Tag: Michael Earley

Texas A&M baseball lands a huge commitment from former Texas Tech star

Former Texas Tech star Gavin Kash is heading to College Station!

As someone who has been covering Texas A&M Athletics for nearly three years, the last week has, by far, been the craziest in recent memory after now-former baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to take over the Texas Longhorns program just a day after the Aggies’ CWS Championship Finals loss.

However, the negative tone surrounding Aggie baseball quickly flipped its head after Sunday’s news that former hitting coach Michael Earley was hired as the program’s 21st head coach, leading to a host of players on the roster removing their names from the transfer portal, including star hitters Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovac.

As more positive announcements are slated to arrive this week, Earley received an early (joke) Chrismas present just hours after his official introduction on Tuesday afternoon, as former Texas Tech star first baseman Gavin Kash will reportedly transfer to Texas A&M for the 2025 season.

As one of the top five players out of the transfer portal, Kash is a power hitter with MLB potential and looks like a nearly seamless replacement for outgoing Aggie first baseman Ted Burton.

In his last two seasons with the Red Raiders, Kash hit 41 home runs while coming off of his impressive 2023 season after hitting 300/.365/.561 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs at the plate.

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Michael Earley proclaims he is ‘built for this’ job as Texas A&M baseball head coach

“I’m ready for this, I’m built for this. I’ve seen what it takes to get almost to the top here. Been to Omaha two of the last three years.”

Despite becoming a college baseball head coach for the first time in his career, Michael Earley is confident he’s the right man to lead Texas A&M to the promised land.

“Here’s the deal, I’m ready for this, I’m built for this. I’ve seen what it takes to get almost to the top here. We were so close. Been to Omaha two of the last three years. I’ve worked, recruited and gone against these guys in the SEC the last three years. I completely understand I’ve never been a head coach, that’s fine. I’ve assembled a staff that has my back. The one thing is that I know I love Texas A&M,” Earley said. “My knowledge and appreciation for the very motivated fan base, I think my age, experience level is an advantage. My energy will be infectious and I promise you that I will do everything I can to take this baseball program to new heights.

“I can’t thank you enough for being here and look forward to seeing you out at Blue Bell. Thanks and Gig’Em!”

Earley will be competing directly against his former boss, Jim Schlossnagle, and the Longhorns, who officially joined the SEC alongside Oklahoma on Monday.

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Aggies head coach Michael Earley is ‘where I want to be’ with players who vouched for him

“It’s been an interesting week, a lot has happened. I found out a lot about myself. I ended up where I want to be and I’m super grateful.”

The Texas A&M Athletic Department formally introduced Michael Earley as the 21st head coach in program history on Tuesday afternoon in College Station.

“It’s been an interesting week. A lot has happened and I found out a lot about myself. In the end, I ended up where I want to be and I’m super grateful for that, super grateful for all the people that got my back,” Earley explained. “To the players, number one, this is your program. To the former players, this is your program. I am just here to give you everything I have every single day. I will do anything I can for anyone who has ever touched this program, and especially you guys.

“Anything you ever need in life, I’m confident I can help you in baseball, but I think my biggest job is to help you guys in life. I appreciate you guys having my back, getting me in the door and the opportunity to run right through it.”

The players who vouched for Earley’s return include underclassmen superstars Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovac, who respectively withdrew from the NCAA Transfer Portal on Tuesday morning.

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Ryan Prager provides an update on his pitching future with Texas A&M

Texas A&M ace pitcher Ryan Prager is still undecided on his immediate playing future

What a week it was for Texas A&M’s baseball program.

The sudden and shocking news that head coach Jim Schlossnagle would leave his position to take over at the University of Texas just one day after the Aggies’ 6-5 loss in the College World Series Finals left us all very confused.

However, just five days later, Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts found his successor among a reported nine coaches in consideration. Former Aggie hitting coach Michael Earley has become the program’s 21st head coach, bringing energy and excitement to an already established roster. His proven recruiting background is certainly a plus for the program’s future.

After his introduction and before the Q&A portion of Tuesady’s event, GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels was able to pull Aggies ace pitcher Ryan Prager aside for a couple of questions regarding his playing future, as he was joined by several players on the roster to attend the event.

Still weighing his options, Prager is excited about the hire, noting that Earley has already brought in an “elite” coaching staff. At the same time, he and the team’s chaotic week in Omaha, combined with Schlossnagles’ departure, is certainly something he’ll never forget.

