Freshman DH sparking TCU baseball’s offensive resurgence

TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle has a project on his hands — how to get freshman Connor Wanhanen more at-bats.

The left-handed hitter from Flower Mound was 19 for 37 in eight games during the Horned Frogs’ 12-game homestand, pushing his team-best average to .419.

The problem is finding him a spot when he’s not the designated hitter. Schlossnagle wants to use catcher Evan Skoug at DH on days he’s not catching, but that leaves Wanhanen without a spot.

“We’re going to have to start looking at other ways to maybe get him in there,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s a big part of our offense. We’re a really good team when he’s in there.”

Wanhanen has started 15 games as the DH and one in left field. He has been in the No. 2 spot in the order each time and leads the team in on-base percentage. He’s walked five times and reached on a hit by pitch four times, also a team-high.

Schlossnagle’s confidence in Wanhanen was most evident on Saturday. The coach put him in the lineup for Game 2 of the Wichita State series against left-hander Jeb Bargfeldt, and Wanhanen responded with a single, double and single in his first three at-bats on the way to a 4-for-4 game.

Wanhanen said it was all the same to him.

“The ball spins a little different way, but when it comes down to it, there’s a guy throwing it across the plate and you’re trying to put a bat on it and have a quality at-bat,” Wanhanen said.

Overall, the young DH is part of a TCU offense that appears to have found its feet since dropping a series against Oklahoma State. The Frogs have scored 37 runs in four games since, and their .289 team batting average leads the Big 12.

“It’s been a lot of fun of late,” Wanhanen said. “We’re coming out trying to get better every day. I think that’s what a lot of guys are doing, really focusing on improving.

“And for me, being more comfortable at the plate, which I definitely am right now.”

Road time

TCU hits the road for the first time in two weeks, having completed a 10-2 homestand against two conference opponents, Baylor and Oklahoma State, and three nonconference opponents.

Nine of the next 10 games are on the road for the Frogs, who are 5-2 away from home this season.

“I love playing in front of our fans, but road trips are always fun,” Schlossnagle said. “A lot of memories are made in road trips, because it’s just you and your team.

“We’ve played well on the road the first third of the season this year, and I anticipate we will again.”

After Tuesday’s game at UT Arlington, the Frogs play a three-game series at Texas Tech starting Thursday. Then it’s a home game against Dallas Baptist next week, followed by a three-game series at Kansas State and a second game at UT Arlington the following week.

UTA slide

The Mavericks, 5-8 at Clay Gould Ballpark, are led in hitting by junior outfielder Matt McLean of Plano at .364.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Freshman DH sparking TCU baseball’s offensive resurgence."