Tag: Gavin Grahovac

Texas A&M OF Jace LaViolette has announced his Aggie playing future

Jace LaViolette is back and ready for the 2025 season!

On Sunday, Texas A&M’s baseball program found its new head coach in Michael Earley after Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to arch-rival Texas just one day after the Aggies played for a National Championship, sending the sports world into a frenzy over easily avoidable problems created on Schlossnagle’s end.

After briefly following Schlossnagle to Texas on the day of his announcement, it seemed that the former Aggie hitting coach wasn’t the biggest fan of the sudden transition, already building a home in College Station while his relationship with the Aggie’s talented roster was undeniable.

With Schlossnagle’s move to Austin, nearly a dozen players unsurprisingly entered the transfer portal, as the program was in transit for four full days. On Friday, reactions to Earley becoming a legitimate candidate from nearly every 2024 starter and reserve player poured in. Star hitters Gavin Grahovac and Jace LaViolette led the charge in supporting the hire.

For those who thought Tuesday would be a boring news day, think again! Just an hour after SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac announced his return to the program, incoming junior star outfielder Jace LaViolette, who was the highest-ranked player in the portal, is now headed back to College Station for likely one more season, stating on an Instagram post,

“No place I’d rather be let’s go do it đź‘Ť”

After Earley’s hire, this was a no-brainer for LaViolette. He is just seven homers away from breaking Texas A&M’s all-time record, set by Daylan Holt’s 56 home runs from 1998-2000.

After hitting 29 on the year, LaViolette struggled throughout the postseason due to a lingering hamstring issue. However, I expect a fully rejuvenated version of what we all saw during the regular season, as the Aggies are looking to run it back and seek revenge in the College World Series Finals.

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Texas A&M third baseman Gavin Grahovac has revealed his Aggie playing future

Gavin Grahovac is returning to Texas A&M next season!

On Sunday, Texas A&M’s baseball program found its new head coach after Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to arch-rival Texas just one day after the Aggies played for a National Championship, sending the sports world into a frenzy over easily avoidable problems created on Schlossnagle’s end.

Bring on former three-year hitting coach Michael Earley to head the program after briefly following Schlossnagle to Texas. The former Aggie assistant is a favorite among the roster, and his recruiting background and keen understanding of where the college game is headed are just some of the many reasons he was chosen over several veteran candidates.

Nearly a dozen players entered the transfer portal after Schlossnagle’s exit, and on Friday, reactions to Earley becoming a legitimate candidate from nearly every 2024 starter and reserve player poured in. Star hitters Gavin Grahovac and Jace LaViollete led the charge in supporting the hire.

Hearing all weekend of a potential “domino set to fall” regarding a potential staff hire for player acquisition, Tuesday morning provided a huge jolt of energy for Earley ahead of his official Aggie introduction, as SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac announced his official return for the 2025 season.

Standing at 6-2 and 220 pounds, Grahovac, who is destined to be a future MLB first-round pick, shot on the scene in College Station, breaking the program’s freshman home run record with 23 on the year while recording 85 hits for a solid .298, and batting over .300 for most of the regular season.

Grahovac is just one of several names deemed to return to the program this week, so stay tuned!

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Texas A&M hired Michael Earley as the program’s newest baseball head coach

Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts has hired Michael Earley has the baseball program’s new head coach

Texas A&M baseball is in good hands once again.

First-year athletic director Trev Alberts made his first significant hire in what should be an extended tenure. According to TexAgs, former hitting coach Michael Earley will become the 21st head baseball coach in program history.

The departure of head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who took the Texas Longhorns position after three successful years in College Station, was a significant event in Texas A&M baseball history. His decision to take his entire staff, including Earley, with him marked a major shift in the program.

Spending the past three seasons as the Aggies’ hitting coach, Earley, who is just 36 years of age, has already defined himself as one of the best recruiters and developers in the country. Every player on the Aggie roster, past and present, expressed admiration for his coaching style and ability to mold players into future pro prospects.

