Frogs O' War - 2017 TCU Baseball PreviewThe #1 TCU Athletics blog on the internet!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50293/fow-fav.png2017-02-16T12:00:02-06:00http://www.frogsowar.com/rss/stream/142261192017-02-16T12:00:02-06:002017-02-16T12:00:02-06:002017 TCU Baseball Preview: Being #1
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<figcaption>Baker and Barzilli celebrate a come back victory over Texas Tech in last year’s CWS. | GoFrogs.com</figcaption>
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<p>TCU returns a stacked roster in 2017 as they begin their quest to avenge last year's CWS loss.</p> <p id="0GdKBj">This TCU team is no stranger to being ranked highly. There are still many members of the roster who remember opening the season ranked as the #2-#3 team by many of the college baseball publications back in 2015. TCU spent a good portion of that year ranked #1 as well. Even last year’s team, who started out the year as a top 20 team, was ranked as a top-6 team for pretty much the whole month of March. </p>
<p id="pGlEyG">Still, the #1 ranking is a different animal. The media attention, the expectations from fans, players and coaches alike. It’s a lot to process for a group of 18-22 year olds. Luckily, the Frogs have a coach who has been here before. Schlossnagle’s 2011 TCU squad opened up the year as the preseason #1, and whether it was the result of injury or ego, the season didn’t go as planned. He’s had a long time to think about how to address this situation the second time around, and <a href="https://harlandaily.com/sports/16966/tcu-selected-as-nations-top-baseball-team">he sounds like he might have seen this coming</a>. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="n7YKdg"><q>When you return the majority of a team out of a club that finished in the final four in the country, you’re probably going to end up ranked highly.....You can not talk about it and run away from it. Or, as the Cubs did this past year, you can kind of embrace it. - Jim Schlossnagle</q></aside></div>
<p id="RHrMKe">I imagine Schlossnagle watched the Cubs season closely this year, given that Jake Arrieta, TCU Baseball Alumni and the 2015 NL Cy Young award winner, was a key member of that club. But Schlossnagle’s also not exaggerating about the amount of returning talent on this team. The Frogs are returning eight everyday players, all three of last year’s weekend starters on the mound and their closer. They also get Nolan Brown, an everyday player from the 2015 squad back from injury. If things can work out for the Cubs, why not TCU?</p>
<p id="S6ZlAD">To keep such a young and talented group of individuals in the right mindset, Schlossnagle has <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/tcu-ego-is-the-enemy_Dallas-Fort-Worth-412850753.html">given his team some required reading</a>. The book Ego Is the Enemy, by Ryan Holiday, has been a big part of this TCU team’s preparation. It’s filled with stories from history about how people accomplished great things by conquering their egos and putting their desire to be great above their desire for personal glory. </p>
<p id="lIiXo2">These Frogs were one win away from the College World Series championship last year. They <em>know </em>they’re good. They know that they have all the pieces in place to make a fourth consecutive College World Series appearance, but that also gives them a unique mindset. These players have been to Omaha before, and they’re tired of ending their season as College World Series participants. This year, they want more. </p>
<p id="Cahgys">Schlossnagle has made a point to praise his team that he feels good about where their mindset is going into this season, and <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article129235934.html">the players seem to be buying in</a>. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="wfSDM3"><q>It’s just a bigger target that we have to embrace and take on. We’re excited to get after it. As long as we stick to the process and stick to the plan, I feel like we’re going to have an even better season than last year. - Luken Baker</q></aside></div>
<p id="qb5GM9">It's one thing for young players to say the right thing and another thing for them to walk the walk. But as part of a program that has the best record in college baseball over the last three years, it's safe to assume they know what it takes to be great. </p>
<p id="QogqZ8">This team in particular also has the veteran leadership of senior pitchers Mitchell Traver and Brian Howard, both of whom were drafted last year and decided to return to TCU anyway. If anyone forgets their way along the Road to Omaha, the veterans among this team, not to mention the coaching staff, will be there to remind them. </p>
