Tag: texas baseball

Zubia, Elder lead the way for Texas’ first win of the season

The Texas Longhorns traveled to Houston to take on the Rice Owls. Zach Zubia and Bryce Elder led the way to beat Rice 7-4.

The Texas Longhorns traveled to Houston to take on the Rice Owls in the first of a three game set. The Longhorns started off the year with Zach Zubia getting them on the board first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. After falling behind in the second inning. After Austin Todd drove in Murphy Stehly, Zubia came back to the plate with a runner on.

Overall, Zubia drove in four runs on the evening. Newcomer Stehley flirted with hitting for the cycle in his first game after transferring from Orange Coast College.

On the mound Bryce Elder set the tone for the team with six strong innings. He gave up two earned runs on four hits. Elder also struck out six. Cole Quintanilla and Tristan Stevens combined to pitch two innings. Quintanilla gave up one earned run. Donny Diaz came in to close the door in the ninth inning. He finished a perfect 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to give Texas their first win of the year.

Texas Baseball Returns To The Mound

The Texas Longhorns baseball team returns to the mound for the first time in 2020 as they take on the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas.

Baseball is finally back.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team will take the mound against the Rice Owls starting on Friday evening. This marks the third time over the last six seasons that the Texas Longhorns and Rice Owls will meet on opening weekend of the NCAA Baseball season. Texas has owned the series going 6-4 over those three seasons.

Last season the Longhorns finished 7-16 conference record and 27-27 overall. Texas is looking for a stronger showing in their fourth season under David Pierce. Pierce was an assistant coach for Rice from 2003-2011. He helped lead Texas to a Big 12 Championship in his second-year but fell to the bottom in 2019. His overall record at Texas is 108-74 and an even 35-35 in conference play.

TV: Conference USA TV

Radio: 104.9 The Horn/1260 AM

Probable Starters:

  • Friday at 7 p.m.- Junior RHP Bryce Elder (2-4, 2.93 ERA)
  • Saturday at 5 p.m.- Sophomore RHP Ty Madden (4-1, 3.40 ERA)
  • Sunday at 1 p.m.- Sophomore RHP Coy Cobb (1-3, 3.45 ER)

Texas leads the all-time series versus Rice 229-58-2

Former Longhorns’ pitcher Taylor Jungmann Invited To Minor League Camp

The Texas Rangers have added former Longhorns pitcher Taylor Jungmann to their minor league roster ahead of Spring Training.

The Texas Rangers have added former Longhorns hurler Taylor Jungmann on a minor league contract and will report to minor league camp according to Dallas Morning News writer Evan Grant. Jungmann last pitched for the Longhorns in 2011 when he was selected 12th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jungmann reached the Major Leagues by 2015. During his rookie year, he became the first Brewers’ pitcher to throw a complete game at Dodgers Stadium in their history. That year Jungman posted a 3.77 ERA in 21 starts. He struck out 107 batters in 119.1 innings for the brew crew. Over the next two seasons he would pitch in only nine games and would eventually head to Japan to continue his professional career.

Jungmann played the last two seasons for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan where he posted a 4.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts. His record through the 2019 season ended at 6-5. He will be looking to revive his Major League Baseball career with the Texas Rangers and regain that rookie season magic. He will have to work his way back up through their farm system.

At Texas, Jungmann was quite the pitcher for the Longhorns. He posted a 32-9 win-loss record, 1.85 ERA with 356 strikeouts. In his final year in Austin, Jungmann won the Dick Howser Trophy which is awarded to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player. He was part of the 2009 College World Series runner-up team and part of the 2011 team that qualified for the CWS.

Texas Ranked Fifth in Big 12 Coaches Poll

The Texas Longhorns baseball team is coming into the season as the fifth ranked team in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team will begin their quest for the conference title on February 14th in hopes of starting off on the right foot in their pursuit of another trip to Omaha. The Big 12 coaches released their rankings for the conference on Thursday.

It comes as little to no surprise that the Texas Tech Red Raiders finished a top the preseason poll rankings for the third-consecutive year. They received six first place votes and Texas comes in at fifth had one first place vote. The single vote did not come from David Pierce as coaches aren’t allowed to vote on their own team.

The Longhorns, Texas Tech and the TCU Horned Frogs are the only teams to ever be voted number one in three or more consecutive seasons as the top baseball team in the conference since 1999.

The Longhorns finished 2019 with a record of 27-27 overall and 8-16 in the conference. Texas needs a big year to reclaim the baseball throne in the state of Texas.

Texas Alumni Game Takes Place February 1st

The Texas Alumni return to Austin to take on the Texas baseball team in the Texas Alumni baseball game on February 1st.

