TCU baseball has found its ‘all-time pitcher’ in senior Haylen Green
TCU baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle had a simple explanation when it comes to Haylen Green’s role on the team.
“He’s all-time pitcher,” Schlossnagle said. “When you’re a little kid and you’re playing wiffle ball or playing kickball, there’s always an all-time pitcher. He’s an all-time pitcher for me.”
There’s no question about that. The numbers don’t lie.
Green has pitched in half of TCU’s games so far (16 of 32), including closing out Tuesday’s 10-2 victory over Tarleton State at Lupton Stadium. Green threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one, to give the Frogs their 12th victory in the last 14 games.
TCU had a 6-2 lead when Green entered in the eighth inning before the offense broke it open in the bottom half with four runs, highlighted by Conner Shepherd’s three-run home run.
Green, a senior out of Lufkin, lowered his ERA to 1.85 with another scoreless appearance. He’s got a 40-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 34 innings this season. He also has seven saves.
The Frogs are 12-4 in games Green has pitched.
“He’s a guy who wants the ball a lot,” Schlossnagle said. “And the more he pitches, the sharper he is.”
Green hasn’t allowed a run in nine of his last 10 appearances. More important, he relishes the idea of being an option on a nightly basis.
Before the season, Green said he’d love to average three appearances per week.
Asked if he’s ever told Schlossnagle and pitching coach Kirk Saarloos he needed a day off, Green smiled and said: “No. Never. They’ll never hear that from me.”
Green pointed to his conditioning and fitness as to why he’s been dependable. He mentioned doing plyometric exercises to keep his shoulder healthy too.
“I’m doing a lot of stuff all the time to be able to go out there as much as I can,” Green said. “Every time I can get out there, I love it.”
More pitching matters
Following Tuesday’s game, Schlossnagle mentioned the need to find a reliable midweek starter and a couple more consistent options out of the bullpen.
Cam Brown started Tuesday’s game but was pulled after recording just one out. That was the third straight midweek start in which the starter failed to go at least two innings.
Brown, Jacob Meador and Riley Cornelio have all been given multiple midweek starts this season and none have seized the job.
“We have three starting pitchers [the weekend rotation of Russell Smith, Austin Krob and Johnny Ray] and we don’t have any others right now,” Schlossnagle said. “That’s disappointing. We’ll continue to win ballgames, but it’s a long season. You can’t keep putting the same stress on the same guys.”
As far as the bullpen is concerned, Schlossnagle likes what he’s seen from freshman right-hander Garrett Wright of late. He also feels sophomore right-hander Marcelo Perez took a step forward Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits over 3 2/3 innings.
“We need a few more guys to emerge. That’s going to be the story of our season,” Schlossnagle said. “We’ve got to keep our three starters — a, healthy and b, pitching well — and then develop a little deeper bullpen and a fourth starter.”
Up next
TCU (23-8) hosts Oklahoma State (21-7-1) for a three-game series this weekend. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Lupton Stadium.