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https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/16/14622192/2017-tcu-baseball-preview-being-1college-world-series-horned-frogsTravis Kennedy2017-02-15T16:04:27-06:002017-02-15T16:04:27-06:00Schlossnagle Sets Starting Rotation
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<figcaption>Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>Three familiar faces will be in the fold, along with a highly touted freshman.</p> <p id="4tvY9M">TCU Baseball announced their starting rotation Wednesday afternoon, naming the pitchers that will take the mound for at least the first four games of the season, and potentially longer. The Frogs will turn to sophomore Jared Janczak to open the 2017 season Friday night against Penn State, allowing the sophomore the chance to kick off a season which they begin as the top ranked team in the country.</p>
<p id="JkMf4m">Game two will belong to last year’s Saturday starter, right hander Brian Howard, a senior who chose to forgo a chance to pursue a professional career last summer for the opportunity to try and win a National Championship in his final year of collegiate ball. The most experienced and reliable returning from last year’s College World Series finalist group, Howard will likely remain the middle game go-to for the majority of the season. </p>
<p id="nks6Rv">In a somewhat surprising move, true freshman Nick Lodolo - the highest drafted high school player to choose college over the big leagues - will take the ball on Sundays, usurping senior Mitchell Traver in the weekend rotation and adding a lefty to the mix. Lodolo is one of the most anticipated players to come through TCU, matching the hype of Luken Baker a year ago, and is probably the biggest pitching recruit of Jim Schlossnagle’s tenure in Fort Worth. Expectations are high for him in his rookie year, but he has the mental and physical makeup to succeed as one of the center pieces of a team that expects to make Omaha for a fourth straight year.</p>
<p id="V5evv9">Traver will be the Tuesday night starter, facing UTA in Arlington for his first matchup, on the 21st. After seeing most of his action as a weekend guy last year, he brings experience to the weeknight role with the opportunity to move back to the three game series sets when Schloss needs a more veteran arm for those games.</p>
<p id="RuUYHN">The Frogs open play Friday night at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30pm.</p>
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https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/15/14629940/schlossnagle-sets-starting-rotationMelissa B. Triebwasser2017-02-15T10:30:01-06:002017-02-15T10:30:01-06:002017 TCU Baseball Preview: Most Anticipated Non-Conference Games
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<img alt="TCU Baseball vs Arizona State in the Fort Worth Regional Championship game" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jZHfmWnNQQIApTfkdL-SuJqwx0A=/0x0:5234x3489/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53256421/TCU_Baseball_v_ASU_Regional_Howard.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>TCU Baseball vs Arizona State in the Fort Worth Regional Championship game | Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>The #1 team in the nation will be put to the test with some major non-conference matchups, including a new-look Shriners Hospital College Classic in Houston.</p> <p id="gkkFPZ">The preseason #1 in the nation sure is not afraid to play some of the best teams, as Schlossnagle and company have scheduled numerous teams from major conferences. On top of the usual tilts with schools such as UT Arlington, Rice, and Dallas Baptist, the Frogs will be taking on a Big Ten opponent as well as a pair of Pac-12 schools. TCU will also once again be competing in the Shriners Hospital College Classic in Houston, which appears to have its most stacked field ever. The tournament has adopted a Big 12 vs. SEC style, so the Frogs - along with Baylor and Texas Tech - will play a trio of SEC schools. Whether or not TCU stays at #1 all season is yet to be seen, but they will sure be battle-tested by the time postseason rolls around.</p>
<h4 id="PAKoOD">Penn State</h4>
<p id="tryQtx"><em>2/17-2/19: Lupton Stadium</em></p>
<p id="hT4xst">TCU will open their season by welcoming the Nittany Lions to Fort Worth in a rematch of a series from last season. The Frogs were able to sweep Penn State in State College last season, winning 6-2, 5-4, and 9-5. Brian Howard was fantastic in his appearance on the mound against them, allowing only four hits in seven innings of work. The Nittany Lions, who finished last season 28-27, lost their three top hitters in terms of batting average. Their best returning hitter, senior outfielder Nick Riotto, had a .307 batting average last year and scored three runs against TCU. Another player to keep an eye on will be sophomore Willie Burger, who leads returning players with 34 RBIs a year ago. On the mound, it will be interesting to see how well Penn State’s starters fare. All three that faced the Frogs last season did not see the 6th inning and all return this season.</p>
