On the morning of Game 3 of the West Championship Series, Bourne Braves field manager Scott Landers received a text message from his catcher, Chase Meggers.
The rising redshirt junior at Oregon was coming off his worst performance of the summer, going 0-for-3 and striking out twice at the dish in a must-win game two against the Cotuit Kettleers. Despite drawing a walk and later being brought around to score in the sixth, he squandered both of his opportunities with runners in scoring position, including one with two on and no outs during a third-inning rally.
If nothing else, Meggers’ sluggish performance was quite unexpected. He had recorded a hit in each of the 11 games he played in leading up to Thursday and went 19-for-58 in 15 total contests, helping the Braves to their fourth straight League Championship Series and even garnering CCBL Hitter of the Week Honors for July 20-26. For a hitter who’s been more than reliable since joining the team on July 17, the showing was well below his standards.
Meggers made sure Landers knew Game 2 was a one-off.
“My performance was bulls—,” Meggers told Landers in the message. “I’m locked in… I’m gonna help out the team and do whatever it takes.”
He kept his word. After Bourne and Cotuit traded runs in the first frame, Meggers pounced on a first-pitch fastball from righty Bryce McKnight, depositing a leadoff homer that put the Braves up 2-1 in the second inning. He went on to post a 2-for-4 evening that helped Bourne down the Kettleers en route to its fourth consecutive Cape Cod Baseball League Championship Series.
On the heels of a forgettable day, Meggers knew he’d return to his old ways once he stepped back into the box. That sense of validation has always been there for the California native, as he’s earned all the success that’s come his way. He was always aware of that and exuded a swagger he’d certainly earned.
After seeing the field sparingly in his first two seasons at Oregon, the northern California native burst onto the scene in 2024, leading the team in average (.316) through 46 contests. That breakout campaign helped the Ducks to an uber-successful season that ended in a trip to NCAA Super Regionals.
Meggers' incredible hitting numbers and postseason runs with both Oregon and the Braves this year have been fueled by one x-factor — an unrelenting work ethic that has been apparent since a young age.
“The way I look at it is, I worked super hard for what I’ve gotten and what I’ve been able to do,” Meggers said. “That gives me confidence.”
An Early Influence
Growing up, Meggers didn’t need to look far to find examples of the success hard work can yield.
Both of his parents have backgrounds in athletics, and his father, Mike, played in the minor leagues with five organizations across 12 years, winning Baseball American Independent League Player of the Year in 1997. Unlike Chase, however, Mike didn’t spend his college years playing with a Power Conference program, much less one in the Division II or III ranks.
Instead, he stood out at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, an NAIA program in Belton, Texas. During the 1992 season, Mike belted 36 home runs — an NAIA record that stood until 2008 — and led the Crusaders to a College World Series appearance, earning Player of the Year and CWS MVP in his historic campaign.
Mike’s success, despite not coming on the biggest of stages, influenced Chase.
“He kind of instilled in me that it doesn’t matter where you’re at, just work your butt off and good things will happen,” Meggers said. “I think he’s a big reason why my work ethic is the way it is.”
While Meggers has blossomed into a mainstay at Oregon, he wasn’t always the 6-foot, 194-pound contact hitter that has taken the Pac-12 by storm. Entering his freshman year at Rocklin High School in California, he was short and slim, measuring 4 feet, 11 inches tall, and 95 pounds, making his first experiences playing high school sports somewhat daunting.
A three-sport athlete playing football, wrestling and baseball, however, Meggers wasn’t deterred, using his smaller stature as motivation to push him forward. Most of his peers already had their man strength while he possessed the build of a 12-year-old. He had to be in the gym every day and play the game differently, seldom hitting for massive power numbers.
“I always had to work twice as hard as everybody else, just to keep up,” Meggers said. “I was always super athletic and always played at the highest level, but in the gym and stuff like that, I always had to work harder than everybody else.”
But before long, everything began to fall into place for the four-year utility player who saw reps at second, third and behind the dish. The doggedness that drove him to the weight room every day eventually yielded more muscle and improvement in each season. From his freshman to senior year, Meggers gained roughly 90 pounds, and after playing in only 11 games across two seasons with varsity, he suited up for 25 in 2021, leading his team in OPS, RBI, walks and home runs.
