Tag: Big 12 baseball

Texas announces Big 12 baseball schedule for 2021

It’s almost baseball time in Texas again. The Longhorns announced their 2021 conference schedule as well as the series at Globe Life Field.

The Big 12 conference’s portion of the 2021 baseball schedule has officially been released. The Longhorns will host the Oklahoma Sooners, Kansas State Wildcats, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and West Virginia Mountaineers at Disch-Falk Field in Austin.

Texas will play the Baylor Bears, Kansas Jayhawks, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Texas Christian Horned Frogs on the road this year. The first conference series is set for first pitch on Mar. 19-21 in Waco against the Bears.

The Longhorns will also partake in State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. David Pierce’s squad will take on three separate Southeastern Conference teams.

  • No. 7 Mississippi State at 7:00 pm on Feb. 19
  • No. 8 Arkansas at 11:00 am on Feb. 20
  • No. 6 Ole Miss at 3:00 pm on Feb. 21

All Big 12 game times are still to be announced.

  • Mar. 19-21: at Baylor Bears
  • Mar. 26-28: vs Oklahoma Sooners
  • Apr. 1-3: at Kansas Jayhawks
  • Apr. 9-11: vs Kansas State Wildcats
  • Apr 23-25: at Oklahoma State Cowboys
  • Apr 30-May 2: vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
  • May 7-9: at Texas Christian Horned Frogs
  • May 20-22: vs West Virginia Mountaineers

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Report: Big 12 Conference to vote on upcoming baseball schedule

After the head coaches in the Big 12 approved a schedule of 32 conference games, it is now up to the conference for final approval.

The Longhorns baseball season was cut short last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “Report: Big 12 Conference to vote on upcoming baseball schedule”

Baseball America reveals never too early rankings, Texas top 15

The 2021 Texas Longhorns baseball team is already receiving attention in Baseball America’s never too early top 25 rankings.

It is really never too early to start talking baseball around Austin. The Texas Longhorns baseball got off to a good start in their 2020 campaign before the pandemic shut down their season. The Longhorns were 14-3 and in the midst of a four-game winning streak before it was ended.

The Longhorns are now looking forward to what should be a full season in 2021, fingers crossed anyway. National baseball publication Baseball America has released their “never too early” top 25 rankings. Texas currently sitting inside the top 15 teams in American at number 11.

The Longhorns are joined by Texas Tech, Texas Christian and Oklahoma in the rankings.

  • Texas Tech (2)
  • Texas (11)
  • Texas Christian (16)
  • Oklahoma (18)

The Longhorns lost two key members from their team a year ago with Duke Ellis and Bryce Elder making the jump to Major League Baseball. However outfielder Austin Todd, first baseman Zach Zubia and catcher D.J. Petrinsky are all back for another season.

Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked their 2020 recruiting class number one in the nation. It will be interesting to see how that group plays for the Longhorns in 2021. One of the top prospects in the MLB Draft went undrafted meaning that Tanner Witt will play for the Longhorns in 2021. His signability being a major concern. MLB teams didn’t want to use a pick on a play they may or may not be able to sign since the draft was only five rounds this year.

Given the players who decided to return in 2021 and the rise of freshman pitcher Pete Hansen, the Longhorns look to rise to the challenge of taking back the Big 12.

Texas baseball must replace three solid players on their roster

Bryce Elder, Duke Ellis and Kamron Fields will not be returning to Texas next season.

It’s been an odd year for the sport of baseball. Continue reading “Texas baseball must replace three solid players on their roster”

Roger Clemens named USA TODAY Sports greatest No. 19 pick in MLB Draft

USA TODAY Sports recently released the greatest first round picks in MLB Draft history. Roger Clemens named the best at number 19.

The MLB Draft has come and gone. The Longhorns saw one of their own in pitcher Bryce Elder taken. Baseball has the University of Texas has a long and storied history. They have won multiple National Championships with the most recent coming in 2005. The Longhorns have the second-most titles in NCAA history, tied with LSU. While they have won six titles, they been invited to play for six more.

In a recent article on USA TODAY Sports, the best players were discussed as it pertains to their draft slot. Former Longhorn Roger Clemens made the list as the best ever to be selected at pick 19. He would go on to play in the Majors for a total of 24 years.

Roger Clemens (1983, Red Sox) – With 354 career wins and 4,672 strikeouts, Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Others: Bobby Grich (1967, Orioles), Shannon Stewart (1992, Blue Jays), Alex Rios (1999, Blue Jays)

Clemens is currently third on the all-time list for strikeouts behind Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. He finished his career with 536 more strikeouts than Steve Carlton. Clemens’ 354 career wins puts him ninth in MLB history, one behind Greg Maddux.

The man nicknamed “The Rocket” played two seasons for the Texas Longhorns after transferring from San Jacinto College North.

