Texas A&M's surprising Earley decision secures massive returner on baseball team

There's going to be a lot of controversy no matter what about this decision, but Earley will have a huge piece to build around in year 2.
Texas A&M's Gavin Grahovac (9) celebrates a home run during a NCAA College World Series game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, June 22, 2024.
Texas A&M's Gavin Grahovac (9) celebrates a home run during a NCAA College World Series game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, June 22, 2024. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas A&M fans are still grappling with the outcome of the baseball season and the recent decision by AD Trev Alberts to retain Michael Earley as the head coach for a second year. After a number of weeks where it seemed like a move was imminent, this result was unexpected to say the least, but there is certainly a vocal camp in support of keeping him on.

One of the risks the program was running by looking for a new coach was the fact that Earley was a huge reason that most of the team's talent decided to stay in College Station for another year. If he was no longer a piece of that equation, then it seemed eminently possible that some of the top players on the squad decided to head elsewhere.

To that end, keeping Earley on is apparently a decision that is set to pay off in at least one respect. The Aggies just got a massive commitment from Gavin Grahovac to return for the 2026 season after he missed 2025 with an injury.

Gavin Grahovac pledges to return to Texas A&M baseball following Earley announcement

This was a massive get for the Aggies, and if Earley is going to turn things around in year two, it will be on the back of players like Gavin.

The lineup struggled at the plate all year, and they definitely missed a bat as powerful as that of Grahovac in the lineup. Keeping him in the fold for the upcoming year is a big time move for the Aggies, regardless of whatever other consequences the decision to retain Earley might entail.

With one key player back for 2026, many Aggie fans are going to be wondering whether Caden Sorrell, who was maybe the best player from the beginning to the end of the season for the Aggies, will also return. If both Grahovac and Sorrell come back, Earley's chances of getting things turned around are much better than they would be otherwise, so you can bet that A&M fans will be watching that one closely.