Jace LaViolette set to go down in the annals of Texas A&M baseball history as one of most beloved players of all time
When Texas A&M baseball fans got the news last week that Jace LaViolette had entered the transfer portal, it was almost more of a gut punch than when they heard that Jim Schlossnagle had taken the Texas job. With Schloss's departure, there was anger; with Jace's decision, there was just sadness.
That wouldn't be the case for every player. Yes, it was a bummer to see a lot of production potentially head out the door, but it was different with Jace. The man was five home runs away from tying the school record with only two years under his belt, not to mention the fact that he was one of the most identifiable players on the whole team.
Jace would be missed because he was the heart and soul of this Texas A&M baseball team. He truly seemed as though he loved this place just as much as the fans do, so when he deleted his tweet that was to that same effect and it was reported that he was in the portal, it felt defeating in a very final kind of way. All the talk of these players being mercenaries seemed just a little bit louder.
That's why, when all the news began breaking that Michael Earley would be coming on as coach, and all the attendant reports of expected portal withdrawals came down, Aggies waited with bated breath to hear from LaViolette. As it turns out, too, he never really wanted to leave.
Aggies slugger Jace LaViolette offered the reasons why he’s returning to Texas A&M: pic.twitter.com/7tiM2Apa46
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) July 2, 2024
I don't think there's a single Aggie fan that can listen to that clip and not get fired up. That's a guy who loves Texas A&M baseball. That's a guy who has rapidly become the face of this team.
The Aggie slugger cares deeply about this team and this program. As he detailed in a Texags interview, and as Trev Alberts acknowledged in the welcome celebration for Earley, he was stumping as hard as he could for what he believed to be the best choice for this squad. As it turns out, it looks like he was pretty much right on the money.
AD Trev Alberts says he thought Jace LaViolette was the leader of the player effort to support Michael Earley for the head coaching job.
— Mark Passwaters (@mbpRivals) July 2, 2024
There are certain players that fans of a given team have a special love for. I'm talking about the kinds of players that fans look at and know, "that's our guy." The guy that you go out on a limb for to defend against detractors in sports debates. The guy whose jersey every fan wants.
You have to have a certain level of talent relative to your peers to get to that status, yes, but that's not all it is. When Kevin Durant came to Golden State, he was the best player on the team without a doubt—he won two Finals MVPs, after all—but Warriors fans never loved him like they did Steph. Curry is their guy. And now, LaViolette is our guy.
A standing ovation is given for the contingent of Texas A&M baseball players here, including Jace LaViolette: pic.twitter.com/DCUvcMNUFw
— Alex Miller (@AlexMill20) July 2, 2024
Every great story—every great comeback—needs a hero. Someone to lead the charge against the overwhelming odds. Well, the Aggies certainly may face shorter odds than some teams going into next season, given the work that Earley and company have been doing in the portal, but it's a long shot for any single team to make (much less win) a College World Series final. LaViolette is that guy for this Aggie team.
This is bound to be a seminal season for Texas A&M baseball. Interest and investment in the program is at an all-time high. The stands at Olsen will be packed game in and game out, and I don't think it takes much prognostication to predict that the loudest cheers will come when #17 steps up to the plate.
Because he's our guy. He's an Aggie, through and through.