<h4 id="QyRdYL">Arizona State</h4>
<p id="Iq29nm"><em>2/24-2/26: Lupton Stadium</em></p>
<p id="u5Bemg">The Sun Devils will return to Lupton Stadium for a weekend series after participating in the Fort Worth regional last season. Arizona State made it to the Regional final against TCU, but got smoked 8-1 as Brian Howard had a dominant performance on the mound. He struck out nine batters over the course of eight innings and retired the final 17 batters he faced. Cam Warner also had a good night, driving in 3 runs with a double and a home run. Arizona State, who finished with a 36-23 record last year, returns outfielder Andrew Shaps, who last season hit .321 and drove in 27 runs. The pitcher to watch for will be senior Eder Erives, who appeared in 23 games last season and finished with a 6-2 record and 10 saves. Erives struck out 73 batters in 76.1 innings of work and had a 2.95 ERA on the year. </p>
<h4 id="JqF3bI">LSU</h4>
<p id="IYGodK"><em>3/3: Minute Maid Park - Houston</em></p>
<p id="1NJ8kn">In their first game down in Houston, TCU will take on the Tigers of LSU, who enter the season ranked #3 in the NCBWA poll and #2 in the Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball rankings. The two programs last met in the 2015 College World Series, where the Frogs beat LSU twice. Last season, the Tigers were the #8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, but were eliminated by eventual champion Coastal Carolina in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. They will have a stacked lineup yet again as Greg Deichmann, Jordan Romero, and Kramer Robertson all return. Robertson led the three with a .324 batting average and the trio combined for 137 RBIs and 22 HRs. On the mound, TCU will likely have to face either Jared Poche’ and Alex Lange. Poche’ had the lower ERA of the two, but Lange is more of a strikeout pitcher. Closer Hunter Newman, who finished last season with a 2.13 ERA and eight saves, also returns.</p>
<h4 id="DAvYlT">Texas A&M</h4>
<p id="QYtEHo"><em>3/4: Minute Maid Park - Houston</em></p>
<p id="RnrvkI">The Aggies put together a decent year last season, going 49-16 and earning the #4 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. They rolled through the College Station Regional and then had an opportunity to get revenge on the Frogs in the Supers for eliminating them the year before... however, this happened:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best part of his pic is the fans realizing the thumbs down!!!<br> <br>Aggies giged <a href="https://t.co/fH5VwKJPYX">pic.twitter.com/fH5VwKJPYX</a></p>— Paul Arebalo (@PaulArebalo) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulArebalo/status/742241866913959937">June 13, 2016</a>
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<p id="aY06gH">TCU eliminated the Aggies for the second year in a row in the Super Regionals by taking game three 4-1. This season, Texas A&M enters as the consensus #20 team in the rankings, but will need to replace the production of players like Boomer White (did you know he went to TCU?) and Michael Barash. Their top returning hitter is infielder Austin Homan, who had a .356 batting average last season. Another player to keep an eye on will be former Horned Frog Walker Pennington, who is a senior outfielder for the Aggies. They also return pitcher Brigham Hill, who started the first game of the Supers. Hill was 9-2 on the season with a 2.51 ERA, but surrendered seven earned runs to the Frogs in only 4.2 innings pitched.</p>
<h4 id="pHdZyn">Ole Miss</h4>
<p id="ngWjme"><em>3/5: Minute Maid Park - Houston</em></p>
<p id="BSD9T6">In the third matchup of the Shriners Hospital College Classic, TCU will take on Ole Miss on Sunday. These two programs last met in Omaha in the 2014 College World Series, where the Rebels sent the Frogs home in an elimination game. Last season, Ole Miss finished 43-19 and hosted a regional in Oxford, but were eliminated after losing to both Utah and Tulane in their first two games. Unranked to begin this year, they will need to find ways to replace their top hitters from a year ago: Henri Lartigue and J.B. Woodman. Hoping to fill that void is infielder Tate Blackman, who started all 62 games last season for Ole Miss and batted .322. He was also walked 30 times and drove in 38 runs. The Rebels lost a lot from their rotation a year ago, but they do return starter James McArthur, who was 6-1 last season with a 4.26 ERA.</p>
<h4 id="0IDnGu">Cal</h4>
<p id="vKs8Ob"><em>5/18-5/20: Evans Diamond - Berkeley</em></p>
