Tag: Texas A&M baseball

Texas A&M baseball is seeing high praise as the pre-season rankings start rolling in

The fresh-faced Texas A&M baseball team will enter the season with high expectations from outside eyes

Texas A&M baseball is right around the corner and multiple outlets are dropping their Top 25 list. I expect that SEC teams will be littered in the Top 10 of any polls released before the season starts, which has become an annual tradition for the best conference in the country.

A few days ago, Perfect Game USA released their Preseason Top 25 for the 2024 season. The Aggies, who took a bit of a step back in Coach Jim Schlossnagle’s second year, are getting some love, being placed in the Top 10 at No. 7. Ahead of Texas A&M are Vanderbilt, TCU, Florida, LSU, and Arkansas, and No. 1 is Wake Forest.

With all the new pieces, it’s hard to tell if the ranking is right where it should be, higher or lower. However, what I do know is that this team has a strong mix of talented youth with proven experience. The two to keep an eye on this season will be the sophomore Jace LaViolette and transfer Braden Montgomery.

As more preseason information starts to come in, we’ll dive into what to expect from this new-look Aggie baseball team in the lead-up to their February 16th match-up with McNeese State.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Senior infielder Ryan Targac chosen to wear No. 12

Coach Jim Schlossnagle has chosen which Aggie will have the honor of wearing No. 12 for the 2024 season

Head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle announced on Tuesday that Ryan Targac would follow in the footsteps of Troy Claunch & Austin Bost by wearing No. 12 for the 2024 season.

The honor of wearing No. 12 was established by Schlossnagle and his staff during the 2022 season and is typically awarded to a player in his last year of eligibility that has exemplified the core values of the university and program at a very high level.

Targac spoke on what it means for him to be chosen to wear the number 12 for the Aggie baseball team.

“Being named No. 12 is such an honor to me,” To be able to represent Texas A&M and what it stands for is such a privilege. I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for God, my family, coaches, and teammates. The work still continues though. I will continue to show up and be the best version of myself and to serve others.”

Targac will no doubt represent the number well and we are eager to see the Aggie baseball team take the field on February 16th.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Top Aggie Transfer Braden Montgomery named as top 10 MLB prospect

The crown jewel of the Aggie Baseball transfer class has been named a top-ten prospect in next years MLB draft

Braden Montgomery had a similar journey to Texas A&M as former LSU/Texas A&M now North Carolina QB Max Johnson. Both gave the Aggies heartbreaking losses before eventually deciding to join the Maroon & White via the transfer portal.

With the past in the past, we can move forward with the former No. 1 ranked player in the portal poised to help Head Coach Jim Scholssnagle take the baseball team back to the promised land better known as the College World Series.

MLB.com laid out in detail why Braden has earned a top-ten spot on their list and can check out a snip-it below:

Teams were split on whether Montgomery had a brighter future as a hitter or pitcher when he was a Mississippi high schooler in 2021, but that decision was put on hold when he went undrafted because of his Stanford commitment. After he hit 35 homers and battled the strike zone in two years with the Cardinal, it’s now obvious that he’ll be an outfielder when he turns pro. He transferred to Texas A&M for his junior season and could become the highest-drafted position player in Aggies history, surpassing Tyler Naquin (No. 15 overall in 2012).

We can’t wait to see him suit up in the spring with the rest of the team for an exciting 2024 season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

The full 2024 schedule for the Texas A&M Baseball team has been released

The Aggie baseball team now knows the date and who they will be playing in 2024.

As we enter year three of Coach Jim Scholssnagle, expectations are at an all-time high for Aggie baseball. He is somewhat a victim of his own success as the 2022 team reached the College World Series in his first year and knocked off arch-rival the Texas Longhorns.

While last season was not horrible, it was sometimes marred with inconsistent pitching and spotty batting. Coach Scholss spent the offseason aggressively bringing in talent through recruiting, the transfer portal, and the coaching staff.

Two of the more intriguing additions this offseason were two-way player Braden Montgomery and talented pitching coach Max Weiner. Montgomery transferred in from Stanford as a top pitcher and outfielder, named D1 baseball’s top transfer in the portal. Weiner is regarded as one of the top young pitching coaches who is known for his engaging coaching style and has been praised by the pitchers on the team.

