1 Day 'til Aggie Baseball: TexAgs 2023 Season Predictions

Before the 2023 Texas A&M baseball season begins on Friday, the TexAgs staffers who will be covering the team throughout the year make their predictions for the team's overall record, SEC finish, statistical leaders and much more. If you missed any of it, be sure to check out our full season preview here: 2023 Aggie Baseball Preview Series.

Also included is an interview with Jim Schlossnagle from Thursday's edition of TexAgs Radio!

Regular-season record
Ryan Brauninger: 40-15
Richard Zane: 41-14
David Sandhop: 41-14
Scott Clendenin: 38-17
James Hernandez: 40-15
Cade Harris: 41-14

Place in final SEC standings
Brauny: 2nd
Big Shooter: 4th
Hop: 3rd
Scott: 4th
James: 2nd
Cade: 3rd

Leader in batting average
Brauny: Jack Moss (.381)
Big Shooter: Jack Moss (.385)
Hop: Jack Moss (.388)
Scott: Jack Moss (.405)
James: Jack Moss (.383)
Cade: Jack Moss (.365)

Leader in home runs
Brauny: Trevor Werner (18)
Big Shooter: Austin Bost (17)
Hop: Austin Bost (16)
Scott: Trevor Werner (17)
James: Ryan Targac (18)
Cade: Ryan Targac (17)

Leader in RBI
Brauny: Austin Bost (64)
Big Shooter: Austin Bost (63)
Hop: Austin Bost (62)
Scott: Trevor Werner (70)
James: Brett Minnich (61)
Cade: Ryan Targac (60)

Leader in hits
Brauny: Jack Moss (104)
Big Shooter: Jack Moss (101)
Hop: Jack Moss (108)
Scott: Jack Moss (115)
James: Jack Moss (106) - Calling my shot: He'll lead the NCAA
Cade: Jack Moss (95)

Leader in stolen bases
Brauny: Hunter Haas (19)
Big Shooter: Hunter Haas (15)
Hop: Stanley Tucker (14)
Scott: Hunter Haas (20)
James: Jordan Thompson (14)
Cade: Ryan Targac (15)

Leader in pitching wins
Brauny: Nathan Dettmer (10)
Big Shooter: Nathan Dettmer (8)
Hop: Chris Cortez (8)
Scott: Nathan Dettmer (10)
James: Nathan Dettmer (9)
Cade: Nathan Dettmer (8)

Leader in ERA
Brauny: Nathan Dettmer (3.20)
Big Shooter: Nathan Dettmer (2.98)
Hop: Nathan Dettmer (2.84)
Scott: Nathan Dettmer (2.75)
James: Nathan Dettmer (3.10)
Cade: Nathan Dettmer (4.25)

Leader in strikeouts
Brauny: Nathan Dettmer (104)
Big Shooter: Chris Cortez (102)
Hop: Chris Cortez (103)
Scott: Chris Cortez (102)
James: Nathan Dettmer (92)
Cade: Nathan Dettmer (90)

Leader in saves
Brauny: Will Johnston (10)
Big Shooter: Will Johnston (9)
Hop: Carson Lambert (7)
Scott: Will Johnston (10)
James: Will Johnston (7)
Cade: Will Johnston (7)

Home runs as a team
Brauny: 95
Big Shooter: 90
Hop: 88
Scott: 89
James: 95
Cade: 80

Make NCAA Tournament?
Brauny: Yes
Big Shooter: Yes
Hop: Yes
Scott: Yes
James: Yes
Cade: Yes

Host regional?
Brauny: Yes
Big Shooter: Yes
Hop: Yes
Scott: Yes
James: Yes
Cade: Yes

Top-eight national seed?
Brauny: Yes
Big Shooter: Yes
Hop: Yes
Scott: Yes
James: Yes
Cade: Yes

Projected lineup by SEC Opener

Brauny
1. Hunter Haas - SS
2. Jack Moss - 1B
3. Austin Bost - 2B
4. Trevor Werner - 3B
5. Brett Minnich - RF
6. Ryan Targac - DH
7. Jace LaViolette - LF
8. Max Kaufer - C
9. Jordan Thompson - CF

Big Shooter
1. Trevor Werner - 3B
2. Jack Moss - 1B
3. Austin Bost - 2B
4. Hunter Haas - SS
5. Brett Minnich - RF
6. Ryan Targac - DH
7. Jace LaViollete - LF
8. Max Kaufer - C
9. Jordan Thompson - CF

