Awaiting a return flight to Council Bluffs, Iowa, Oregon State baseball’s newest second baseman and junior, AJ Singer, received a call from OSU head coach, Mitch Canham, asking him to change his flight and come to Corvallis. 

Singer was on a recruiting visit to Grand Canyon University, a school less than 20 minutes from his hometown of Glendale, Arizona. 

“Being from Arizona, I never thought I would come to Oregon to play baseball,” Singer said. “I thought I would go back home, but I was blessed with the opportunity to come here.” 

The OSU culture and atmosphere captured the heart of yet another transfer student. In Singer’s freshman year, he batted .320 with eight home runs, 40 runs scored, 38 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. The following season, he batted .396 with a .661 slugging percentage, 81 RBIs, and eight home runs. 

“When I came here and (stepped) on campus, it just felt like home,” Singer said. “It felt like a place that I would be welcomed and create a new family away from my own.” 

Despite his desire to return to Arizona, out of high school, Singer was recruited by former University of Hawaii head coach, Mike Trapasso. 

However, after the 2022 baseball season ended, Trapasso left Hawaii, causing Singer to veer in the direction of junior college.

Singer attended a top-ranked Iowa Western Community College and played under head coach Ryan Cougill.

During Cougill’s 12 seasons as a junior college head coach, he has coached 120 players to play Division 1 baseball, five of which made it to the MLB. 

In Cougill’s first two seasons at Iowa Western Community College, he led the Reivers to an overall record of 92-24, a No. 1 JUCO national ranking, and a trip to the 2024 JUCO World Series.

At Iowa Western, Singer was named All-League Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and the 2024 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. 

“(AJ) took pride in winning,” Cougill said. “In his mind, his defense was always something that could help a team win.”

“He’s consistent,” Cougill said. “He showed up being the same guy every single day and that’s what really pushes him over the top.” 

Singer’s offensive and defensive consistency caught the attention of the OSU coaching staff. 

“Coach (Joey) Wong had eyes on (Singer) early,” Canham said. “He really loved his actions and his competitive nature.”

In the fall season of 2023, OSU made their way out to Council Bluffs to take a look at Singer and committed later that year.

“The coaches at Iowa Western, myself included, have a relationship with Oregon State, and that network is pretty tight and strong,” Cougill said. “They were looking for a middle infielder, and AJ was the one who initiated it, so we reached out to Oregon State.”

Oregon State pitching coach Rich Dorman previously coached at GCU during the same time Cougill was coaching at Yavapai College in Arizona. 

“It’s an ongoing professional relationship, so the baseball world just keeps getting smaller,” Cougill said. 

Singer has sneakily made his way into the starting lineup in 18 out of the 19 games played this season.

Although Singer was recruited as a shortstop, in June of 2024, University of Washington transfer and All-Pac 12 shortstop, Aiva Arquette announced his commitment to OSU.

“I was excited getting Aiva in the portal,” Singer said. “You want to bring the best dudes in here to win.”  

Until coming to OSU, Singer went his whole life without playing second base. When the decision was made to move him over to second, Singer and Coach Wong spent two weeks working the angles and learning the defensive positioning of a second baseman.

“Transitioning was easy,” Singer said. “If you can play short, you can play second.” 

Growing up, baseball was always on the TV at the Singer house. The players that caught Singer’s attention were Andrelton Simmons, Dansby Swanson and Dustin Pedroia.

Singer’s dad, Jason, went to ASU as a Division 1 wrestler. The pair often found themselves attending many Sun Devil baseball games together. 

At those games, Singer learned all about the Dustin Pedroia legacy, which he began to model his game after. 

“Pedroia is hard-nosed, being his size,” Singer said. “Hitting-wise, he works line to line and picks the absolute living out of the baseball.”

Pedroia was an All-American shortstop and played at ASU from 2002 to 2003. During his tenure, Pedroia set the freshman record for doubles (82), was a two-time first-team all-Pac-10, the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year, the 2003 Collegiate Baseball National Defensive Player of the Year, a 2004 Golden Spikes Award finalist and a Baseball America first-team All-American. 

“Pedroia was a grinder and a winner, a dirty uniform kind of guy,” Cougill said. 

Despite being drafted into the MLB as a shortstop, Pedroia’s height caused him to transition to second base for the Boston Red Sox. 

“With my size and stature, second base is definitely (a better fit),” Singer said. “I want to be like Pedroia. 

Defensively, Singer has perfectly filled the hole that 2024 MLB first overall draft pick, Travis Bazzana left at OSU. 

“He’s very aware of what he’s doing and confident of it,” Canham said. “He’s made some amazing plays on defense.” 

Although it’s Singer’s first year with the team, he approaches helping out teammates differently. In practice, Singer looks for the younger and less confident guys to give them opportunities to get the ball to break that confidence barrier.

“He calls it calling people up, instead of calling people out,” Canham said.

Singer’s baseball journey continues with a push to Omaha. The Beavers will continue to play at home through April.

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