Texas A&M Baseball 2017 Season Preview, Predictions, and More

It’s baseball time in Texas. The Texas A&M baseball team is days from taking the diamond once more. Who’s ready for some Olsen Magic?

After back-to-back seasons ending in a Super Regional Game three loss, the Texas A&M Baseball 2017 season begins this coming Friday at Olsen Field vs. Bowling Green. A lot of new faces will be seen on the field this year due to departure of players such as Boomer White and Michael Barash. However, Texas A&M is still very well equipped to have a strong 2017 campaign.

The Aggies will begin the season ranked No. 20 in the D1Baseball preseason poll. They were picked to finished second in the West in the SEC Coaches preseason poll. The LSU Tigers, D1Baseball’s No. 5 team, was picked to win the West.

Youth

This year 16 of the 34 players on the Texas A&M roster are freshman. These players will have to grow up quickly as they look to replace 6 starters from last year. Departing players Boomer White, JB Moss, Ryan Birk, Hunter Melton, Michael Barash, Nick Banks and Ronnie Gideon combined for 489 of Texas A&M’s 711 hits last year. However, look for the Aggie to be anchored by seniors Austin Homan, Nick Chorby and Joel Davis.

The biggest question facing this club is deciding who will replace catcher Michael Barash, last years heart and soul of this team. Look for an interesting competition between Hunter Coleman and newcomer Cole Bedford. As well, the Texas A&M pitching staff lost individuals such as Mark Ecker and Andrew Vinson. Look for these two to lead the Texas A&M Pitchers:

Key Players to Watch

Corbin Martin can hit triple digits with his fastball. His command issues last year limited his workload, only 26 and a third innings last season. Martin spent the fall in the Cape Cod league, ammasing 22 strikeouts in 15 and two thirds innings.

Appearing in 54 games last year, shortstop Austin Homan returns as one of the few seniors left on this team. Hitting .356 last year with 26 RBI’s, Homan had a solid 2016 season despite committing 17 errors. Homan will need to be one of the major leaders both on and off the field in order for this season to eclipse last year.

As for the pitchers, look no further than the ace Brigham Hill. Hill was named 1st team, preseason all American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He is coming of a 9-2 season with a 2.51 ERA and 99 strikeouts. A junior, Hill is the unquestioned leader of this pitching staff and Aggieland looks forward to him taking the mound every Friday night.

Dates to Know

February 17: Opening Day vs. Bowling Green
March 3-5: Shiners Hospital for Children College Classic (Aggies face TCU on Sat, March 4th)
March 14: Ags travel to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns
March 17: SEC Play opens in College Station as the Ags take on Kentucky
March 30 – April 1: Ags travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU
May 4-6: Mississippi St visits Olsen Field
May 23-28: SEC Tournament in Hoover, AL

Next: Aggie Offense Returns Some Potent Bats

Prediction

Texas A&M has at least advanced to an NCAA Regional every year since 2007. There should be no reason to expect anything different from this squad. However, to match or even exceed last years success of a near 50 win season and hosting a Super Regional, Texas A&M’s youth will need to step up and produce both at the plate and in the bullpen. Rob Childress said it best, quote, “We’re a work in progress…We have a new group but we also have a lot of experience”

Final Record: 43-13

BTHObowlinggreen

***Stats from The Baseball Cube***