His body had changed for the better, but his work ethic and drive remained constant.
At that point, he’d built a relationship with Oregon’s staff and earned an offer from the Ducks, a true payoff for a kid who came into high school at an inherent disadvantage.
“It was a blessing in disguise,” Meggers said.
Holding A ‘White Shirt Mentality’
Several factors made Oregon such an attractive destination at the time of Meggers’ commitment. The Ducks’ 39-16 mark in 2021, head coach Mark Wasikowski’s first full campaign at the helm, ended a five-season NCAA Tournament drought and was their most successful in seven years. Of course, Oregon’s presence as one of college sports’ biggest brands, largely thanks to its affiliation with Nike co-founder Phil Knight, only added to the appeal.
However, none of those attributes were what made Eugene the top landing spot for Meggers. The relationship with the coaching staff and especially the program’s philosophy ultimately drew him to Eugene. Sure, “Nike Nation” is known as one of the top dogs in collegiate athletics, but one wouldn’t gather that by watching how the baseball team conducts itself every day.
Wasikowski’s staff has established a hard-nosed, blue-collar culture built around hard work and remaining focused on one goal: doing whatever it takes to win at the highest level. It’s a set of values that stood out to Braves outfielder and fellow Duck Mason Neville, who transferred to the school after spending his freshman year at Arkansas.
“It’s pretty funny,” Neville said. “We go there in the fall, and the coaches are real big on [a] ‘white shirt mentality’ to where we all have a plain white t-shirt, no big Nike logo or super cool colors or anything like that. And basically what that means is we go out there every day in the rain and crazy conditions, and we earn everything.
“The biggest thing is we know we’re going to get the gear, but [Wasikowski] wants everyone to earn that, play for each other and play to win.”
Meggers also identified with the mindset, even though the program he committed to was growing into a perennial contender in the Pac-12. As soon as he set foot on campus, his hunger and willingness to grind and grow as a player was apparent to strength and conditioning coach Darrell Hunter, who holds an appreciation for what hard work can accomplish.
The first recruit to sign with the modern-era Ducks in 2009, Hunter had a six-year playing tenure at Oregon prolonged by health issues that ultimately cut his playing career short. He spent the 2013 summer on Cape Cod, appearing in 13 games with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
After his final season playing for the Ducks in 2014 and a short stint in the pros, the former pitcher returned to his alma mater as a player development coach in 2016, brought on by former skipper George Horton. Three years later, he was named the team’s strength and conditioning coach while also taking on a video analyst role in 2020. He still occupies both positions today.
Simply put, there are few individuals more synonymous with Oregon Baseball than Hunter.
“Other than my year of pro ball, I either played with or coached every player that’s come through Oregon Baseball,” Hunter said. “It’s cool being able to really understand what the program is about and all the players that have come through here. I think it just helps the knowledge and the trust and buy-in from the guys.”
Little did Meggers know early in his collegiate career that Hunter would become a heavy influence on his already strong work ethic.
Joining a Ducks’ catchers group that featured experienced players such as juniors Josiah Cromwick and Bennett Thompson along with sophomore Jack Scanlon, it was in Meggers’ best interest to sit out his freshman year and take a redshirt. It was more of the same the next spring, with Cromwick and Thompson returning and Anson Aroz, the No. 2 high school catcher in California with a 9.5 out of 10 rating by Perfect Game, inserting his name into the mix.
Predictably, Meggers kept his head down and continued to push forward.
“It was there,” Hunter said of the catcher’s work ethic. “That was never a question with Chase, honestly, skill was never a question… One thing I credit [to] Chase, he always stayed positive, and the work never waned. Some guys come in working hard, but then they don’t play, and their work ethic suffers. That was never him.”
In the new era of college athletics, players can enter their name into the transfer portal and quickly find a new home if they aren’t satisfied with the playing time they receive at their current school — a route several have taken. Not Meggers.
Spending lots of time as the team’s bullpen catcher, he got to know Hunter outside of the weight room, strengthening the bond between them. The two continued to work on improving Meggers’ strength in the hopes of increasing his power. With Hunter’s guidance, he was able to get the most out of his sessions in the gym or practice, helping him inch closer to his goal of making an impact on the field.