Boasting a combination of youth and confidence, finding experienced assistants to join his staff is the next step. As the saying goes, a man is never good without a solid, strong support system by his side to help steady the ship when rough waters approach.

Before his three seasons as A&M’s hitting coach, Earley spent five seasons with Arizona State in a similar position after his pro career ended in 2015.

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2 more Texas A&M baseball players enter NCAA transfer portal, bringing total to 9 thus far

Per D1Baseball managing editor Kendall Rogers, junior shortstop Ali Camarillo and freshman left-hander Kaiden Wilson have enter the portal.

Amid the fallout of head coach Jim Schlossnagle departing Texas A&M for bitter rival Texas on Tuesday, nine Aggies have exercised their right to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Seven players initially entered the portal on Wednesday afternoon and two more have joined the group as of Wednesday evening. According to D1Baseball managing editor Kendall Rogers, junior shortstop Ali Camarillo and freshman left-handed pitcher Kaiden Wilson have followed suit.

The other seven players are freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac, outfielder Caden Sorrell and shortstop Jack Bell; sophomore outfielder Jace LaViolette, second baseman Kaeden Kent and catcher Max Kaufer; and graduate student designated-hitter Hayden Schott.

Camarillo and Schott are the only portal entrants that are eligible for the 2024 MLB draft in July. Junior OF Braden Montgomery is likely to be drafted in the top 10 despite suffering a season-ending injury in the super regionals.

Amid the transfer madness on Wednesday, Montgomery’s mom Gretchen shared words of wisdom on her private X account.

“Don’t freak out about the transfer portal!! The players have to protect themselves — A&M doesn’t have a coach or staff,” she stated. “Most will get in the portal but can still stay. They will get NIL!! But nobody has more $ than A&M. Most will come back with a STRONG HIRE! Email the AD!”

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7 Texas A&M baseball players have entered the transfer portal

Texas A&M see fan favorites hit the transfer portal after the news of Jim Schlossnagle taking the job at Texas

The fallout continues after the news broke that Jim Schlossnalge would take the vacant head coaching position at Texas. As of early Tuesday afternoon, six Texas A&M players have entered the college baseball transfer portal. Since there is a coaching change, Aggie players will have 30 days to enter no matter when the portal closes for everyone else.

Below you can see the first group of Aggies to enter the portal via Carter Karels of 274 Sports

As fans, it can be tough to see players you have grown to appreciate being a part of the Aggie family move on, but in the current landscape player movement is commonplace and should be expected.

Joining the six mentioned players are sophomore Caden Sorrell, who hit .275, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs during his freshman campaign.

With that said, we still want to wish all of the transfers good luck wherever they end up and hold out some hope they will reconsider after the new coach is announced.

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Vols are first top seed in 25 years to earn baseball national title with win vs. Texas A&M

Despite reaching the College World Series finals for the first time in program history, the Aggies fell just short vs. Tennessee on Monday.

Despite reaching the College World Series finals for the first time in program history and decisively winning Game 1, the Texas A&M baseball team fell just short against SEC rival Tennessee on Monday night.

The top seed Volunteers (60-13) defeated the No. 3 Aggies (53-15) by a final score of 6-5 in the decisive national title game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Texas A&M prevailed in the CWS finals opener 9-5 on Saturday night. Tennessee evened the series with a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon.

The Volunteers are the first No. 1 seed to win the CWS championship in 25 years since Miami won it all in 1999. Tennessee is the fifth consecutive SEC squad to win the national title, dating back to 2019.

The Aggies scored 1 run in the third inning and 2 in each of the eighth and ninth. The Volunteers tallied 1 in the first, two in the third and 3 in the seventh.

Junior second baseman Christian Moore made a statement with a solo home run in the bottom of the first frame Monday. Freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac tied the game with an RBI single to left field in the top of the third.

Sophomore outfielder Dylan Dreiling reclaimed the advantage with a sacrifice fly to right center field. Freshman shortstop Dylan Curley added on with an RBI single to left field, making the score 3-1.

