Tag: Texas Aggies Baseball

Texas A&M first baseman Blake Binderup has announced his Aggie playing future

Texas A&M will return another key member of the roster in 2025

It’s been a crazy week for Texas A&M’s baseball program. Former head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s sudden departure to head the Texas Longhorns shocked the fan base to its core, not only due to heated rivalry but also the optics surrounding his departure.

For Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts, finding Schlossnagle’s replacement is the only focus. Plenty of intriguing options have made the media rounds, including Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson and former A&M hitting coach Michael Earley, who recently followed Schlossnagle to Texas.

However, the current players are dealing with their own emotions in the wake of the coaching change. While nearly a dozen players entered the transfer portal, several young athletes, including reserve first baseman Blake Binderup, announced their return for the 2025 season.

Sitting behind Ted Burton, who will leave the program after one memorable season in Aggieland, Binderup is a native of College Station and an Aggie legacy who stands at 6 feet, 6 inches and 230 pounds. He offers plenty of potential heading into the 2025 season.

Binderup finished the year with 19 appearances and 10 starts, recording six hits, nine RBIs and one home run while batting .231.

Binderup joins pitchers Shane Sdao, Josh Stewart and Brad Rudis as fellow returnees next season.

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Texas A&M SP Ryan Prager discussed his playing future after Jim Schlossnagles’ exit

Could Ryan Prager return for a final season in Aggieland? That likely depends on who Texas A&M hires to replace Jim Schlossnagle

It’s been a heck of a week, or merely three days after Texas A&M baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s’ shocking exit to head the Texas Longhorns after three seasons, as the move was finalized just a day after the Aggies College World Series final loss to Tennessee.

While the optics were disastrous, it’s time to look to the future and find Schlossnagle’s replacement, as D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers has released three names that have conducted interviews with Agges’ AD Trev Alberts, including former hitting coach Michael Earley, who recently followed Schlossnagle to Texas this week.

As the Aggies’ roster continues to express their thoughts on the abrupt departure, star pitcher Ryan Prager, who still has two more years of eligibility remaining, sat down with TexAgs Radio’s David Nuno to not just provide his personal opinion on the news but also give details on his playing future with the Maroon & White.

“There’s so much uncertainty right now, but I know everyone’s “Plan A” right now is Texas A&M” he stated. “Texas A&M is on the forethought of everybody’s mind because of what the school has done for everybody, the fans. I think everybody feels what this place is about.”

While most of the players on the roster or currently in the transfer portal are in clear favor of the Aggies hiring Michael Early as the team’s head coach, Prager will test out his MLB value before making a decision regarding his potential return to the program this summer.

Earning multiple accolades, Prager finished the season with a 9-1 record, 124 strikeouts, and a 2.95 ERA.

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Three more candidates have interviewed for Texas A&M baseball’s HC job

Three notable names, including Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson, have interviewed to replace Jim Schlossnagle

What a week it has been for Texas A&M’s baseball program. The shocking news that head coach Jim Schlossnagle was leaving for the Texas Longhorns just a day after the Aggies had played for the College World Series championship has been one of the biggest stories in all of sports media.

While more information regarding Schlossnagle’s abrupt exit emerges, Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts is focused on hiring his replacement as soon as possible. He has already interviewed several candidates over the last two days.

While plenty of rumors (mostly unfounded) have spread on social media, D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers provided an update, combined with insider information from TexAgs’ Billy Liucci.

On Friday, Rogers confirmed three candidates, including Oklahoma’s Skip Johnson, Wake Forest’s Tom Walter and former Texas A&M hitting coach Michael Earley, who followed Schlossnagle to Austin, have interviewed for the open position.

Do these three options represent the finalists? Time will tell, but a decision could be made as soon as this weekend.

Of the three, Earley is the only coach without any head coaching experience. However, he is an excellent recruiter with obvious ties to the roster, including star hitters Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovic, who entered the transfer portal this week.

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D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers provides an update in Texas A&M baseball’s HC search

Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball had some interesting things to say regarding Texas A&M baseball’s head coach search

Events are ramping up fast after former Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to rival Texas one day after the Aggies’ loss to Tennessee in the College World Series Finals.

The team is feeling the effects of this sudden change, and first-year A&M athletic director Trev Alberts has a great deal on his plate this week as he works to fill the void left by Schlossnagle.

Although nearly a dozen former starters are in the transfer portal, including Jace LaViolette and Gavin Grahovic, that doesn’t mean these players are leaving for a new destination. Instead, they are testing their value in the open market until a new head coach is announced, which is completely reasonable.

On Wednesday night, D1Baseball editor Kendall Rogers released his latest head coach, “hot board,” revealing six possible candidates that could replace Schlossnagle in College Station. Still, one popular name from the SEC was not included until Rogers appeared on TexAgs Radio on Thursday morning.

