Tag: Texas Aggies Baseball

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 shocking news that head coach Jim Schlossnagle was leaving his position to take over the University of Texas program one day after the Aggies’ 6-5 loss in the College World Series Finals left everyone very confused.

However, five days later Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts hired his successor from among the reported nine coaches under consideration. Former Aggie hitting coach Michael Earley became 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 Tuesday’s event, GigEm247 beat writer Carter Karels pulled aside Aggies ace pitcher Ryan Prager for a couple of questions regarding his playing future. Prager was joined by several players on the roster at the event.

Although still weighing his options, Prager said he is excited about the hire. He noted 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.”

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

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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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Jim Schlossnagle provides more details on his Texas A&M exit in SEC Network interview

Jim Schlossnagle apparently didn’t understand the magnitude of leaving Texas A&M for rival Texas

The Jim Schlossnagle-Texas A&M saga is finally coming to an end, as Aggies’ athletic director Trev Alberts hired new baseball head coach Michael Earley on Sunday afternoon. Earley served as the team’s hitting coach the past three seasons.

Earley, pitching coach Max Weiner and associate head coach Nolan Cain followed Schlossnagle to Texas on Tuesday afternoon, the day of his shocking announcement. Still, as rumors swirled over the next couple of days, it seemed Earley was not too pleased with his situation.

While he lacks head coaching experience, players past and present overwhelmingly supported the hiring. More announcements are expected this week, but nearly every current player in the transfer portal should end up returning to the program, according to multiple sources.

In Austin, Texas, Schlossnagle continues to adjust to his new digs. On Sunday, Texas held a parade to celebrate the transition to the SEC, which it officially entered on Monday.

Staying in the news cycle, Schlossnagle and Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte spoke with SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, further explaining what he experienced during the memorable week.

Upon the Friday release of the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram’s interview with Schlossnagle, specific details about his relationship with Trev Alberts, whether true or not, spread like wildfire through the media landscape. Schlossnagle stated his position with the Aggies “became a different job” after Alberts was hired.

While it wasn’t surprising that Schlossnagle and Alberts had relationship issues, it was unexpected that the future Hall of Fame coach seemed unaware of the Aggie fan base’s response. His lack of awareness was almost laughable, especially after leaving to coach the Longhorns just a day after playing for a national championship.

“I had a feeling it would be nuclear, but I did not know it would be apocalyptic.”

It’s not hard to understand that the optics surrounding his abrupt exit are what led to the vitriol (which no one should ever endorse), but this is bound to happen with any heated rivalry, no matter the sport. Even worse, current Aggie players reportedly learned about the departure through social media, which he further defended due to “bad timing.”

“The timing’s never clean. … There’s just no way to ever meet with the entire team before you do that.”

To end the interview, Schlossnagle, of course, acknowledged Earley’s hiring, providing an answer that can only be described as a mild apology for the discontent he brought upon the fan base. This will hopefully put a bow on this saga once and for all.

“I’m glad that coach Early got the job. They hired one of our staff, so they could really celebrate that team.”

Any remaining pain or disdain by both fan bases can be settled on the field, as it should be, during the 2025 season when the Aggies are expected to return to Disch-Falk Field to face their former head coach. Game on!

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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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Texas A&M has found its new pitching coach under new HC Michael Earley

New Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley has found his new pitching coach

On Sunday, Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts made the first significant hire of his tenure with the university. Former hitting coach Michael Earley will return as the baseball program’s head coach, just days after former head coach Jim Schlossnagle shockingly departed for the University of Texas.

Earley tentatively followed Schlossnagle to Texas after officially leaving the program on Tuesday.

Albert’s coaching search was extensive, a process that kept the fans informed and engaged. At the same time, Earley’s name kept popping up as players past and present voiced their support for him to take over despite his youth and lack of head coaching experience.