Accomplishments

  • 12-2 record with 1.99 ERA in 1982
  • 13-5 record with 3.04 ERA in 1983
  • Winning pitcher in the 1983 National Champion game against Alabama
  • Led the Longhorns to consecutive College World Series appearances in 1982-83
  • 1986 American League MVP
  • AL Cy Young Award winner in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004 (National League)
  • One of four pitchers to win the Cy Young in both leagues.
  • Oldest to ever win the Cy Young
  • Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame inductee in 2014
  • Texas Hall of Honor inductee in 1994

 

Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league

Three former Longhorns were cut from their Minor League Baseball teams this week.

Uncertainty continues to surround Minor League Baseball. Continue reading “Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league”

Bryce Elder named second team All-American

SP Bryce Elder was named to the Collegiate Baseball 2020 All-American second-team. Elder had four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA for UT.

Before Texas’ baseball season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Longhorns were 14-3 and in the midst of a four-game winning streak. Big 12 play was just a week away and Texas was one of the favorites to win the conference.

Starting pitcher Bryce Elder was one of the stars for the Longhorns, being named to the Collegiate Baseball 2020 All-American second-team. Elder had four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA.

His best game of the season came in the first game of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic against No. 11 LSU. Playing at Minute Maid Park, Elder went 6.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. Adding 10 strikeouts, it was his second double-digit strikeout effort, also having 11 against Boise State.

While no Big 12 player made the first team, three others made the second team along with Elder. Relief pitchers Haylen Green of TCU and Micah Dallas of Texas Tech made it, while second baseman Brian Klien from Texas Tech was the only positional player in the team.

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Two sons try and go yard off Texas Legend Roger Clemens

COVID-19 has postponed baseball, leaving players to work out on their own. The Clemens family has been working out together to stay in shape.

The coronavirus has taken its toll on athletes across the country, whether their sport was in season or out of season. Baseball was just getting started, with all teams in spring training before the season getting delayed.

For former Longhorn Kacy Clemens, he was entering his fourth season in MLB’s minor league system with the Toronto Blue Jays. Spanning from low A ball to AA, the lefty is hitting a career .226 with 26 home runs and 115 RBIs.

A more recent UT grad in Kody Clemens would have been in the middle of his third professional baseball season with the Houston Astros organization. Kody has hit a career .248 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs.

Despite the shut down of baseball, Kacy and Kody have been staying in shape with the help of their 7x Cy Young-winning father, Roger Clemens.

The family even participated in the Texas virtual tailgate, with Kody and Kacy trying to hit home runs off their father.

Soon enough, both Clemens brothers will be back on the field playing for their respective minor league baseball teams. With the Blue Jays and Astros have great minor league systems, both were on the edge of making the AA squad in 2020.

Until then, Roger will be pitching to them in a virtual ballpark, hopefully not giving up too many more home runs in Fenway Park.

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Locked on Longhorns Podcast: Mock Draft Monday

Locked on Longhorns podcast brings another edition of Mock Draft Monday. Plus which Longhorn will return in 2021?

Cami and Patrick bring a new edition of the Locked on Longhorns podcast with an update on what they are doing since there are no sports going on. A Longhorn has decided to return to the Forty Acres in 2021.

The mock draft roundup shows where the top three Longhorns are projected. Plus an early look at which games Texas will be the underdog for in the 2020 season.

Also could this be Tom Herman’s last stand?

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Texas baseball, softball seasons end; year of eligibility added

There is now no chance for the Texas baseball and softball programs to continue play at a later date this season.

Rather than cancelling the season entirely, many were hopeful that the Big 12 Conference would leave the door open to continue play in a few weeks for the baseball and softball programs.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com, the Big 12 officially announced that there would be no games played for the remainder of the season.

Both programs were off to an impressive start to the 2020 season. Texas baseball ended with an overall 14-3 record and was one week away from starting conference play. The Longhorns were scheduled to travel to Norman on March 20 to face the Oklahoma Sooners.

Several baseball teams within the Big 12 looked stout throughout the early part of the season. There was a legitimate chance for six teams to represent the Big 12 in the postseason. Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU finished atop the final conference rankings, with Oklahoma State and West Virginia close behind.

Arguably the most dominant team in all of Texas athletics this season, softball ended the year with an impressive 24-3 overall record. In her final appearance on the mound last week, senior Miranda Elish pitched a perfect game. Texas defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation on back-to-back nights, which propelled the Longhorns to the No. 1 team in the nation according to Softball America.

Not only was Texas softball in a great position to take home the Big 12 conference title, they were a favorite to win the College World Series.

The NCAA officially announced the intent to add an extra year of eligibility to seniors who were not able to finish out the season. The details remain in the works, but having a chance to finish their collegiate careers on their own terms is a great place to start.

The public health and safety is top priority amid the Coronavirus outbreak, but it’s understandably an emotional period for college athletes who have dedicated countless hours into this season.