Along with familiar faces such as Jason Coats, Josh Elander and Brance Rivera, the dugout at Lupton Stadium on Friday afternoon was filled with new ones. A bunch of new ones.
TCU held its first team baseball practice Friday, preparing for the season-opening series that begins Feb. 17 against Mississippi.Coach Jim Schlossnagle appreciates the respect his program has been receiving from national polls -- ranking as high as No. 10 in Collegiate Baseball to No. 15 in Baseball America -- but cautions that inexperience in the infield and on the mound are crucial parts of college baseball."In college baseball today, with the bats the way they are, those are places you don't want to have inexperience," he said. "I do think we're talented, just inexperienced."Elander, who returns as catcher, likes what he has seen from his new, younger teammates."Some people might look at it as an obstacle, but really it's a great opportunity for a bunch of new guys," said Elander, who batted .333 last season. "It's an exciting time. They're getting an opportunity to prove themselves at a young age at a place like TCU, a perennial top program."Coats back to leadOutfielder Jason Coats, who led the Frogs in RBIs the last two seasons, is glad he chose to return for his senior season after being drafted in the 12th round by the Baltimore Orioles last June."It feels good," Coats said. "I'm happy with my decision to come back. I'm ready for Feb. 17 to get here."Coats has been more of a quiet leader on the team in the past, but as a senior, he expects to be a little more vocal."I'm more of a one-on-one type guy," he said. "If I see someone struggling in the cages I'll go give them some pointers, but I've been a little more vocal this year."Coats, Josh Elander, Brance Rivera and Jantzen Witte are entrusted by the TCU coaches as the "older guys to hold everybody accountable" during off-season workouts.Witte's timetableJantzen Witte, who underwent surgery Jan. 13 to repair a torn hip labrum, is expected to miss at least eight weeks, including TCU's first 16-20 games. Jim Schlossnagle said the senior third baseman is unlikely to be ready earlier, but there's a chance he could be back in less than 10 weeks, which was the initial timetable."We're hoping it's eight weeks," Schlossnagle said. "That doesn't mean he'll be able to play defense then. I think defense will be the last thing that comes. Hopefully he can DH at eight weeks."Stefan Stevenson817-390-7760Twitter: @FollowtheFrogs
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