Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Baseball
In an effort to give you a nice, complete preview of the 2014 Aggie baseball season, let's take inventory of the Texas A&M roster and go position-by-position in exploring how the lineup and pitching situation is shaking out heading into Friday's opener between the 24th-ranked Aggies and Northeastern University.
First pitch is at 6:35 pm in game one of a three-game series at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
In Grayson Long the Aggies have a familiar boon — a Sunday starter good enough to go on Fridays or Saturdays on many teams.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"In Grayson Long the Aggies have a familiar boon — a Sunday starter good enough to go on Fridays or Saturdays on many teams.","MediaItemID":30809}
As for Jester, the fifth-year senior journeyed through the JUCO ranks and massive academic troubles to turn himself into one of the best leaders and most mature performers that Rob Childress has ever had. He's on track to graduate in May and he turned down pro ball after the 2013 season to do just that ... graduate from Texas A&M and help lead the Aggies back to Omaha.
Jester holds the single-season saves record at A&M with 14 in '13. It's great to have him back in the fold in '14.
• Leading the way among those trickling in behind the "big three" is projected Sunday starter Grayson Long … a bazooka-armed sophomore RHP from Barbers Hill High School that has first round pick after his junior year written all over him. He stepped up big in his last start last season at Oregon State and carried that into a great summer and equally impressive fall.
Long is a Friday night guy on a lot of teams — having a guy that can overwhelm you on a Sunday is a GREAT asset for Childress.
• Lefties Hayden Howard, Tyler Stubblefield and hard-throwing A.J. Minter are A&M's primary options for the Tuesday starter spot and all three are likely to get a look in the opening weeks of the season. Howard, a sophomore JUCO transfer that turned down a pro contract to come to A&M, had a great fall but has struggled in January and February. Minter missed the entire fall with a rib injury a la Ryan Rupe in the mid-90s but is fully healthy now; Childress is trying to stretch out the former reliever in an effort to turn him into a starter. See below for extended thoughts on Stubblefield, but let's just say ... he's tearing it up as the season approaches and is vying for a major role on the Aggie pitching staff.
Right-hander Corey Ray is also an option on Tuesday nights. The "other Ray" has as much arm talent as anyone on the A&M roster this side of Long, but his problem has always been believing in his stuff and attacking hitters. He looked good in the tune-up scrimmage on Saturday and the Aggie coaching staff hopes that is a sign of the junior turning the corner. He's been given multiple opportunities to land a large role over the past two seasons and has failed to take full advantage of that. Nothing will be given to Ray in 2014 … he'll have to go out and take it. The jury is still out as to whether he'll be able to do so but we'll certainly find out as the seasons develops.
• Let's assume that Minter wins the Tuesday job. In that case, here is how I see the bullpen shaking out behind Jester:
RHP: Jason Freeman will lead a young but very talented group of righties in bridging the gap between the starters and Jester. The junior had a rough go of it in 2013 but had a great summer for the national championship winning Brazos Valley Bombers and carried that into a great fall and preseason.
Clay Taylor
Childress' task with the bullpen will be to sort through talented arms like Andrew Vinson's (pictured) and find those who can turn it into production.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Childress\u0027 task with the bullpen will be to sort through talented arms like Andrew Vinson\u0027s (pictured) and find those who can turn it into production.","MediaItemID":30617}
After Freeman, look for true freshmen Mark Ecker and Ryan Hendrix to get abundant opportunities to help out in mid-to-late relief. There is also Corey Ray, who I suspect will be slotted in that "emergency/long relief" category starting out the year.
Beyond that, Andrew Vinson is now just a pitcher and not a two-way player and he's greatly benefiting from focusing solely on one thing entering his sophomore year.
Finally, Gandy Stubblefield is back for his junior season. Not many guys — maybe Long and Corey Ray — have more natural stuff than Gandy, but much like Ray his problem has always been throwing strikes and believing in what God has blessed him with … and going out and attacking hitters. Stubblefield likely enters the year feeling a sense of urgency. We'll see if the former Astros draftee out of Lufkin High School can make an impact out of the pen in '14.
LHP: If Minter starts on Tuesdays that still leaves six — count 'em … SIX — southpaws battling for probably two or three relief spots in the Aggie bullpen. The most likely candidates to win those two or three spots are Howard, fellow sophomore Matt Kent and true freshman Tyler Stubblefield (yes, Gandy's younger brother). Kent won't run the fastball very many ticks above 80 MPH but he's a strike pumper and a competitor.
