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Texas A&M Baseball: Aggie Offense Returns Some Potent Bats

By Matthew Bartlett

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of baseball on field before the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; General view of baseball on field before the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M Baseball
Oct 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A Baseball glove and ball rest on the field prior to a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

The Outfield

The 2017 Texas A&M baseball team’s offense will be led by five seniors who figure to all earn starting roles. Much of the rest of the starting roles will be open to competition between a good crop of talented underclassmen. The outfield, however, will be comprised of three seniors.

Walker Pennington

Pennington had one of the most memorable at bats of the 2016 season. With the Aggies trailing Ole Miss by a run in the 8th inning of their SEC tournament game, Pennington came to the plate. Then this happened:

Playing in more a reserve role last season, his at bats started to increase as the season drew on. Part of the reason for his exclusion was the crowded outfield, but that won’t be the case this year.

In 62 plate appearances Walker slugged .532 with 9 extra base hits. His four home runs last year are the most by any returning player. He’s going to be counted on for some pop this season.

Blake Kopetsky

In 2015 he appeared in 23 games, hit .269 with four extra base hits. He might have been even better on the mound. Kopetsky through 9.1 innings and owned a 2.89 ERA.

After suffering an early injury, Kopetsky didn’t see much of the field in 2016. During his sophomore campaign in 2015 he saw time as both a position player and a pitcher. Early word out of the A&M camp is that he’ll slot into the outfield this year and focus on fielding rather than pitching.

Nick Choruby

Choruby has been used as a speedster off the bench for most of his Texas A&M career. He won the starting job in camp last season before falling into a platoon due to inconsistent production from the plate.

He finished the 2016 campaign with a slash line of .294/.359/.333. His approach from the plate improved during the year and he finished conference play red hot. Choruby’s line against SEC opponents was .319/.386/.341.

What he lacked in firepower he made up for in defensive ability and great instinctive baseball. Look no further than his diving catch to preserve

Kyle Simonds

‘ no hitter against Vanderbilt.