'Lookie here' Johnson adds Oklahoma native in first round of offseason additions

Staff ace Kyson Witherspoon is a lock for the first round of the MLB Draft on July 13-14, so Johnson will have to find a new Friday starter. However, brother Malachi Witherspoon and catcher Easton Carmichael are also ranked 116 and 93 in the MLB’s 2025 Prospect Rankings, meaning they’ll both likely forgo their senior years if drafted high enough.

Although Johnson would love to return the talent he’s helped develop throughout the years, the coach said the need to reload year after year must mean the coaching staff is doing something right.

“We’ve lost our starting rotation four out of the last five years to the draft,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if there’s a lot of division one teams where that happens to the whole rotation, so [I’m] really proud of that.”

With his work cut out for him, Johnson got to work early, adding four new players to the 2026 team with another pair of commits to be announced soon.

Here’s a look at the four new names that have announced they will don Oklahoma’s crimson and cream next spring:

Cayden Brumbaugh, UTIL (Nebraska)

Brumbaugh, one of three players who committed to Oklahoma on June 6, is making his return to the Sooner state after spending his freshman year at Oklahoma State and the next two at Nebraska. In 40 appearances and 36 starts for the Huskers, the Edmond Santa Fe product hit .309 with 76 hits, 24 of which were good for extra bases, 51 runs and 33 RBIs.

Given his athleticism and flexibility in the field, the Oklahoma native will certainly have an opportunity to work his way into Johnson’s starting lineup next year.

LJ Mercurius, RHP (UNLV)

Mercurius, the second commit who announced his plans on June 6, was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team for his sophomore season in which he led his former team in ERA (3.57). In his 12 appearances and 11 starts in 2025, the righty posted a 7-5 record, allowing 21 earned runs on 45 hits while striking out 58 batters in 53 innings pitched.

Mercurius was also invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate Camp this summer, an opportunity both Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon experienced last year. Coincidentally enough, the righty will also play alongside his brother, Alexander, who has signed with the Sooners out of high school for the 2025 season.

Nolan Stevens, INF/OF/RHP (Mississippi State)

Stevens, the last June 6 commit, made 28 starts for the Bulldogs in the 2025 season. The sophomore batted .320 with 32 hits, four home runs and 21 RBIs, but the lefty also has some experience on the mound as a reliever in both his freshman and sophomore year campaigns.

Before becoming a fixture in the starting lineup as a sophomore, Stevens pitched 26.2 innings as a freshman, posting a 4.72 ERA and allowing 14 earned runs on 27 hits and eight walks with 28 punch-outs.

Camden Johnson, IF (Wichita State)

Camden Johnson is the latest prospect to announce his plans to transfer, committing four days after the previous three on June 10. The infielder was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Freshman Team and All-AAC Second Team in his first year with the Shockers.

Johnson led Wichita State with a .325 batting average over 56 starts with Wichita State in his second season. The sophomore also paced the Shockers in at-bats (231), hits (75), runs (47) and doubles (17) in 2025.

Although the infielder is the latest of official offseason additions, coach Skip Johnson alluded to two more additions Thursday night and Friday afternoon who have yet to announce their commitments. Johnson and his staff welcomed 16 transfers in total entering the 2025 season.

Additionally, more commitments are likely to roll in as the offseason progresses and decisions relative to the MLB Draft are made.