As for Stubblefield, you're talking about a young man that displays a very live arm, much like his brother. Unlike Gandy, Tyler has incredible command for a young guy. Also, being the former quarterback at Lufkin, the kid knows how to deal with pressure. He's very composed on the mound and nothing seems to bother him. Tyler is truly one of those "grab the ball, get on the mound and throw it" type of guys. Not a lot of thinking — or overthinking — from him. I see him making a bigger and bigger impact on the mound as his freshman season progresses. And that impact might come sooner than I originally had expected. One source very close to the program told me in the last couple of days that Stubblefield has been the most impressive of any pitcher on the roster not named Daniel Mengden.
Other lefties battling for spots include sophomore Ty Schlottmann and freshmen Rex Hill (a stud that is coming off of Tommy John surgery) and Kaylor Chafin.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Is 2014 the season the Aggies field a lineup powerful enough to keep the pressure off their strong pitching? The combination of returnees and additions suggests so.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Is 2014 the season the Aggies field a lineup powerful enough to keep the pressure off their strong pitching? The combination of returnees and additions suggests so.","MediaItemID":15257}
We're talking about infielder-outfielder G.R. Hinsley and infielder Logan Nottebrok. Add to those guys the hard-hitting Hunter Melton, junior phenom Cole Lankford and emerging sophomore Logan Taylor (currently battling a nagging injury that has held him back the past couple of weeks) and the middle of the A&M order looks as promising entering 2014 as it has in at least five seasons.
Baseball Thoughts: Taking inventory on 2014 roster
Note: Click the photo for a season preview Q&A with A&M head coach Rob Childress.
In an effort to give you a nice, complete preview of the 2014 Aggie baseball season, let's take inventory of the Texas A&M roster and go position-by-position in exploring how the lineup and pitching situation is shaking out heading into Friday's opener between the 24th-ranked Aggies and Northeastern University.
First pitch is at 6:35 pm in game one of a three-game series at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Strike one: The pitching
The Aggies are in a great spot on the mound heading into the season. Their top two starters — Daniel Mengden and Parker Ray — and their closer (Jason Jester) all return. Mengden and Ray make up one of the top 1-2 punches on the mound in the SEC. Both are no-doubt top-six returning starters in the league.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
In Grayson Long the Aggies have a familiar boon — a Sunday starter good enough to go on Fridays or Saturdays on many teams.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"In Grayson Long the Aggies have a familiar boon — a Sunday starter good enough to go on Fridays or Saturdays on many teams.","MediaItemID":30809}
Jester holds the single-season saves record at A&M with 14 in '13. It's great to have him back in the fold in '14.
• Leading the way among those trickling in behind the "big three" is projected Sunday starter Grayson Long … a bazooka-armed sophomore RHP from Barbers Hill High School that has first round pick after his junior year written all over him. He stepped up big in his last start last season at Oregon State and carried that into a great summer and equally impressive fall.
Long is a Friday night guy on a lot of teams — having a guy that can overwhelm you on a Sunday is a GREAT asset for Childress.
• Lefties Hayden Howard, Tyler Stubblefield and hard-throwing A.J. Minter are A&M's primary options for the Tuesday starter spot and all three are likely to get a look in the opening weeks of the season. Howard, a sophomore JUCO transfer that turned down a pro contract to come to A&M, had a great fall but has struggled in January and February. Minter missed the entire fall with a rib injury a la Ryan Rupe in the mid-90s but is fully healthy now; Childress is trying to stretch out the former reliever in an effort to turn him into a starter. See below for extended thoughts on Stubblefield, but let's just say ... he's tearing it up as the season approaches and is vying for a major role on the Aggie pitching staff.
Right-hander Corey Ray is also an option on Tuesday nights. The "other Ray" has as much arm talent as anyone on the A&M roster this side of Long, but his problem has always been believing in his stuff and attacking hitters. He looked good in the tune-up scrimmage on Saturday and the Aggie coaching staff hopes that is a sign of the junior turning the corner. He's been given multiple opportunities to land a large role over the past two seasons and has failed to take full advantage of that. Nothing will be given to Ray in 2014 … he'll have to go out and take it. The jury is still out as to whether he'll be able to do so but we'll certainly find out as the seasons develops.