Concerning a potential return in 2025, Karels asked that very question, especially with star hitters Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovac announcing their returns earlier in the day:

“We’ll see what happens. A lot of conversations to happen with some people in my corner, which includes my family and some other people we rely on. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks, and go from there.”

Ryan Prager finished his redshirt sophomore season on a high note with a 9-1 record, 124 strikeouts, and a 2.95 ERA. For those interested, here is the full interview with Carter Karels.

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Athletic director Trev Alberts shares his ‘vision’ for future of Texas A&M baseball program

“We’re going to hire servant leaders, coaches where it’s not about them! We’re going to have the best stadium in college baseball,” he said.

Formalities aside, Trev Alberts can officially call himself the athletic director at Texas A&M after making his first major coaching hire since arriving to College Station in March.

“People ask me all the time, ‘What’s your shared vision for the baseball program?’ Number one, we’re going to have the best coaches in college baseball. We’re going to hire servant leaders, coaches where it’s not about them, it’s about serving these guys,” Alberts proclaimed Tuesday afternoon. “We’re going to have the best development program in college baseball because that’s what (Earley) is all about, right?

“We’re going to have the best stadium in college baseball. With your help, that of our donors and regents, an $80 million upgrade to Blue Bell is going to be a game changer. It’s going to be the best atmosphere and environment in college baseball, that’s the vision. Finally, we’re going to have the best fan experience because that’s what changes the whole environment at Blue Bell.”

Michael Earley is the 21st Aggies baseball head coach in program history.

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President Welsh didn’t hold back about ‘someone who left’ at Earley’s Aggies intro presser

“Future of Aggie baseball, none of it about someone who left. It’s about someone who fought to stay! There is unfinished business in Omaha.”

Texas A&M president Mark Welsh didn’t pull any punches on Tuesday afternoon during an introductory press conference for new baseball head coach Michael Earley.

“Last and maybe most importantly, he loves his family. It took Michael about 30 seconds into our first meeting to mention Lisa and the kids. But he also understands that Aggies love this family. People who love their families, tend to be loyal, and so do Aggies,” Welsh said. “Just to be clear here, today, tomorrow and the future of Aggie baseball, none of it about someone who left.

“It’s about someone who fought to stay! It’s about a leader who will fight to keep his team together. It’s about a coach who will make every player a better competitor, on and off the field. It’s about a winner who knows that there is still unfinished business in Omaha, Nebraska.”

Earley briefly followed former Aggies coach Jim Schlossnagle to the University of Texas before interviewing for and accepting the opportunity to remain in College Station at the helm.

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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 👍”

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 announces new head coach after College World Series

A SEC baseball head coach vacancy has been filled at Texas A&M following the College World Series.

Tennessee defeated Texas A&M, 6-5, in Game 3 of the College World Series Finals at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday.

Tennessee won the best-of-three series, 2-1, against the Aggies. The Vols won the program’s first national championship.

On Tuesday, Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle resigned to take a same position at Texas.

The Aggies hired Michael Earley to replace Schlossnagle on Sunday. Earley served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M from 2021-24. He was an assistant coach at Arizona State from 2017-21.

“I am happy to announce that Michael Earley has been hired as our new Aggie baseball head coach,” director of athletics Trev Alberts said. “Michael is a very talented coach and recruiter, but what stood out to me was his character and the relationships he has built with his current and former players. During our interview process he was really impressive. I think it helps that he knows our current roster, which finished second in the country, and he also knows Aggieland and the 12th Man. I am excited about the future of Aggie baseball. Please help me welcome home Michael and his family back to Aggieland.”

Patrick Breen/USA TODAY Network

Transfer first baseman Matthew Bergevin confirms his commitment to Texas A&M

One of Texas A&M’s top additions has confirmed his commitment after Michael Earley’s hiring

With the announcement Texas A&M has hired Michael Earley as the baseball program’s newest head coach, nearly every player who entered the transfer portal is expected to remove their name. That includes star hitters Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovac.

As Michael Earley fills out his coaching staff, there’s promising news for the team. High-priority transfer first baseman Matthew Bergevin will stick with the Aggies despite his recent visit to the Texas Longhorns after former head coach Jim Schlossnagle departed for Austin earlier this week.

During the 2023 season, Bergevin hit .287/.418/.627 and a team-leading 18 home runs. His highly impressive 1.000 OPS infused consistency and power to an already dynamic batting lineup. Heading into the 2025 season, Bergevin will likely battle with fellow first baseman Blake Binderup for the starting spot in the depth chart.

While Bergevin is one of the first players to announce his pledge to play for Earley, expect more news on that front throughout the coming week.

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