Oregon’s coaching staff recognized that Meggers naturally made contact regularly, and with the right training, he could translate that skill into hitting for more power.
“From day one, even though he might’ve been undersized, he made the ability to make quality bat-to-ball contact,” Hunter said. “That’s not something you can teach very easily. If you work hard you can develop power, but the ability to put bat to ball and make solid contact consistently usually travels.”
As he continued to grow physically, he simultaneously blossomed into a leader, aiming to sharpen the skills of the players who had everyday roles.
At first, he solely led by example. Despite not being a regular, the work ethic and dedication to the program he routinely displayed made him a role model. Even when his name found its way into the Ducks’ lineup far more often, Meggers continued to make his teammates better, becoming more vocal as time passed.
“I think we learned from each other,” Neville said. “We’ll go after hours and hit together, and if we see something in each other’s swing, we’ve been around each other enough to know what it looks like and if we’re having success… We’ll take each other to the side, even if you’re frustrated, we listen to each other.”
Getting His Chance
Something was different when Meggers arrived at PK Park in Eugene on February 23, 2024.
The locker room was the same, with his green and yellow No. 27 jersey hanging in his locker. But when he looked at the team’s lineup card for a Friday night game against Lafayette, the redshirt sophomore saw something that he hadn’t yet seen during his first two years with the program — his name in the three-spot serving as the Ducks’ designated hitter.
At long last, he earned the first start of his collegiate career.
Meggers, with a somewhat tame demeanor, simply went about his pregame routine seemingly unfazed. There was no emotional reaction or sappy moment because it was expected. He knew he’d earned his spot in the lineup, and was poised to prove that head coach Mark Wasikowski had made the right decision.
“When I saw my name in the lineup, it was just another game,” Meggers said. “I was ready to go.”
He indeed demonstrated his readiness later that day.
In a convincing 17-3 Ducks’ win, Meggers reached base four times, logging his first collegiate hit, a two-run single, and drawing three walks. His performance in that February win over Lafayette was promising, but being a redshirt sophomore, he needed to keep generating results at the plate if he intended to remain a regular in his team’s potent lineup.
Entering his fourth full season as Oregon’s coach, Wasikowski placed lofty expectations on his program in 2024. Given what the squad had accomplished in the previous three years, that high bar was warranted.
The Ducks were fresh off their most successful season in almost a decade and concluded a 41-22 campaign by hosting a Super Regional for only the second time in the modern era. Before the spring, Oregon was one of six Pac-12 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament by D1Baseball.com, but everyone within the program knew they were capable of reaching greater heights.
“Honestly, [we expected] to go to Omaha,” Hunter said. “I think [Wasikowski] is the type of coach like he doesn’t do this, hasn’t been doing this for so long just to make a regional. That’s what he tells [the players], every time we make a regional, it’s like, ‘That’s great, but that’s what you expect. That’s why you came here, to make regionals, make regionals and go to Omaha.”
Mainly powered by an offense that finished among the Pac-12’s highest ranks in several categories, the Ducks turned a 40-20 regular season into a berth in the NCAA Tournament, heading to Santa Barbara for Regionals. After defeating San Diego in an 11-inning thriller, they took two straight from No. 18 UC Santa Barbara to advance.
While Oregon ultimately fell to eventual national runner-up No. 4 Texas A&M in a three-game Super Regional, it still put forth a strong and promising season. The Ducks had just played three games in one of college baseball’s renowned atmospheres and just barely missed out on a trip to the World Series.
There wasn’t any room for slowing down if Meggers wanted to remain a consistent part of his team’s potent lineup. Conversely, if he continued to hit well, Wasikowski and company would find ways to make sure he got at-bats, regardless of where that meant he’d play in the field. The latter is what the redshirt sophomore forced his coaches to do.
Through all of the Ducks’ success, Meggers didn’t just fit the part; he spearheaded the charge. Playing 46 games at catcher, in the outfield, or as a designated hitter, the 2024 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention was as reliable as ever, pacing Oregon in batting average and logging 14 extra-base hits while knocking in 33 runs and scoring 32 himself.