The Texas Longhorns baseball season gets under full swing on February 14th when the Longhorns head to Houston to take on the Rice Owls in a three-game series before returning to Disch-Falk Field to host UT-San Antonio for a one game set on Tuesday February 18th.

Before the defending Big 12 Champions start the season there is the Alumni game on Saturday February 1st at Disch-Falk Field. There will be plenty of alums to watch as they return to the field where their dreams of playing in the major leagues began.

Alumni expected to join in the festivities:

  • Tres Barrera, Washington Nationals catcher
  • Kacy Clemens, Toronto Blue Jay birst baseman
  • Kody Clemens, Detroit Tigers second baseman
  • Ty Culbreth, Colorado Rockies pitcher
  • Zane Gurwitz, Los Angeles Angels infielder
  • Blair Henley, Houston Astros pitcher
  • Travis Jones, Kansas City Royals infielder
  • Andy McGuire, Kansas City Royals pitcher/utility
  • Mark Payton, Oakland Athletics outfielder
  • Ryan Reynolds, Chicago Cubs infielder
  • Parker Joe Robinson, Los Angeles Angels pitcher
  • Chase Shugart, Boston Red Sox pitcher

The gates officially open at 10:00 am but first pitch doesn’t happen until 3:30 pm CST but there are other activities to enjoy as well. Visit Texas Sports for the entire list.

Is It Time For Former Longhorn Roger Clemens To Get HOF Nod?

Roger Clemens missed out on the Hall of Fame class in 2020 but is it time that the former Texas Longhorn get in?

Just a week ago the newest class for the National Baseball Hall of Fame was announced. The class of 2020 includes former New York Yankee Derek Jeter and former Colorado Rockies, Montreal Expos and St Louis Cardinals first baseman and right fielder Larry Walker. One name that just missed the class was former teammate of Jeter and former Texas Longhorns great Roger Clemens.

Clemens finished fourth among the candidates receiving 60.7% of the votes, the required threshold is 75%. Each year since 2014, Clemens has been gaining votes that started with just 35.4% and continued to grow until this past year at 60.7%. Under voting rules, Clemens has until 2022 to receive the necessary number for induction or he comes off the ballot for writers. It then moves to a committee that would meet in 2024.

The controversy surrounding Roger Clemens induction stems around the BALCO investigation that stated that Clemens received performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) from trainer Brian McNamee. Baseball purist believe that Clemens doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame based on this investigation. Clemens never admitted to taking steroids and had he admitted one would think the case against him in the Hall of Fame wouldn’t be as strong.

Given the era that Clemens played in, it seemed to be common place for players using steroids. While it is no excuse, given how Clemens performed before the accusations of PEDs, he deserves his opportunity to shine and be inducted. For the former Longhorn, 2021 just might be his best chance given how voters have been delivering their votes in recent years. It is hard to deny what Clemens accomplished on the mound and for that it is time to make it right.

Roger Clemens Accomplishments

  • 11-time All-Star
  • Two-Time World Series Champion
  • Seven-time Cy Young Award Winner (Most All-Time)
  • American League Most Valuable Player (1986)
  • Two-Time Triple Crown Winner (ERA, Wins and Strikeouts)
  • Led Major League Baseball in wins (four times)
  • Led Major League Baseball in ERA (seven times)
  • Led American League in strikeouts (five times)
  • MLB All-Century Team
  • Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
  • Career Wins-354 (9th All-Time)
  • 4,672 strikeouts (3rd All-Time)

 

Former Longhorn Brandon Workman Looks To Lock Down Closer Role

Former Texas Longhorn and current Boston Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman is looking to lockdown the closer role in 2020.

Another former Texas Longhorns pitcher is looking for a big year in 2020. For the Boston Red Sox they could have their next closer in Brandon Workman. For Workman his journey started in Bowie, Texas where he lettered all four years in high schooling. During those four years he earned All-State honors in two of the four years and Silver Slugger All-American recognition. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies but did not signed and joined the baseball team at the University of Texas in 2008.

After three seasons with the Longhorns, Workman was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft with the 57th overall selection. In 2013 he would be promoted from Double A Portland to Triple A Pawtucket and eventually to the Majors in July. He would be part of the bullpen that propelled the team to a World Series Championship. He didn’t surrender a single run in seven postseason appearances.

Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

His sophomore season in the majors wasn’t memorable as Workman went 1-10 with 5.17 ERA in 19 games. In 2015 he would require Tommy John surgery costing him the entire season. In 2016 Workman spent the year trying to get back to the big leagues. He would return to Boston in 2017 appearing in 33 games with a 3.18 ERA which was a career best at the time.