• Let's assume that Minter wins the Tuesday job. In that case, here is how I see the bullpen shaking out behind Jester:
RHP: Jason Freeman will lead a young but very talented group of righties in bridging the gap between the starters and Jester. The junior had a rough go of it in 2013 but had a great summer for the national championship winning Brazos Valley Bombers and carried that into a great fall and preseason.
Clay Taylor
Childress' task with the bullpen will be to sort through talented arms like Andrew Vinson's (pictured) and find those who can turn it into production.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Childress\u0027 task with the bullpen will be to sort through talented arms like Andrew Vinson\u0027s (pictured) and find those who can turn it into production.","MediaItemID":30617}
Beyond that, Andrew Vinson is now just a pitcher and not a two-way player and he's greatly benefiting from focusing solely on one thing entering his sophomore year.
Finally, Gandy Stubblefield is back for his junior season. Not many guys — maybe Long and Corey Ray — have more natural stuff than Gandy, but much like Ray his problem has always been throwing strikes and believing in what God has blessed him with … and going out and attacking hitters. Stubblefield likely enters the year feeling a sense of urgency. We'll see if the former Astros draftee out of Lufkin High School can make an impact out of the pen in '14.
LHP: If Minter starts on Tuesdays that still leaves six — count 'em … SIX — southpaws battling for probably two or three relief spots in the Aggie bullpen. The most likely candidates to win those two or three spots are Howard, fellow sophomore Matt Kent and true freshman Tyler Stubblefield (yes, Gandy's younger brother). Kent won't run the fastball very many ticks above 80 MPH but he's a strike pumper and a competitor.
As for Stubblefield, you're talking about a young man that displays a very live arm, much like his brother. Unlike Gandy, Tyler has incredible command for a young guy. Also, being the former quarterback at Lufkin, the kid knows how to deal with pressure. He's very composed on the mound and nothing seems to bother him. Tyler is truly one of those "grab the ball, get on the mound and throw it" type of guys. Not a lot of thinking — or overthinking — from him. I see him making a bigger and bigger impact on the mound as his freshman season progresses. And that impact might come sooner than I originally had expected. One source very close to the program told me in the last couple of days that Stubblefield has been the most impressive of any pitcher on the roster not named Daniel Mengden.
Other lefties battling for spots include sophomore Ty Schlottmann and freshmen Rex Hill (a stud that is coming off of Tommy John surgery) and Kaylor Chafin.
Strike two: The lineup
I've joked a lot this preseason that Texas A&M finally went out and got some "chubby guys" to complement all of those skinny, singles-hitting, speedy guys that have predominantly made up the lineup throughout the last few years of the "dead bat/small ball" era. It's a tongue-in-cheek expression, but it's true. A&M found a couple of guys out of the JUCO ranks that are built a lot like Joe Patterson and Luke Anders … and can also hit like the former Aggie sluggers.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Is 2014 the season the Aggies field a lineup powerful enough to keep the pressure off their strong pitching? The combination of returnees and additions suggests so.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Is 2014 the season the Aggies field a lineup powerful enough to keep the pressure off their strong pitching? The combination of returnees and additions suggests so.","MediaItemID":15257}
I think A&M will hit 35-plus home runs this season. This isn't a "Murderer's Row" by any stretch of the imagination, but who is these days with the composite BBCOR bat that has about as much pop as a water-filled whiffle ball bat?
Despite all of that, when you can hit, you can hit. And these fellas can hit the ball a ton.
• Here are the positions that I believe to be locked up heading into the season opener — in other words, the following guys would have to play their way out of a starting spot with poor starts to the season: C (Troy Stein), 1B (Lankford), 2B (Blake Allemand), SS (Taylor) and CF (Krey Bratsen). That leaves heated battles at third base between Melton and Nottebrok, left field between Hinsley, Jonathan Moroney and freshman Ryne Birk and right field between freshman slugger Nick Banks, Birk and senior Jace Statum.
If I had to call it right now, I would say Melton starts the opener at third base, Hinsley starts in left and Banks starts in right. That would leave Nottebrok and backup catcher Mitchell Nau as the most likely starters at DH.
• How about a little "Did You Know?" when looking at returning hitters on the A&M team: Lankford led the Aggies in batting average (.352), doubles (18), triples (4), RBI (40), total bases (111), slugging percentage (.514) and fielding percentage (.990). All of that, and he missed nearly two weeks of the season with mononucleosis.
