TCU baseball has promising 2021 outlook despite Big 12 snubs, Schlossnagle says
A week later and TCU baseball players are still baffled by the preseason All-Big 12 team that had no Frogs on it.
“It was something that was sent in a group message immediately,” senior left-hander Haylen Green said. “Our attitude was, ‘Let’s go boys.’ We like this. It pumps us up. It motivates us. We like to be the team who gets slept on so we can go out there every day and prove who we are.”
TCU has started that process with preseason practices getting underway last week. Judging by what players and coach Jim Schlossnagle told reporters during a news conference on Thursday, there’s plenty of buzz surrounding this team despite the preseason snubs.
“Just like every college baseball coach this time of year, barring injury, we love our team,” Schlossnagle said. “We’re super excited about not just their ability, because I think everybody is going to be really good this year, just a lot of really good young men. They’re fun to be around. Their energy and work ethic has been at a very high level. I love being around our team.”
It’s a team that is driven for success. The Frogs return every senior from last season as they took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA amid the coronavirus pandemic. And they aren’t shying away from lofty goals.
TCU believes it has a team that can return to the College World Series.
As senior catcher Zach Humphreys said, “Our expectations are not only to get to Omaha, but to win it. The potential this team has is very high. We’re a very old team, very experienced, but that’s not even the best part — we’re a very talented team.”
The season starts in two weeks at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field. TCU, which is ranked as the No. 10 team going into the season, opens against Ole Miss on Friday, Feb. 19.
The tournament features six of the top-10 programs in the country as TCU will also face Mississippi State (Feb. 20) and Arkansas (Feb. 21) of the SEC. Texas and Texas Tech are the other Big 12 participants.
Among the takeaways from Schlossnagle:
▪ Freshman outfielder Elijah Nunez out of Arlington Martin received high praise as Schlossnagle said he has a “Matt Carpenter-esque feel for the strike zone.”
▪ Along with Nunez, freshmen Brayden Taylor and Luke Boyers have impressed. Taylor is an infielder who can play third, short and second. Boyers is an outfielder who is built like a “strong safety.” TCU could start all three freshmen on opening day.
▪ Junior shortstop Tommy Sacco is the best defensive shortstop Schlossnagle has had at TCU. Sacco is also making strides at the plate.
▪ If the season started today, the likely weekend rotation would be Johnny Ray, Russell Smith and Austin Krob. Those three have combined for one Big 12 start.
▪ Green and fellow senior Charles King are having strong offseasons and could pitch in any role this season (starter, long relief, middle relief, closer). Schlossnagle loves having that versatility, particularly since one is a lefty (Green) and one is a righty (King).
▪ Schlossnagle praised several others, including infielder Gray Rodgers for getting in better shape this offseason and right-hander Marcelo Perez for throwing as well as ever.
▪ Outfielder Sam Thompson will likely be limited to DH duties this season as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
▪ Schlossnagle praised first baseman Gene Wood for his abilities on and off the field. He said Wood has one of the most pure swings he’s seen for a left-handed batter and quickly established himself as a team leader last season after transferring from Alabama.
Final word
Schlossnagle expects this college baseball season to be as good as ever given the number of seniors who returned, and the incoming talent with the 2020 MLB Draft being limited to only five rounds during the pandemic. Simply put, there weren’t as many professional opportunities for players and the college ranks benefited.
“College baseball is going to be played at an all-time level like we’ve never seen before,” he said.