<p id="di960d">In what will be the first meeting between the two programs, TCU will travel to Berkeley to face Cal in the final series of the season. It is not often that you end your season with a non-conference series right before the Big 12 Tournament, but it could prove to be a vital series as Cal is a team full of potential. They finished last season 32-21, including a four-game sweep of Texas in Austin. They also split a series 1-1 with Texas Tech in Berkeley, with the 3rd game being cancelled due to rain. Their top returning hitter is infielder Denis Karas, who batted .319 last season and drove in 18 runs. On the mound, keep an eye on sophomore Tanner Dodson, who pitched 61.2 innings as a freshman and started nine of his 19 appearances. Dodson finished the season with a 4-5 record and a 3.36 ERA, but he also led the team with 31 walks.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/15/14613622/2017-tcu-horned-frogs-baseball-preview-most-anticipated-non-conference-gamesChris Conaty2017-02-14T12:00:01-06:002017-02-14T12:00:01-06:002017 TCU Baseball Preview: The Legend of Luken Baker
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<figcaption>TCU vs WVU in the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game | Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>Can the big man with the big bat help bring home the biggest prize?</p> <p id="Xb18yI">If you were to build your perfect baseball prospect, odds are, he would look an awful lot like Luken Baker.</p>
<p id="maGntg">But if you were to build your perfect ‘college’ baseball prospect, you wouldn’t want him to look like Luken. You see, power hitters like Baker don’t go to college very often. Those kind of ready-made players with 6’4” frames, impossible bat speed, and the kind of raw power that makes grown men blush don’t need to go to college. And when you also factor in a 95mph fastball with a couple of breaking pitches bottoming out near 80, it’s hard to envision that kid suiting up for three years for free.</p>
<p id="37LHUZ">But Baker did just that, laying the foundation for his legend before he even came to campus by sending a letter to all 30 teams in the Major Leagues kindly requesting that they not waste a draft pick on him because he was absolutely, positively playing in purple in 2016. True to his word, and despite being picked up in the late rounds by his hometown Astros, he matriculated to Fort Worth, sliding in as a starting pitcher and DH from the opening series of the season. Baker burst onto the scene in that first start, blasting a home run and throwing six innings of shutout ball against Loyola Marymount in a 5-0 win.</p>
<p id="vvM49k">His time on the mound would be cut short due to a muscle strain in his arm, as he started just ten games; tantalizing fans with a 3-1 record and a 1.70 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 47 innings before shutting down his pitching season to focus on his work at the plate. But even after the luster of being a two-way player wore off, the shine on Baker never dimmed, as he became one of the most fearsome hitters in the country, and led the Frogs in nearly every significant offensive category. Baker batted .379 (40 points higher than the second best average on the team), slugged .577, knocked in 62 runs and scored 59, blasted 11 home runs and drew 45 walks. His 39 strikeouts were the third lowest on the team and his 16 doubles tied for fourth. Heck, he was even a perfect 1-1 in steals, though being fleet of foot isn’t exactly on his scouting report.</p>
<p id="nrrSvK">Luken’s swing is a thing of beauty; his massive frame belies his lightning quick hands that can get over on a ball in a hurry, using that big upper cut swing to propel the ball all over the diamond. Baker was good from day one, but it was in the post-season - where legends are truly made - that he came into his own. Baker entered the College World Series with a ridiculous .545 post-season batting average, and absolutely dominated the Big 12 Tournament with a .682 average, four dingers, and 11 RBIs on his way to MVP honors and a Big 12 record 15 hits. He won the Frogs the trophy with a tenth inning solo shot, and wasn’t even the most impressive bomb of the weekend - his long ball into the parking garage next door will love on in Chickasaw Bricktown lore for all eternity. He was instrumental in the Regional and Super Regional rounds, blasting another long ball in College Station and following that up with a come from behind three run shot against Texas Tech that wrapped up a game one victory in Omaha. Those post-season heroics only served to grow his mystique, but ever time it seemed that the bar had been raised too high, he found a way to jump over it.</p>