Lankford was the hottest hitter in college baseball over the final two weeks of the season in 2013 and with this being a "money year" for him I expect the always-positive first sacker to enjoy a tremendous season at the plate. I've never covered a player at A&M with a better combination of "sweet swing + positive outlook" and I'm not sure I ever will. I will always root for the good guys to finish first and they don't come much better in the "good guy" department than Cole Lankford.
• When projecting the A&M lineup, don't overlook a slew of talented freshmen who are pushing for a starting job. Birk is just a "dirtbag" baseball player … someone who lives to play the game and never leaves the field with a clean uniform. He can play three infield spots and three outfield spots and he's a top-of-the-lineup spark plug that will do everything in his power to write his own name in the opening day lineup.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Don't be surprised to see a large collective impact from Childress' collection of fresh incoming talent, specifically some lauded freshmen.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Don\u0027t be surprised to see a large collective impact from Childress\u0027 collection of fresh incoming talent, specifically some lauded freshmen.","MediaItemID":30725}
Banks is built like Tarzan and hits like him, too. He hasn't had a tremendous preseason but his bat will play in the SEC from the word "go." He's as toolsy as anyone on the roster and I see him playing a lot early and getting better and better throughout the season. Also, be on the lookout for Nick Choruby … an Aggie legacy whose dad played for Mark Johnson. He can play essentially every position and absolutely burn up the bases. He'll challenge at second base or at any of the outfield spots.
And then there is Ronnie Gideon, a 6-3, 250-pound future All-SEC middle-of-the-lineup bat whose father played pro baseball and is a scout with the Rockies. Gideon is battling at third base but his bat is so advanced for a first-year player that the A&M coaches have worked a lot with him at catcher to try to get his power into the lineup. The Hallsville product is coming off a 3-for-5, five-RBI effort on Saturday, including a home run that helped lift his Maroon squad a 7-2 win over White.
Gideon knows how to square up a baseball and he's one of those guys that could go out and grab a tree branch and could still hit the ball out of the yard. I think he plays more than many believe he will and he's a future four-hole hitter as his career progresses.
• Finally … here is my projected starting lineup on Opening Day:
Top bench options/others challenging for a starting spot:
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
The customary strength of the SEC should hone the Aggies and also provide a pre-loaded shot at earning a regional host bid.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The customary strength of the SEC should hone the Aggies and also provide a pre-loaded shot at earning a regional host bid.","MediaItemID":32964}
I'll say this: I feel that the Aggies are a solid NCAA Tournament team that will greatly benefit from playing in the incredibly strong and deep SEC.
Heading into the year many national experts feel that Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina and Vanderbilt are the top four teams in the league … with A&M, Arkansas, Florida and Alabama making up that second tier. But keep in mind that MSU finished fifth in the SEC last year and advanced to the national championship series at the CWS in Omaha.
Also, remember that many people — including Aggie fans themselves — left the Maroon and White for dead around May 1 of last year and A&M got hot and ended up as a No. 2 seed. That shows you what playing in the SEC will do for you.
With that said, the Aggies may not win the SEC in 2014. Still, I could see them finishing around fourth or fifth and being a solid regional host in the NCAAs. And if you host a regional, you're expected to win the regional. And if you win the regional, you're two wins away from advancing to Omaha.
At that point, it's all about who is playing the best at the right time.
So am I calling for a return trip to Omaha for the first time since 2011? No. Do I think A&M will be a top-six SEC team and host a regional? Yes, I do. The pitching is there and A&M finally has the power bats to go along with the speed that they've employed throughout Childress' previous eight seasons in the Aggie dugout.
Despite all of that, when you can hit, you can hit. And these fellas can hit the ball a ton.
• Here are the positions that I believe to be locked up heading into the season opener — in other words, the following guys would have to play their way out of a starting spot with poor starts to the season: C (Troy Stein), 1B (Lankford), 2B (Blake Allemand), SS (Taylor) and CF (Krey Bratsen). That leaves heated battles at third base between Melton and Nottebrok, left field between Hinsley, Jonathan Moroney and freshman Ryne Birk and right field between freshman slugger Nick Banks, Birk and senior Jace Statum.
If I had to call it right now, I would say Melton starts the opener at third base, Hinsley starts in left and Banks starts in right. That would leave Nottebrok and backup catcher Mitchell Nau as the most likely starters at DH.
