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Texas A&M Baseball: Evaluating the Lineup Before the Start of SEC Play

By Matthew Bartlett

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The Texas A&M baseball lineup packs a punch from one to nine. We grade their progress so far and breakdown how they all stack up headed into SEC play.

TEXAS A&M BASEBALL. B. . 14-4. 0-0 SEC

The offensive story for this ball club has continue to grow and develop. It was the veterans that started out slow, while the freshman are still on fire. Some of those upperclassmen have bounced back, while others have found their playing time dwindle. Part of the reason for that is the mass of talented freshman who are chomping at the bit to get on the field.

Braden Shewmake and Logan Foster have cemented themselves as two of the best pure hitters on the team. Shewmake came in with high expectations and was hitting out of the three hole from day one. Foster, on the other hand, has forced Coach Rob Childress to put him in the lineup every day. He just won’t stop hitting.

Questions Still Unanswered Entering SEC Play

The front five in the order is going to give even the better SEC pitching staffs a challenge. The back half is still working out some kinks. The biggest questions right now: who’s going to win the job at third base and designated hitter?

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George Janca’s recent struggles at the plate and in the field have opened the position up for competition. Swiss army infielder Jorge Gutierrez has earned some spot starts, but there doesn’t appear to be a definite answer as of yet.

Gutierrez homered in his first two at bats as an Aggie, but that was against Bowling Green. If he can hit in the SEC for a decent average (say .265) that might be enough to win the job.

Designated hitter will continue to be a revolving door for a while. Gutierrez also might be in the running for first base. Joel Davis started the year on that bag, but he’s a natural outfielder. He’s been okay, but he’s still rusty. Davis has done enough to keep his bat in the lineup no matter what. Perhaps DH is an option?

Grading the Lineup Through 18 Games

From 1 to 9, lets take a look at the projected starting lineup going into conference play. That begins with senior leader and leadoff hitter Blake Kopetsky. The grading reflects their performance through the first 18 games of the season. All prefaced with the caveat that I’m a fan of these guys and wish them all the best, regardless of their on field success or struggles.