Dominic Hellman stood off to the left side of the dugout watching opposing pitcher Dax Newman finish off his teammate Mason Neville, caught staring in the zone.
Hellman walked the few short feet to the right-handed batter's box, setting himself, left foot on the backline with the right slightly open. He watched as the first pitch sailed across the plate, called strike one. He exited the box, took a short breath, then stepped back. One pitch was all he needed to see. The second pitch never came across the plate. Instead, it flew out of PK Park. Hellman, the sensation is not over yet but just beginning.
In the 2025 season, the Ducks’ bats have broken out of their shells to start the year. In 13 games the Ducks have scored 158 runs, and there is one Duck whose season and production are rising rapidly. It’s Hellman’s junior season for the Ducks and he’s making this season one to remember. Hellman has been a fiery standout for Oregon through the first three series at PK, batting a .351 average.
He is second overall in home runs, third in hits and tied second for runners batted in. His stats scream All-First Team. His stats scream Big Ten Player of the Week — which he was. His stats also exclaim National Hitter of the Week. That’s exactly who Hellman has lived up to through 13 games.
Hellman hasn’t disappointed in his appearances this season. At the plate, Hellman has been limited to being struck out seven times along with a total of 19 runs batted in. It’s the tip of the iceberg for how impactful his offensive performances have been to Oregon in 2025. Hellman has accumulated five home runs on the year, with two grand slams in game one versus Columbia.
Hellman uses his vision of the plate to his advantage this season. With an on-base percentage of 1.132, his ability to find himself on base speaks for itself. Hellman’s offensive performance has been exactly what the Ducks have needed: he gets on base, he hits home runs and drives in extra runs. He’s the type of player who others can depend on when the moment has called for it. Hellman has put himself into a different category of nightmare for every opposing pitcher, the type of nightmare where every pitch needs to be precise, if not you’re going to pay the price.
Hellman’s bat has been scorching hot to help the Ducks keep winning before Big Ten play. In Game 1 against Columbia, he hit two grand slams to help boost Oregon in a 20-11 victory. That was Hellman’s first multi-home run game this year. He would get his second multi-home run game against Utah Tech. At the bottom of the second inning, Hellman hit an off-speed pitch for a solo shot to left center at PK, extending the Ducks’ lead to three. As the game entered the bottom fourth with two outs, Hellman seized his chance again, sending a second home run out of PK to lengthen the score seven. That was Hellman’s fourth home run since Feb. 28.
Head coach Mark Wasikowski and his team get more than just an all-star level talent with Hellman. The team receives his leadership and team-first mentality. Hellman is a humble teammate and does whatever he can to see his teammates succeed. Giving advice to the younger players to motivate his teammates, help them build their confidence up.
“His efforts are to be commended,” Wasikowski said. “He's a tremendous young man and well parented, tremendous kid who shows up every day.”
Hellman is finding his steps quickly through the early season, adding much needed power and depth to the Oregon batting order. Hellman should excite Oregon fans and keep them on the edge of their seats. With him and Neville along with Jacob Walsh, the Ducks will keep with their high octane offense.
Compared to the start of Hellman’s season last year, it's been a complete 180. In 2024, Hellman had only started nine games, hitting 16-for-59 with four home runs, nine RBIs and 39 total bases. Every extra run that comes from the bat of Hellman has ended up in a Duck win. The games where Hellman didn’t play or had a quiet batting stint, the Ducks fell. This year, Hellman has already doubled those stats within 13 games with plans to keep increasing them.
“Catching barrels out front [is] a huge part of my game. I learned that as long as I have a good swing on the ball, the ball will fly,” Hellman said. “It may hit off the wall, it may go over and go through the four hole at 110 miles per hour, but having a good swing to the ball it’ll go out.”
Hellman has cemented himself this season as a reliable hitter who can bring in extra runs to help the Ducks win. As the Ducks designated hitter, it is a bit odd to see him bat second or third in the lineup. However, no matter where Hellman has been in the order, his productivity and infectious hitting haven’t faltered. The Ducks have uncovered an energy source that can wake the team up when the bats sit cold.