Speaking with host David Nuno, Rogers noted the timeline for Texas A&M to hire Schlossnagle’s replacement could be announced in the coming days:

“Based on what I’m hearing, I would be really surprised if they didn’t have a new head coach by Saturday. I really do. It’s moving very fast. My educated guess would be today is a very busy day on the coaching search front. By Saturday or Sunday morning, I think they have a new baseball coach.”

Noting plenty of well-known options, including long-time Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor, Rogers stated that one name not yet mentioned has become a legitimate candidate:

The really interesting one I would take a gander at is Kevin O’Sullivan. He has made it very clear that Florida needs some help on the NIL front. He is a guy who, if he went to A&M, would have a lot of NIL money.

This makes perfect sense. While O’Sullivan’s need for strong name, image and likeness licensing support would play a huge factor in any decision to leave the Gators after 17 years in Gainesville, nothing is set in stone. However, the drumbeat for one of the best coaches in the country to make his way to College Station is getting louder and louder.

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Junior pitcher Josh Stewart makes statement regarding his Texas A&M future

Josh Stewart joins Shane Sdao as Texas A&M pitchers poised to return in 2025

With all the chaos surrounding former Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to join the Texas Longhorns in the same capacity just a day after the Aggies’ College World Series Finals Game 3 loss to Tennessee, there’s actually some positive news!

Joining starting sophomore pitcher Shane Sdao, junior right-hander Josh Stewart, who quickly became one of the more reliable arms in the Aggies’ bullpen, sent a message on Instagram to the 12th man regarding his immediate playing future in 2025:

“An Aggies does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do

Thank god for Aggie baseball.”

While this isn’t an official return announcement, it’s safe to say that Stewart isn’t following Schlossnagle to Texas, a place he started his collegiate career during the 2022 season.

A lifelong Aggie fan, Stewart is coming off an impressive junior campaign, finishing with a 2-2 record with 39 strikeouts and a 4.26 ERA. Stewart struck out 12 batters during the College World Series while allowing just six hits.

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Texas A&M sophomore pitcher Shane Sdao reveals his future plans

Some good news! Sophomore starting pitcher Shane Sdao announces his return for the 2025 season

With all the chaos surrounding former Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure to join the Texas Longhorns in the same capacity just a day after the Aggies’ College World Series Finals Game 3 loss to Tennessee, there’s actually some positive news!

Despite the upheaval, the commitment of several key starters and contributors remains unwavering. This includes starting sophomore pitcher Shane Sdao, who has made it clear his playing future before heading to the MLB will be at Texas A&M.

Amid the news that nearly every roster member, including 2024 12th man and senior Ryan Targac, found out about Schlossnagle’s plans through social media, feelings and a sense of loyalty have likely diminished going forward, and no one blames these young men for entering the transfer portal.

Sdao’s return is huge for whoever takes Schlossnagle’s place. The sophomore finished the season with a 5-1 record, 55 strikeouts and a 2.98 ERA before sustaining an upper-body injury vs. Oregon in the super-regional round.

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‘Judge me by my actions,’ Longhorns coach Schlossnagle doubles down on Texas A&M departure

“If I left Texas A&M for some school in a different part of the country, the interesting text messages that I got wouldn’t have happened.”

Jim Schlossnagle mislead the 12th Man with his comments on Monday night after losing the College World Series finals, but the former Texas A&M baseball head coach claimed Wednesday that it wasn’t his intent to do so.

“I didn’t intentionally mislead them. That’s a very fair question for you to ask because that is what I said. In that moment, that’s exactly how I felt,” Schlossnagle proclaimed. “I loved it and dove in with every single ounce of me to help A&M have the very best baseball program that it can possibly have. That investment lasted through the last pitch of the national championship game. It never wavered, not one second, I don’t care what anybody says.

“If I had left Texas A&M for some other school in a different part of the country, the interesting text messages that I got yesterday probably wouldn’t have happened. But I get it… You can’t ask for your fan base to support you and be passionate like the 12th Man always has been, but really was this year! Our crowds were awesome every single game! You can’t ask for that like our staff did and then expect everybody to be OK with a coach leaving for its rival school and I get it.

“All I can say is I have a career too. I have a personal life as well. I have goals and I just simply felt like, no negative at A&M, just the positives of the alignment and frankly my relationship with Chris. I knew there wasn’t anybody at Texas A&M that I couldn’t trust, I just know that I can trust Chris, I just know that. As hard as that decision was, I could not walk away from it.”

Schlossnagle brought his entire coaching staff with him to Austin: Nolan Cain, Michael Earley and Max Weiner.