Dreiling destroyed a 2-run homer to right field in the seventh inning. He earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after racking up 3 HR, 11 runs batted in and 13 hits. Sophomore OF Kavares Tears tallied an RBI double to center and increased the advantage to 6-1.

Graduate student designated hitter Hayden Schott trimmed the deficit with an RBI single up the middle, followed by an RBI double from freshman OF Caden Sorrell to score Schott.

Texas A&M wouldn’t go down without a fight as Grahovac led off the ninth frame with a double down the left field line. Senior catcher Jackson Appel connected on an RBI single to left and plated Grahovac. Appel later scored on a wild pitch. Senior first baseman Ted Burton struck out swinging to end the season.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Justin Lamkin tossed the first 2.2 innings and allowed 5 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts on 60 pitches. Junior RHP Josh Stewart pitched 2.1 scoreless frames, giving up 2 hits with 1 K on 28 pitches. Senior LHP Evan Aschenbeck tossed the final 3.0 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs with 3 punch outs on 46 pitches.

Appel and Schott went out swinging in their final game after transferring, going 3-for-5 with 1 RBI, respectively. Grahovac went 2-for-5 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored. Sorrell, senior OF Travis Chestnut, junior SS Ali Camarillo and sophomores, 2B Kaeden Kent and OF Jace LaViolette, each recorded a single.

After the heartbreaking loss, Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle squashed any and all rumors about him potentially filling the Longhorns‘ vacancy in Austin.

“I left my family to be the coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again. That hasn’t changed in my mind,” Schlossnagle proclaimed. “I have poured every ounce of my soul into this job. I have given this job every single ounce I could possibly give it.”

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No. 3 Texas A&M begins College World Series finals with rout of SEC rival No. 1 Tennessee

During the first College World Series finals game in program history, the Texas A&M baseball team came out hot, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.

During the first College World Series finals game in program history, the Texas A&M baseball team came out hot, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.

The No. 3 Aggies (53-13) jumped out to a 9-2 lead versus top seed Tennessee (58-13) and won the matchup of SEC squads by a final score of 9-5 to win Game 1 of the CWS finals. Texas A&M tallied 2 runs in the first frame, 5 in the third and 2 in the seventh. The Volunteers scored once in the second and third, respectively, and 3 in the seventh.

Two Aggies freshmen got the party started in the top of the first. Third baseman Gavin Grahovac belted an oppo taco with a solo home run to right field to begin the contest. It was his 23rd of the season, which set a new franchise record for a freshman, and his fifth leadoff jack of the year.

Senior catcher Jackson Appel doubled down the left field line, then freshman outfielder Caden Sorrell singled into center and plated Appel.

Superstar sophomore OF Jace LaViolette drew a walk to start the fifth inning and Appel hit an infield single. Graduate student designated hitter Hayden Schott singled up the middle to score LaViolette. Sorrell singled to right to score Schott and make the score 4-0.

Senior first baseman Ted Burton plated a run next after making it to first on a fielder’s choice. Burton scored on an error by junior 3B Billy Amick, who allowed junior shortstop Ali Camarillo to reach base safely. Then sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent singled to right center field to score Camarillo and Sorell, increasing the advantage to 7-1.

Kent blasted a 2-run bomb to right field in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-2. Despite Tennessee tallying 3 runs in the bottom half of the frame and putting runners on the corners in the ninth, Texas A&M earned a 9-5 victory to begin the CWS finals.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager got the start on the mound and tossed 4.0 innings and allowed 8 hits and 2 runs with 6 strikeouts on 81 pitches. Junior RHP Josh Stewart earned the win in relief of Prager. He pitched 2.1 frames and gave up 3 walks, 2 runs and 1 hit with 4 Ks on 56 pitches.

Junior RHP Brad Rudis tossed 2 pitches and allowed a solo shot to junior DH Hunter Ensley. Then the “Stopper of the Year,” senior LHP Evan Aschenbeck, closed the game, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and giving up 2 hits with a staggering 7 punch outs on 46 pitches.