Earley put pen to paper on Sunday morning and became the 21st head baseball coach in Texas A&M history. The first order of business is building his staff given Nolan Cain and highly regarded pitching coach Max Weiner are staying in Austin.

Earley will likely bring in Texas assistant coach Caleb Longley as the team’s new recruiting director.

On Sunday afternoon, it was reported Earley had found his new pitching coach. Washington head coach Jason Kelly is headed to College Station to lead the pitching staff. Kelly brings extensive experience, and he led the Huskies to an NCAA regional appearance in 2023.

The two served on the same staff at Arizona State, so this looks like a perfect hire on paper to keep the pitching success in place.

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New Texas A&M HC Michael Earley is set to hire a key assistant to his new staff

Texas assistant coach Caleb Longley is expected to join new Texas A&M HC Michael Earley to College Station

On Sunday, Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts announced his first significant hire. Former hitting coach Michael Earley will return to the program after briefly following former Aggies head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle to Texas this week.

Following Schlossnagle’s unexpected departure on Tuesday, Earley’s future seemed secure. However, his name unexpectedly appeared on the interview list later in the week. After several big names, including Oklahoma HC Skip Johnson, were not included in the process down the stretch, Earley emerged as the final candidate before the announcement came on Sunday morning.

While he may lack head coaching experience, Earley’s popularity with the current roster, impressive recruiting background and development arc played a huge role in his landing the gig. However, he’ll need a veteran coaching staff to rely on moving forward, a factor that should reassure fans about the team’s future.

According to D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers, Earley is expected to bring on current Texas recruiting director/hitting coach Caleb Longley, who could take on Earley’s hitting coach duties with the program. Both coaches served on the same staff at Arizona State during their early careers.

Longley’s equally successful recruiting background matches his coaching chops. which helped Texas produce a record 128 home runs during the 2022 season.

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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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One Texas A&M baseballl coaching candidate is reportedly out of the mix

Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson is now reportedly out of consideration for Texas A&M HC vacancy

Things are getting interesting on the rumor front regarding Texas A&M baseball’s head coach search, just days after Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to rival Texas after three seasons at the helm and just a day after the Aggies’ College World Series Finals loss to Tennessee.

On Friday, D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers, who has been the most consistent source since Schlossnagles’ exit, provided yet another update on Texas A&M AD Trev Albert’s search to replace the man who brought the program to two CWS appearances in two of his three seasons.

After noting that Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson, former hitting coach Michael Earley, and Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter were legitimate candidates, Rogers has confirmed that Johnson is no longer in consideration and will likely sign an extension to stay in Norman.

Rogers also stated that Albert has three final candidates in line before making a decision, which likely includes Earley and Walter. The current roster players clearly favor Earley returning to the program in some capacity after expressing so on social media.

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Could star closer Evan Aschenbeck return to Texas A&M for a final season?

Could Evan Aschenbeck return for a final season?

Good news regarding Texas A&M Baseball’s roster could be in the works, as TexAgs’ reporter Ryan Brauninger, one of the more reliable sources in the Aggies media sphere, has reported that Texas A&M star closer Evan Aschenbeck is attempting to return to the program for a final season.

As the best season in Aggie Baseball history comes to a close, the news that third-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle would leave the program just a day after A&M’s College World Series Finals loss to Tennessee sent shockwaves through the sports media landscape while confusing a majority of the roster.

While most of the Aggies’ roster had their suspicions, loyalty to the program never wavered, despite nearly a dozen players entering the transfer portal before a new head coach was eventually announced.

Aschenbeck, who is coming off his best season yet, is looking to obtain a final season of eligibility after his last two seasons in College Station after transferring from Blinn Community College.

A First Team All-American, the senior was named “Stopper of the Year” after serving as a consistent impasse for every opponent he faced during the 2024 campaign, leading the country with a 1.78 ERA and 87 strikeouts. This could be the start of a significant trend of nearly every player from the 2024 roster returning to run it back in 2025.

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