One of the final questions that Schlossnagle answered was in regard to the backlash of his abrupt departure and how it will effect recruiting.

“Don’t listen to what I say. Judge me by my actions over the course of time. Anybody can say one thing and do another,” Schlossnagle proclaimed. “I do feel like, not just me, but our staff has a proven track record of doing things the right way. Many people, especially on the A&M side, will say ‘this wasn’t done the right way.’ I just don’t know any other way that it could have been done.

“It’s not like we can sit around and wait for a week. That wouldn’t have been fair to Texas A&M or the University of Texas. So it is what it is in today’s college sports. I love those players, they’ll get emotional and that’s OK for them to express their emotion.”

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‘I had no clue,’ Texas A&M senior Ryan Targac found out about Schlossnagle departure on X

“It has been the best four years of my life and that would not have been possible without the support. Forever thankful! Thanks and Gig’em!”

Less than 24 hours after the College World Series finals concluded, many members of the 12th Man were shocked to learn head coach Jim Schlossnagle was departing Texas A&M to become the leader of the rival Texas Longhorns in Austin.

Not even the player bestowed with the sacred No. 12 knew about what was coming Tuesday night. Senior utility player Ryan Targac shared a message with Aggies fans on Tuesday afternoon via X.

I’ve been sitting on this for a while, but I can’t express my gratitude enough to Texas A&M University and the 12th Man,” Targac stated. “It has been the best four years of my life and that would not have been possible without the endless support. Forever thankful! Thanks and Gig’Em!

Texas A&M student Cameron Holy replied to Targac’s statement by saying, ‘Once again no mention of a coach. It’s all making sense,” alluding to the Schlossnagle rumors. Then Targac cleared the air.

“I found out on Twitter probably two hours after I posted this,” he proclaimed. “I had no clue.”

Based on Targac’s comment, it seems players were right alongside the 12th Man in being left in the dark by the former Aggies manager.

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Several of Texas A&M baseball’s key assistants will follow Jim Schlossnagle to Texas

Nolan Cain, Max Weiner, and Michael Earley are all headed to Austin

As the shock continues to wear off for Aggies everywhere, the sudden departure of former Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle, who left the program after three seasons for rival Texas, has begun to set in.

While the optics are ugly — a decision was reportedly made days before Texas A&M faced Tennessee in Game 3 of the College World Series finals — this is simply the nature of the business.

Aggies’ athletic director Trev Alberts faces a daunting task and has his work cut out for him this week.

While we wait for news on Schlossnagle’s replacement, we have news regarding his new staff in Austin. According to Houston Chronicles’ Kirk Bohls, third base coach Nolan Cain, pitching coach Max Weiner, and hitting coach Michael Earley will now follow Schlossnagle Texas.

One of the top recruiters in college baseball, Cain had been with the program since 2022. He rose to his position as associate head coach in 2024 while helping land a majority of the Aggies’ talent roster, which paved the way for the best season in Texas A&M history.

Weiner, who spent just one season with the Aggies, completely turned A&M’s pitching around to one of the best units in the country. At the same time, Michael Earley helped pave the way for star outfielders Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery to combine for nearly 60 home runs on the year.

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Jim Schlossnagle’s coaching future with Texas A&M is reportedly in question

According to a new report, Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle is set to make a decision regarding his future with the program

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Just minutes after Texas A&M’s (53-15) College World Series Finals loss to Tennessee in the decisive Game 3 on Monday night, Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle became the talk of the college baseball world.

Schlossnagle has led the program to two CWS appearances in his first three seasons. But during the past week in Omaha, rumors spread throughout social media regarding his coaching future.

On the surface, the rumors and their timing seemed extremely confusing, coming as they did during A&M’s run to the championship round. Then the Texas Longhorns announced the dismissal of longtime baseball head coach David Pierce on the day Schlossnagle and Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, another hot coaching target, were playing for the title.

After the game, while Vitello crowd surfed with the Volunteer faithful, Schlossnagle was asked by TexAg’s Richard Zane if he could answer the “circulating rumors” regarding the Texas opening. Here is how he answered, minus several omissions:

“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.”

“I have poured every ounce of my soul into this job. I have given this job every single once I could possibly give it.”

Some may view his answer as an emphatic defense of what he built in just three seasons and read into it a future commitment to the program. After all the Aggies are doing everything to keep him, including the school’s recent $80 million commitment to renovating Blue Bell Park.

However, that smoke has become a raging fire. On Tuesday afternoon, Houston Chronicle writers Kirk Bohls and Brent Zwerneman revealed Schlossnagle is weighing his options between staying with the Aggies and leaving for the Texas job. His ties to Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte go back to their time together at TCU.

With a decision reportedly set to be made Tuesday night, Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts has his work cut out for him. For what it’s worth, here is how the financials weigh out:

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