“It’s hard to say it means more, but if you’re being honest, it kind of does,” Hunter said. “When you see someone stay in the program, keep working hard the whole time, just put his head down… and then for it to work out for him is awesome. It means a lot more for those guys, and it's building a culture and environment of guys sticking around, less portals, stuff like that.”
In the NCAA Tournament, Meggers went 7-for-22 (.318) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI. That long ball, like the one he hit against Cotuit, couldn’t have come in a higher-leverage moment: in game three of the aforementioned Super Regional series.
With the Aggies already leading 1-0 the first time Oregon came up to bat, Meggers came to the plate with a runner on first. He then clubbed a two-run shot over the right-field wall, putting his squad up 2-1 and beginning a string of three Ducks consecutive homers that saw them take a 4-1 lead. While they ultimately lost the pivotal game, that key play only provided Meggers with more validation for working so hard.
“That was a great environment and it was fun,” Meggers said. “You can’t really compare anything to Texas A&M. That environment was pretty unreal, it was super fun to play in and something I’ll never forget. I was super happy to be there with my team, and we were two games away from Omaha. And we’ll be back there next year for sure.”
Dominating On The Cape
Following the MLB Draft, the Bourne Braves were in dire need of depth at the catcher position.
A team that had already seen four catchers come and go longed for a backstop that could also add some offense to its lineup. Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina) struggled at the plate through six games early in the summer before heading to Team USA, as did Adonys Guzman (Arizona) despite his incredible defensive ability. Matthew Graveline (Ohio State), who departed the squad on July 11, could also be placed into that category.
Ben Hartl, fresh off a .309 junior campaign at Kansas where he accrued 11 homers and 35 RBI, showed promise in the batter’s box despite hitting .167 in nine contests. Then he was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 14th Round of this year’s draft, spelling the end of his time on the Cape.
With Guzman as the only catcher on the Braves roster after the draft — though he headed home shortly after — there was a significant hole behind the plate that needed to be filled quickly.
Fortunately for Landers, there was already a plan in place. Meggers and John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic) were signed within 24 hours of one another, significantly bolstering the Braves’ group behind the dish.
“We knew we needed to bring in a catcher that was a veteran and can hit a little bit,” Landers said.
Schroeder, in his own right, has checked both of those boxes thus far. He’s a switch-hitting rising senior who’s accrued boatloads of experience over three years as an Owl, slashing .274/.370/.498 this past spring. Since contributing a two-run single in the fourth inning of his Cape League debut on July 19, Shroeder has been serviceable at the plate with a .250 average and two home runs in seven total games.
With all due respect to Schroeder, it’s difficult to duplicate what Meggers has accomplished in his 14 contests in Bourne.
He recorded at least one hit in each of his ten regular season games, totaling six extra-base hits and driving in seven runs. Save for his uncharacteristically poor performance in game two against Cotuit, he proved a vital bat during the postseason with six hits including a double, triple and home run along with two RBI.
Despite using a wood bat as opposed to the metal one he uses at Oregon, Meggers didn’t have to change anything about his game. He stayed the course and the success followed.
“Wood bats [are] a little different,” Meggers said. “It’s not as easy to use, it’s a little bit heavier… But I just came out here and did the same thing I normally do, same approach. It’s worked out here and [I’m] just finding little ways to improve still out here. And it’s been fun.”
And though he was 3,148 miles from school, Meggers kept his white shirt on.
Whenever the opportunity arose, he could be found getting in more work before games. If there was extra time for batting practice, Meggers returning to the turtle for more at-bats was a surefire bet. While he was in Bourne for less than a month, he was already viewed as a popular teammate and leader.
That’s simply the way Meggers goes about his business. He understands it will all result in him becoming a better player. He’s had a lot of success in the past seven months, but doesn’t linger on it too long — he always has his attention focused on what’s ahead. His desire to play the sport he loves on the biggest stage is unrelenting. It’s what he’s spent his whole life working towards.
“I have a lot more work to do,” Meggers said. “I’m not even close to where I want to be yet. But every once and a while I think about the success I had, but I just try not to think about it. I keep trying to keep my head down and keep working hard so I can get where I want to be.”