Hop
1. Hunter Hass - SS
2. Jack Moss - 1B
3. Austin Bost - 2B
4. Jace LaViolette - LF
5. Trevor Werner - 3B
6. Brett Minnich - RF
7. Ryan Targac - DH
8. Stanley Tucker - CF
9. Max Kaufer - C

Scott
1. Hunter Haas - SS
2. Jack Moss - 1B
3. Austin Bost - 2B
4. Trevor Werner - 3B
5. Brett Minnich - RF
6. Jac LaViolette - LF
7. Ryan Targac - DH
8. JD Gregson - C
9. Jordan Thompson - CF

James
1. Trevor Werner - 3B
2. Austin Bost - 2B
3. Jack Moss - 1B
4. Ryan Targac - DH
5. Brett Minnich - RF
6. Jace LaViolette - LF
7. JD Gregson - C
8. Hunter Haas - SS
9. Jordan Thompson - CF

Cade
1. Hunter Haas - SS
2. Jack Moss - 1B
3. Austin Bost - 2B
4. Trevor Werner - 3B
5. Ryan Targac - DH
6. Jace LaViolette - LF
7. Brett Minnich - RF
8. Max Kaufer - C
9. Jordan Thompson - CF

Projected weekend rotation by SEC Opener

Brauny
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Chris Cortez
Sunday - Justin Lamkin

Big Shooter
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Chris Cortez
Sunday - Troy Wansing

Hop
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Chris Cortez
Sunday - Max Debiec

Scott
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Troy Wansing
Sunday - Chris Cortez

James
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Troy Wansing
Sunday - Chris Cortez

Cade
Friday - Nathan Dettmer
Saturday - Chris Cortez
​​​​​​​Sunday - Troy Wansing

Key notes from Jim Schlossnagle interview

• I was there from tip-off last night, but I was sad I left about six minutes into the second half, trying to get some good rest. I hope everyone truly appreciates what we are watching as a fan base, and I am appreciating what I'm seeing as a fan of coaches. What an example this basketball team is for every team on this campus. It is truly amazing the job that they are doing.
   
• I'm a fan, too, and as a coach, you want the games to be perfect and the season to be perfect. It's never going to be that. I look at Georgia's season, and I'm sure their fans look at that game against Missouri and say this went wrong and that went wrong. No one has ever promised easy. That is what makes your team better. That is what has prepared you. I don't know the Arkansas team or coach, but when something bad happened for Arkansas, you watch the players. They are yelling at each other they are going palms up, which is the worst thing you can do. But Wade Taylor IV, he had a hard time in the first half, but he wasn't pouting. He was collected and came back in the second half strong.
   
• My relationship with Buzz Williams has reinforced everything I knew about culture and consistency. You can play well and lose and play poorly and win. It reinforces that. Buzz has sent me podcasts, and we share information a lot. I've added some parts of his daily routine to my life, and it has been a game changer. You have to be mentally and physically committed to a process but not emotionally tied to the result. My biggest hope for our team is that we do that and stay healthy, and if we do that, I can live with the results of our season.
   
• I addressed expectations in our first meeting in the spring. One of my favorite coach phrases is, "Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad." You can't believe that stuff.  You are proving people wrong and proving them right. I just judge the guys in their commitment to getting better daily and in the weight room. I think they truly want to get back there, but that takes a daily focus on whatever that task is that day.
   
• It's exciting with our season about to start. When I was seven in little league in Maryland, I remember sleeping in my uniform the day before, and I still have those same emotions. I know the players do too. They want to get the lights on and the season rolling. They are excited, and we have to control that emotion. One challenge we tell them every year is to try and treat every day like Opening Day to keep that same level of confidence throughout the season.
   
• With Trevor Werner, I don't know what kind of season he is going to have, but he is talented. He is an elite human. I've been saying he is who you want your son to grow up to be and your daughter to marry. I pray that he is healthy this season. He's a great teammate and super fun to watch. The most tooled-out player I've ever coached.
   
• Frankly, with Troy Wansing and Chris Cortez, there are a few pitchers on our team that out-pitched them going into the season. But the best chance for our rotation to have a really good season is to give those guys the opportunity to be good pitchers. There are other guys that are champing at the bit.
   
• Wansing's challenge is to not try too hard and to stay with a low heart rate and about 80 percent effort, and I think he will be a really good pitcher for us.
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• Jason Hutchins and Jeremy McMillan mean everything to our team. They're at the heartbeat. Hutch on the operations side is so underrated, and Jeremy helps the players get faster, stronger and prevent injuries. The players spend more time with the strength coach than anyone else. My job is to get him every resource he needs to help our prayers.