• How about a little "Did You Know?" when looking at returning hitters on the A&M team: Lankford led the Aggies in batting average (.352), doubles (18), triples (4), RBI (40), total bases (111), slugging percentage (.514) and fielding percentage (.990). All of that, and he missed nearly two weeks of the season with mononucleosis.
Lankford was the hottest hitter in college baseball over the final two weeks of the season in 2013 and with this being a "money year" for him I expect the always-positive first sacker to enjoy a tremendous season at the plate. I've never covered a player at A&M with a better combination of "sweet swing + positive outlook" and I'm not sure I ever will. I will always root for the good guys to finish first and they don't come much better in the "good guy" department than Cole Lankford.
• When projecting the A&M lineup, don't overlook a slew of talented freshmen who are pushing for a starting job. Birk is just a "dirtbag" baseball player … someone who lives to play the game and never leaves the field with a clean uniform. He can play three infield spots and three outfield spots and he's a top-of-the-lineup spark plug that will do everything in his power to write his own name in the opening day lineup.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Don't be surprised to see a large collective impact from Childress' collection of fresh incoming talent, specifically some lauded freshmen.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Don\u0027t be surprised to see a large collective impact from Childress\u0027 collection of fresh incoming talent, specifically some lauded freshmen.","MediaItemID":30725}
And then there is Ronnie Gideon, a 6-3, 250-pound future All-SEC middle-of-the-lineup bat whose father played pro baseball and is a scout with the Rockies. Gideon is battling at third base but his bat is so advanced for a first-year player that the A&M coaches have worked a lot with him at catcher to try to get his power into the lineup. The Hallsville product is coming off a 3-for-5, five-RBI effort on Saturday, including a home run that helped lift his Maroon squad a 7-2 win over White.
Gideon knows how to square up a baseball and he's one of those guys that could go out and grab a tree branch and could still hit the ball out of the yard. I think he plays more than many believe he will and he's a future four-hole hitter as his career progresses.
• Finally … here is my projected starting lineup on Opening Day:
- Blake Allemand - JR - 2B (S)
- Logan Taylor - SO - SS (R)
- Cole Lankford - JR - 1B (L)
- Hunter Melton - SO - DH (R)
- G.R. Hinsley - JR - LF (R)
- Logan Nottebrok - JR - 3B (R)
- Troy Stein - SR - C (R)
- Nick Banks - FR - RF (L)
- Krey Bratsen - SR - CF (R)
Top bench options/others challenging for a starting spot:
- Right: Ronnie Gideon - FR - 3B/C; Jonathan Moroney - SO - OF; Patrick McLendon - JR - INF/OF; J.B. Moss - SO - OF; Daniel Mengden - JR - RHP/OF/C
- Left: Ryne Birk - FR - INF/OF; Jace Statum - SR - OF; Nick Choruby - FR - INF/OF
Strike three: Projecting the 2014 season
I don't go one day without someone asking me how the baseball team will do this season. And in an effort to not "over-project" and get so excited for the "great game" to be coming around the corner that I overhype the program and put all-too-high expectations on them …
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
The customary strength of the SEC should hone the Aggies and also provide a pre-loaded shot at earning a regional host bid.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The customary strength of the SEC should hone the Aggies and also provide a pre-loaded shot at earning a regional host bid.","MediaItemID":32964}
Heading into the year many national experts feel that Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina and Vanderbilt are the top four teams in the league … with A&M, Arkansas, Florida and Alabama making up that second tier. But keep in mind that MSU finished fifth in the SEC last year and advanced to the national championship series at the CWS in Omaha.
Also, remember that many people — including Aggie fans themselves — left the Maroon and White for dead around May 1 of last year and A&M got hot and ended up as a No. 2 seed. That shows you what playing in the SEC will do for you.
With that said, the Aggies may not win the SEC in 2014. Still, I could see them finishing around fourth or fifth and being a solid regional host in the NCAAs. And if you host a regional, you're expected to win the regional. And if you win the regional, you're two wins away from advancing to Omaha.
At that point, it's all about who is playing the best at the right time.
So am I calling for a return trip to Omaha for the first time since 2011? No. Do I think A&M will be a top-six SEC team and host a regional? Yes, I do. The pitching is there and A&M finally has the power bats to go along with the speed that they've employed throughout Childress' previous eight seasons in the Aggie dugout.
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