Rebelles distance runner made a valiant attempt at one of the most stubborn records on the books. READ MORE…
Quinn Beauchesne’s tough season concludes with uplifting world U18 hockey gold
In the end, the light at the end of the tunnel could not have shone brighter for London Knights top student award winner Quinn Beauchesne during his 2024-25 hockey season. The 18-year-old defenceman from Ottawa had only played four games before an injury knocked him out of the Guelph Storm’s next seven Ontario Hockey League contests. READ MORE…
U18 gold medal win over USA a ‘dream come true’ for Team Canada’s Alex Therien
There was no better way for Alex Therien to kick off her career wearing the maple leaf than by beating USA for the gold medal in the final game of the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship on Jan. 12 in Vantaa, Finland. “It was just a dream come true and something we have all been dreaming about for so long,” reflects the 17-year-old. READ MORE…
Alex Fletcher grew out of hockey, but into being a football all-star
Alex Fletcher was like most young boys with a passion for hockey. He wanted to grow up and play in the National Hockey League. His career seemed to be going in the right direction as he climbed to the top AAA level with the Rushforth Selects Hockey program. But then the defenceman started to grow and add weight to his frame. READ MORE…
Harding Men’s Track Places Five on CSC Academic All-District Team
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SEARCY — Five members of the Harding men’s track and field team have been named to the Academic All-District Team by the Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC), recognizing their excellence in both academics and athletics. Spencer Helms, a fifth-year senior and All-American in the discus, will now advance to the Academic […]
SEARCY — Five members of the Harding men’s track and field team have been named to the Academic All-District Team by the Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC), recognizing their excellence in both academics and athletics. Spencer Helms, a fifth-year senior and All-American in the discus, will now advance to the Academic All-America ballot.
To qualify for the Academic All-District team, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average, and be ranked in the top 50 regionally in at least one event.
Harding’s honorees include:
Nathaniel Perry (Jr., D, Purcellville, Va.) Perry, a management major with a 3.86 GPA, demonstrated strong performance in distance events. He was ranked 36th in the NCAA Division II Central Region in the outdoor 10,000 meters with a time of 32:02.36. At the 2025 Great American Conference (GAC) Championships, Perry finished ninth in both the 5,000 meters (15:11.11) and the 10,000 meters (32:02.36).
Elijah Barnes (So., PV, Argyle, Texas) Barnes, a Bible and Ministry major, boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA. He was ranked 26th regionally in the outdoor pole vault (4.61m, 15-1.5). Barnes earned honorable mention All-GAC, placing eighth in the pole vault (4.30m, 14-1.25) at the 2025 GAC Championships.
Isaac Hodges (So., PV, Omaha, Texas) Hodges, a management major with a 3.74 GPA, excelled in the pole vault. He was ranked 25th regionally in the indoor pole vault (4.63m, 15-2.25). Hodges also earned honorable mention All-GAC with a seventh-place finish in the pole vault (4.45m, 14-7.25) at the 2025 GAC Championships.
Chad Strickland (So., PV, West Monroe, La.) Strickland, a kinesiology and health education major with a 3.59 GPA, was a regional contender in the pole vault. He was ranked 33rd regionally in the outdoor pole vault (4.46m, 14-7.5). Strickland earned honorable mention All-GAC with an eighth-place finish in the pole vault (4.30m, 14-1.25) at the 2025 GAC Championships.
Spencer Helms (5th, T, Lawrenceville, Ga.) Helms, an exercise science major with a 3.65 GPA, was a dominant force in throwing events. He was ranked third regionally and ninth nationally in the outdoor discus (55.69m, 182-8). Helms won the 2025 shot put title at the GAC Championships and earned First Team All-America honors in the discus with a throw of 57.16 meters (187-6) at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Due to his All-America status, Helms will now be considered for Academic All-America.
The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes student-athletes who achieve outstanding results both academically and athletically, providing national recognition for their holistic success.
Track and Field Mourns the Loss of Oregon Legend Bill Dellinger | Sports
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon track and field community is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Bill Dellinger. The 91-year-old passed away on Friday, marking the end of a lifetime defined by love and legacy. At the University of Oregon, Dellinger emerged as one of head coach Bill Bowerman’s first standout […]
EUGENE, Ore. —The Oregon track and field community is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Bill Dellinger. The 91-year-old passed away on Friday, marking the end of a lifetime defined by love and legacy.
At the University of Oregon, Dellinger emerged as one of head coach Bill Bowerman’s first standout athletes. He stunned the track world as a sophomore by winning the 1954 NCAA mile title. He went on to become a three-time All-American, win every collegiate cross-country race he ran, and set an American record in the 5,000 meters at the 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Dellinger was also a three-time Olympian for Team USA, competing in the 5,000 meters at the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympic Games. His perseverance paid off in Tokyo, where he earned a bronze medal and cemented his place among the world’s elite distance runners.
After a short stint coaching at Lane Community College, Dellinger returned to Eugene in 1967 as Bowerman’s assistant. He became Oregon’s head cross country coach in 1968, just as a young Steve Prefontaine arrived on campus. He played a pivotal role in molding Prefontaine into the national icon that he is today.
Dellinger’s impact at the University of Oregon was monumental. Over three decades, he led the Ducks to four NCAA cross country team titles, 12 top-three national finishes, and coached athletes to 45 All-America honors. His teams won 13 conference and four district titles, while Oregon individuals under his guidance claimed eight Pac-8/10 and six regional championships.