We look forward to seeing an improved Aggie squad on opening night at Olsen Field in February.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Former Stanford OF Braden Montgomery has committed to Texas A&M

Boom! The Aggies have added one of the best remaining players in the portal, former Stanford OF, Braden Montgomery

Wait for it… BOOM! Texas A&M Baseball and Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle have landed one of the top remaining transfer portal players, as former standout Stanford outfielder/pitcher Braden Montgomery has committed to the Maroon and White for the 2023-2024 season.

During his 2022-2023 sophomore season, Montgomery’s stat line included hitting .336 for 17 home runs and 62 RBI, while his two total seasons include .315 with 35 homers and 118 RBI; Impressive as all get out.

Back in early June, the Aggies memorably fell to the Cardinal in the Stanford Regional 2 games to 1, where Montgomery recorded six hits and a home run in the series. He would go on to record six more hits against Texas and Tennessee before Stanford fell to the Vols in the College World Series.

Adding nearly a dozen players from the portal, Montgomery’s star definitely shines the brightest, and let’s not forget that he’ll be joining a lineup with Aggie star Jace LaViolette (.287/.414/.632; 21 HRs) and fellow portal member, Hayden Schott (.333/.410/.618; 11 HRs) to what should be one of the more lethal offensive units in the country.

Congratulations, Braden! Gig ‘em

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M needs to target newest portal addition, former NC State catcher Cannon Peebles

Another talented player has entered the transfer portal, as former NC State catcher Cannon Peebles needs to be the Aggies’ next portal target.

Another one! The college baseball transfer portal has continued to make waves this summer, and after former Clemson infielder Billy Amick announced his intention to enter the portal, fellow ACC star catcher Cannon Peebles has officially joined him.

Following a Tweet from D1 Baseball Managing Editor Kendall Rogers, Peebles, who was one of the top recruits out of the Virginia high school ranks, had by far one of the best seasons in the country as a true freshman, hitting .352, 12 home runs, and 50 RBI, including a .697 slugging percentage and a .456 on-base percentage in 39 games played.

From a team perspective, Peebles’ 50 RBI led the team, while his 12 home runs ranked second, again, all as a freshman. This season, the Wolfpacks’ run in the NCAA Tournament ended at the hands of Campbell in the Columbia, South Carolina Regional in an 11-2 loss, as Peebles’s short tenure with the program will surely be remembered for years.

So far this offseason, Austin Bost and Brett Minnich are the only players to depart so far, and head coach Jim Schlossnagle has continued to make significant additions, adding former Tarelton relief pitcher Zane Badmaev and former Michigan infielder and grad transfer Ted Burton, who will undoubtedly compete for starting and rotational spots in the lineup next season.

As many feel pitching depth should stay as the priority in the portal, pure hitters like Cannon Peebles don’t come along very often, and Texas A&M’s .270 team batting average last season is just not good enough if competing for a Championship is their primary goal in 2023.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M receives votes in final USA Today Coaches poll

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, Texas A&M, after their impressive showing in the SEC Tournament, received votes in the final USA Today Coaches Poll.

What a memorable run it was for Texas A&M during the SEC Tournament last week; sitting on the doorstep of the NCAA Tournament after ending their regular season at 32-23 (14-16 SEC), the Aggies reeled off four victories over Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas before falling to Vanderbilt in the Title Game, solidifying themselves as a 2-seed in the Stanford Regional.

Texas A&M will travel over 1,800 miles to Palo Alto, California, as the Regional consists of the host and 1-seed Stanford, 3-seed Cal State Fullerton, and 4-seed San Jose State, as the 2-seed Aggies will face Cal State Fullerton on Friday at 9:00 pm CT. on ESPN2.

Ending conference play on the highest of notes, head coach Jim Schlossnagle and his squad have received some recognition for their efforts, receiving 12 votes in the final USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll, as their last four wins came against the No. 3 (Arkansas), No. 6 (LSU), No. 16 (Tennessee), and No. 18 (South Carolina) teams in rankings, so let’s say they are as ready as they’ll ever be going into Friday’s late matchup.

For more in-depth coverage ahead of Texas A&M’s Friday night game vs. Cal State Fullerton, Aggies Wire has you covered throughout the week!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M baseball selected as a 2-seed in the Stanford Regional

The Texas A&M Baseball team has been named the 2-seed in the Stanford regional and will take on 3-seed Cal State Fullerton on Friday.