The former Longhorns pitcher would be up and down between Boston and minor league affiliate Pawtucket in 2018, although he recorded a 6-1 record and 3.27 ERA in 43 games. He was apart of the Red Sox ALDS and ALCS roster before being replaced for the World Series.

Last season saw Workman finish the season as the closer where he closed out 16 games for Boston. The team wouldn’t qualify for the postseason after finished third in the AL East division. During the season Workman posted a 10-1 record with a career best 1.81 ERA. Heading into Spring Training, Workman is looking to be the closer but he has some competition in Boston. Given how he finished out the season Brandon Workman should get the opportunity to be the man to lockdown the ninth inning in 2020.

Texas baseball coach David Pierce mourns close friend in helicopter crash

Texas baseball coach David Pierce lost a dear friend in the tragic helicopter crash yesterday, which also took the lives of eight others.

The tragic helicopter crash amid foggy conditions in Calabasas, California was devastating in a number of ways.

Nine precious lives were taken too soon. Joining NBA legend Kobe Bryant on the flight to watch their daughters basketball game was a dear friend of Texas baseball coach David Pierce.

John Altobelli, a 56-year-old head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, had a close relationship with Pierce. They had been college roommates and remained in contact throughout the years, last spending time with each other earlier this month.

John, his wife Teri, and youngest daughter Alyssa were among the nine deceased. Pierce shared a heartfelt statement earlier this morning regarding the death of his close friend.

Pierce reiterated the impact Altobelli had on the baseball community and how he positively changed the lives of many ballplayers. Altobelli’s daughter Alyssa was best friends and teammates with Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughter Gianni.

Pierce and Altobelli played collegiate baseball together at the University of Houston in 1984 and 1985.

 

 

 

 

Tres Barrera Hopes of Earning Big League Opportunity

Former Longhorns catcher Tres Barrera is hoping to get his Major League Baseball opportunity with the Nationals in 2020.

Tres Barrera’s major league career has been a short one so far. After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. The former Longhorns catcher was invited to the Nats’ major league camp in 2019 before being assigned to Double A Harrisburg Senators.

In the minors during the 2019 season, Barrera batted .249 with eight HRs and 46 RBIs. He was called up to the big leagues on September 8th. He went hitless in two at bats while appearing in two games. He was not a part of the postseason roster as the Nationals defeated the Houston Astros to win the World Series.

In 2020, Barrera will be looking to have more of a role with the Nationals. Following the World Series victory for Washington they declined the second-year option of catch Yan Gomes who was behind the plate for the final four games of the fall classic. That might have opened the door for Barrera, however Gomes was brought back on a new two-year deal.

The other catcher on the roster Kurt Suzuki will be in the final year of his contract. Suzuki will be 36 this season which marks his 14th in the league. Given that Gomes and Suzuki are in place for the Nat’s title defense run, it might be another year that Barrera will have to plug away in the minors in hopes of earning his shot in 2021.

 

Corey Knebel Eyeing Mid April Return To The Mound?

Former Texas Longhorns closer and current Milwaukee Brewer Corey Knebel is eyeing a mid April return to the mound.

It wasn’t quite the 2019 season that former Texas Longhorns pitcher Corey Knebel had hoped for. After a career year in 2017 for the Milwaukee Brewers, the numbers weren’t quite up to snuff in 2018. For Knebel, he was an All-Star for the Brewers in 2017.

That year he led the Majors in appearances with 76, while getting the save in 39 games. He would finished the season with a 1.78 (ERA) earned run average. His 2018 season wouldn’t be near as kind as Knebel posted a 3.58 ERA with a 4-3 record in 57 appearances while earning 16 saves. The 2019 season was hoping to see him return to his All-Star form for the Brewers.

In March of 2019 it was reported that Knebel would miss the season due to an injured elbow that would require Tommy John surgery to repair a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. The typical recovery and best case scenario is a 13-month recovery time to begin playing baseball again.

According to CBS Sports, Knebel is eyeing a mid-April return to the mound. Barring any setbacks which the report states that there were none, fits right in with the 13-month recovery period. The former Longhorn will likely come in as a middle reliever and eventually getting an opportunity to earn his spot as the Brewers’ closer once again.

Knebel came to Texas in 2011 where he became the closer. That year he recorded 19 saves earning him First Team All-American honors and tying a school record. He played until 2013 where he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 39th overall pick.

He made his Major League Debut against the Texas Rangers in 2014 before being traded from Detroit to Texas. That year Knebel sprained that same UCL before being shut down. In the offseason, Knebel was part of a package that sent him to Milwaukee. In 2017 he was named National League All-Star.