2020 TCU baseball preview: Coach Schlossnagle likes the depth of his pitching staff
TCU baseball has always returned a marquee name to its pitching staff or lineup during Jim Schlossnagle’s tenure.
Everyone knew who starters Nick Lodolo and Jared Janczak were before the 2019 season. Luken Baker brought his powerful bat back in 2018. And the list goes on.
But that’s one luxury the Horned Frogs won’t have this season.
Sure, Hunter Wolfe and Austin Henry were solid in 2019, and Zach Humphreys has been a staple behind the plate who will get a chance for a pro career.
But those aren’t household names.
“Every single year we’ve been here, you’ve returned this pitcher you could build around, or this group of pitchers you could build around, or this group of position players,” said Schlossnagle, who is entering his 17th season as TCU’s head coach.
“We don’t have a whole lot of proven pieces. I’m always anxious to start the season. This year, I’m especially anxious. Some of that is good anxiety.”
TCU opens its season with a three-game series Friday against Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Lupton Stadium followed by games at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
TCU then hosts Abilene Christian at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday before going on its first road trip to Minnesota Feb. 22-24. That series will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium, the indoor home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings that will transformed into a baseball field.
Here’s a closer look at the 2020 Horned Frogs baseball team.
Pitching staff
Redshirt sophomore Johnny Ray has earned the opening-day start for TCU. Ray is entering his first season with TCU.
The right-hander started his college career at Illinois State in 2018, but did not play for the Redbirds. He then had an injury-plagued season last year at John A. Logan College, a junior college in Illinois. Ray threw just eight innings.
One MLB scout who saw Ray pitch once last season described him as a pitcher with a 90-95 mph fastball with a “solid but inconsistent” breaking ball.
Still, Ray’s a highly-touted prospect who was ranked as the No. 6 JUCO draft prospect by Perfect Game last season.
“If he pitches and stays healthy the way he has to this point, I think TCU fans are really going to like it,” Schlossnagle said.
Saturday’s starter will be senior right-hander Charles King. King had a 3.36 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 21 appearances last season. He had eight starts in 2019, and the Frogs were 6-2 in those games.
Sunday’s starter will be sophomore left-hander Russell Smith, who missed last season with an injury. The 6-foot-9 Smith made 11 starts as part of 12 appearances in 2018, going 8-4 with a 3.35 ERA.
Asked if he liked how his weekend rotation came about, Schlossnagle said: “I do because they earned it.”
As far as the midweek starter, Schlossnagle is waiting to see how the opening series unfolds. He likes the depth of the pitching staff, although mentioned freshman Riley Cornelio as the favorite to be the fourth starter.
Other options include freshman right-hander Jacob Meador, sophomore left-hander Austin Krob and sophomore right-hander Marcelo Perez.
“All of those guys are going to play big roles for us,” Schlossnagle said. “Ideally, I’d like to have Cornelio in the rotation but I’ll use him if we need him to win a game the first weekend. We don’t have to define a fourth starter until someone emerges or other bullpen pieces come together.”
Schlossnagle expects whoever isn’t in the rotation (Cornelio, Meador, Krob and Perez) to play a significant role in the bullpen. “Our depth is good,” he said. “We just want it to be quality depth.”
Another pitcher who has shined in spring practices has been senior left-hander Haylen Green. Schlossnagle believes Green could set the program-record for appearances, which is 38 by Justin Scharf in 2012.
But ultimately, as Schlossnagle said, “The guys who pitch the best will pitch the most.”
Lineup matters
Here’s the projected lineup to start the season:
1. Porter Brown, LF
2. Tommy Sacco, SS
3. Austin Henry, 1B
4. Gene Wood, RF
5. Hunter Wolfe, DH
6. Conner Shepherd, 3B
7. Zach Humphreys, C
8. Gray Rodgers, 2B
9. Phillip Sikes, CF
Schlossnagle remains optimistic about the impact Sacco will make from a defensive and offensive perspective, calling him an elite shortstop.
“To this point, he’s been every bit as good as anybody we’ve ever had play shortstop during my time here,” Schlossnagle said. “That alone is going to make us a better team.”
Schlossnagle is also high on what Henry and Wolfe will bring to the lineup, particularly after they finished last season strong. Both have the potential to hit more than 10 home runs.
However, an injury will likely limit Wolfe to designated hitter duties this season. Wolfe had been expected to play center field, but Schlossnagle feels good about what Sikes can do defensively.
“He’s a really talented defensive player for sure,” Schlossnagle said. “He’ll play center every bit as good as Johnny Rizer [last year’s center fielder].”
Briefly
▪ Even though they’re not in the opening day lineup, Schlossnagle mentioned sophomore Bobby Goodloe and freshman catcher Kurtis Byrne as two key contributors to this year’s team.
▪ Schlossnagle believes this is TCU’s toughest non-conference schedule since joining the Big 12 in 2012. “If we can have success against it, or at least moderate success, then we’ll definitely be prepared for Big 12 play.”
▪ It’s been a decade since TCU made its first College World Series run in 2010. The Frogs have been four more times, from 2014-17. Schlossnagle said he sees some of the 2014 team in this year’s team, “To this point, they’ve played sound baseball. Not a lot of power, but we’ve caught the baseball and pitched. That’s the team we’re going to have to be.”
