Oregon took the field for its first baseball practice Friday, three weeks from the season opener that Kenyon Yovan plans to start once again.

“If I’m called upon, I’ll be ready,” the UO redshirt junior pitcher said. “My mentality has been ready since I got taken out of that game going into the third inning against Texas Tech. I’ve been ready for my opportunity and Opening Day is my next opportunity.”

Yovan was a preseason all-American last season when he pitched two innings in the Feb. 15 opener at Texas Tech before suffering an injury that turned out to be season ending. He had shoulder surgery in the offseason and had to sit out the summer and did not throw much during fall practices before resuming bullpen sessions in December.

“Right now I am throwing the same amount of bullpens as anyone else, same program,” said Yovan, who will pitch in a scrimmage Saturday. “I am slowly ramping up to about 85 or 90% right now but things are looking up. Now I am building my stamina back up and have the arm strength to go with it. … I’ve never felt stronger so we will see how it goes. I have a different mentality now and I’ve got a lot to prove.”

Yovan was a first-team all-Pac-12 pick during each of his first two years with the Ducks while beginning his career in the bullpen and moving to the starting rotation as a sophomore. He’s 7-5 with a 2.73 ERA and 20 saves while striking out 135 in 118 2/3 innings at Oregon.

New UO coach Mark Wasikowski, who recruited Yovan to Oregon before leaving to become the head coach at Purdue in 2016, said Yovan’s health will help determine his role this season.

“A healthy Kenyon Yovan could easily be the best closer in college baseball or potentially the best Friday night guy in the country, so that’s a plus,” Wasikowski said. “He could be either one. He’s been in both roles, so whatever is best for the club is how we will use him.”

Yovan was ranked as one of the top 25 pitching prospects in college baseball entering last year, but injury concerns dropped him to the 27th round of the Major League Baseball draft where he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels.

“Knock on wood, he’s healthy right now,” Wasikowski said. “He’s on a throwing program that is building him up in the proper way.”

Oregon opens the season Feb. 14 against Minnesota in a tournament in Tempe, Ariz.

“I’m feeling great, anxious and ready to get out there,” Yovan said. “It has been almost a year to the day since I threw for the last time. I am itching to get back out there. I have been working hard. I stayed here this summer to work out a lot and try to get as strong as I can be in the time I have. Hopefully I can go out and make an impact right away and put my name back on the map along with Oregon baseball."