The wait is over for head coach Jim Schlossnagle and his Aggie baseball squad, as the program has been named as the 2-seed in the Stanford Regional in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, where they will face 3-seed Cal State Fullerton (31-22) on Friday, June 2 at 9:00 pm CT. On ESPN2. The Titans will make their first Tournament appearance since 2018.

Regional host Stanford (38-16) will also take on 4-seed San Jose State (31-22) on Friday. For Texas A&M, it’s been a long and winding road to return to the Tournament for the second consecutive season in Schlossnagle’s second season with the program, where he led the Aggies to the College World Series semifinals in 2022.

Coming off their incredible showing in the SEC Tournament last week, Texas A&M (36-25) earned resume-building wins over Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina, and Arkansas, eventually falling to the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Championship game on Sunday afternoon.

After their performance last week, many expected the Aggies to land as a 2-seed in some Regional. Still, the challenge is steep because they will travel to Palo Alto, California, over 1,800 miles away from College Station, but this team has what it takes after facing top-tier SEC completion all season long.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Texas A&M is on the verge of being the first double-digit seed to win the SEC Tournament

After defeating Arkansas 5-4 on Saturday afternoon, 10-seed Texas A&M is headed to the SEC Championship game for the first time since 2016.

Texas A&M is by far one of the hottest baseball teams in the country since entering the SEC Tournament earlier this week, winning four out of their last five games against Tennessee (3-0), South Carolina (5-0), LSU (5-4), and finally defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in a semifinal rematch 5-4 on Saturday afternoon to return to the SEC Championship for the first time since 2016.

Offensively, Jack Moss, Hunter Haas, Trevor Werner, Jace LaViolette, Jordan Thompson, and Ryan Targac have all delivered in all five games this week. Still, the story that will continue into the NCAA Tournament has been the incredible turnaround from the Aggies’ pitching staff.

Not only is this an impressive feat in the toughest conference in the country, but The Aggies also entered the tournament as a 10-seed after ending the regular season with an uninspiring 32-23 (14-16 SEC) record, hoping to net at least one victory to solidify a place in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Well, head coach Jim Schlossnagle and his squad had other plans, led by a pitching rotation that saw exemplary performances from the starters and the bullpen after posting a 5.49 ERA during the regular season.

Against Tennessee, sophomore Troy Wansing struck out seven in 8 IP, followed by a 7.0 IP, 9 K performance from freshman Justin Lamkin against South Carolina. At the same time, veteran southpaw Will Johnston lasted six innings against LSU with 7 Ks, leading to Evan Aschenbeck’s gutsy four-strikeout closing performance to send the Tigers home.

On Saturday, Sam Houston State transfer and longtime Texas A&M fan Matt Dillard started against Arkansas in the Semifinal round. As Schlossnagle hoped to get a couple of innings out of the veteran, Dillard last four solid innings with six strikeouts and only allowing two hits on the day. After freshman Shane Sdao’s 2.2 IP, 5 K performance, the Aggies led 5-1 heading into the Top of the ninth as pitcher Brandyn Garcia’s attempt to close out the game instead led to 3 Arkansas runs, leading to what many would describe as a “storybook moment” when, yes, Troy Wansing entered the game with a man on second and one out.

After striking out Jace Bohrofen, Wansing would face Arkansas outfielder Jared Wagner, who stood at the plate with a comeback on his mind and a 2-2 count. In one more magical moment, Wansing got him swinging to send Arkansas home while vaulting the Maroon and White to Sunday’s title game.

The Aggies will face Vanderbilt in the SEC Championship game on Sunday, May 27, at 2:00 pm CT. on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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How to watch the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament on Friday

How to watch Friday’s action from Hoover in the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament!

The 2023 Southeastern Conference Tournament is set to continue on Friday, May 26 from the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.

The Florida Gators and the Arkansas Razorbacks have already secured their spots in the semifinals, which take place on Saturday, after not dropping a game through the first few days of the tournament.

Friday is elimination day for the remaining teams in Hoover. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Vanderbilt Commodores, Texas A&M Aggies, and LSU Tigers are all now in win-or-go-home scenarios.

Take a look below at the two elimination games on tap for Friday as the SEC continues its annual baseball tournament in Hoover, Alabama. All times are in CT and all games will broadcast on the SEC Network.