Kent went 3-for-5 with a game-high 4 runs batted in. The son of 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent tallied 14 RBI in the regular season and has already matched that total in the NCAA Tournament, which is tied for second most in the nation.

The Aggies will attempt to win their first national championship in school history on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ABC and ESPN+.

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Watch Texas A&M’s final hype video that will get you ready for the CWS Finals

Let’s get ready to rumble!

The stage is set for the College World Series Finals, where the mighty Texas A&M (52-13) will go head-to-head with the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (58-12). This is a ‘Clash of the Titans’, a battle that has been brewing since the start of the regular season, and now it’s time for the ultimate showdown.

Both programs are coming off impressive victories on Wednesday. The Volunteers defeated Florida State 7-2 behind a late offensive surge, while the Aggies’ dominant pitching performance paved the way for a 6-0 victory over the Florida Gators. Sophomore Justin Lamkin recorded a CWS record nine strikeouts in his best career outing.

As the teams gear up for the most significant weekend in their program history, head coach Jim Schlossnagle, alongside ace pitcher Ryan Prager and DH Hayden Schott, shared their thoughts with the media. The third-year head coach expressed the team’s collective desire to bring home a championship to the 12th Man, underlining the importance of the game.

“It would be awesome. The 12th Man deserves it so much. They’ve been so close and invested so much in athletics.” “I think we’re the first team to be in the national title since the 30s… The 12th Man is so special, and if I talk about it too much, I’ll start crying.”

While Tennessee’s offense heavily relies on home runs, with 178 on the year, no one can deny that Texas A&M’s pitching staff is the hottest group in the country, starting with Ryan Prager in Game 1. With the matchup just hours away, Texas A&M’s media team has released the final “hype” video to prepare Aggie fans for what’s to come.

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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Schlossnagle reflects on clinching first College World Series finals trip at Texas A&M

“Great ball game and I thought we played really well. Lamkin was outstanding… Excited to get some rest and to play for a national title!”

Led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle in his third year at Texas A&M, the No. 3 Aggies clinched their first College World Series finals appearance on Wednesday evening with a shutout victory of SEC rival Florida.

“It was a great ball game and I thought we played really, really well. Lamkin was obviously outstanding. The decision was just trying to figure out how long to leave him in there, you know, win the game but still give us a chance over the weekend since we’re down a pitcher,” Schlossnagle explained. “Stewie made big pitches to get us out of a jam. Cortez will be better next time, I have no doubt. Obviously, Grahovac had some big hits. I thought Sorrell’s homer really played a huge part in the game just to give us a little bit of length on the lead.

“Excited to get some rest and get to play for a national title!”

Texas A&M begins the most important best of three set in program history Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. vs. No. 1 Tennessee on ESPN.

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‘Ball comes a little faster,’ Texas A&M 2B Kaeden Kent explains shifting positions at CWS

“Making the shift over to third is not as bad as I think it seems,” he said. “It’s nothing different except the ball comes a little faster.”

The No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team beat SEC foe, No. 2 Kentucky, by a final score of 5-1 on Monday night at Charles Schwab Field to advance to the semifinals of the College World Series.

Sophomore Kaeden Kent started at second base, then shifted to third after freshman Gavin Grahovac replaced sophomore right fielder Jace LaViolette, who suffered a right hamstring injury.

“My at-bat to score a couple runs, the guy was throwing a slider-cutter thing and a heater. I got a hold of one of his cutters, he left it a little too much over the plate. I pulled it foul, then he threw me a heater that was too much over the plate and I was able to handle it,” Kent recalled. “Making the shift over to third is not as bad as I think it seems. I take ground balls there, second base, shortstop. It’s nothing different except the ball comes a little faster. I was able to make a play.”

Next up for the Aggies (51-13) is a rematch with SEC rival Florida (36-29), who they beat 3-2 in the opening round on Saturday evening. With a win tonight, Texas A&M clinches a berth in the College World Series finals. First pitch Wednesday is at 6 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+.

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