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<p id="pwfofc">We have all heard of the dreaded ‘sophomore slump’, that second year pitfall that effects even the best players across all sports. Teams and coaches get enough film on a player who was a bit of an unknown as a freshman, and they figure out how to game plan or pitch around him. It stands to reason that Luken can’t possibly match his freshmen feats - he was so good for so long it’s tough to imagine him being better. But Baker is different - his gift is so natural, his swing so pure - and the players around him so dang dangerous - it’s not that crazy to think he might actually be better in year two. Baker carries his weight well - he’s not pudgy or out of shape by any means. But a full off-season in a collegiate conditioning program ought to pay big dividends, especially with a strength coach like Zach Dechant. And you can see it - he just looks different, a little more cut, a little more lithe. With a full year to study film under one of the best hitting coaches in the country, he will be even harder to fool and square the ball up even better. Already unnaturally patient at the plate, throw Bake in the four hole between a masher sandwich of Evan Skoug and Josh Watson and dare opposing pitchers to try and work around him. Oh... and Elliot Barzilli will probably bat sixth.</p>
<p id="UWjqlC">It’s unfair to put so much on a young man’s shoulders, even when they are as broad as Baker’s. But that’s the thing in 2017, he doesn’t have to do it alone. Baker is one of only two sophomores starting every day - seniors Cam Warner, Ryan Merrill, and Barz are slotted at second, short, and third respectively. Seniors Nolan Brown and Austen Wade will man two of the three outfield spots, and junior Skoug will catch. Two of the three expected weekend starters are seniors, and the two guys that will rotate with him at first, Michael Landestoy and Connor Wanhanen, are juniors as well. Every starter has played in the College World Series, so there’s no dearth of experience around him. Luken isn’t going to have to be great every day for the Frogs to win a lot of games, but his legend is going to have to continue to grow if they want to win it all. But I, for one, think that this is just the beginning of something special that will end with his name forever attached to TCU lore.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/14/14586226/2017-tcu-baseball-preview-the-legend-of-luken-bakerMelissa B. Triebwasser2017-02-08T12:00:02-06:002017-02-08T12:00:02-06:002017 TCU Baseball Preview: Starting Pitchers
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<figcaption>Jared Janczak leading the Frogs to a win in the super regional against Texas A&M | GoFrogs.com</figcaption>
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<p>The Frogs return the veteran core of last year’s starting rotation, but a few new arms could make a big impact.</p> <p id="u2cgqH">Every year during TCU’s recent three-year run of College World Series appearances, they have put together one of the top pitching staffs in the nation. In 2014 and 2015, they were No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation respectively. Last year, they put together a top 20 pitching staff despite injuries forcing them to start multiple freshman in the weekend rotation over the course of the season. </p>
<p id="ayXqsb">This year’s staff has the chance to be a special one. Both of the Frogs most experienced starters, Mitchell Traver and Brain Howard, made the decision to forego the MLB draft and return to TCU for their senior seasons. Also returning is last year’s redshirt freshman sensation Jared Janzack. </p>
<p id="QkyaHV">Schlossnagle said in January that in addition to the three returners mentioned above, <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article129235934.html">the coaches are looking at three freshman </a>who might be able to break into the starting rotation. Those prospects would be Nick Lodolo, Charles King and Jake Eissler. These young arms reportedly got a lot of work in fall ball as some of the veterans were given time to rest up. Mitchell Traver didn’t practice in the fall as he recovered from surgery at the end of last season, and Janczak was used lightly since he pitched all summer in the Cape Cod league. </p>
<h4 id="HaiMpG">Mitchell Traver, RS Sr. - RHP (6’7”, 255 lbs)</h4>
<p id="KiyDSL">Traver’s season last year was limited by injury, but he was honored as a preseason All-American before the start of the 2016 season. That All-American mention was following a 2015 season when he went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA, 77 Ks and 26 BBs in 76 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings pitched. </p>
<p id="LfY4tX">Sadly, he was injured the weekend before the 2016 season started and he was never able to match his sophomore performance. It was May before he pitched any meaningful innings and, although he clearly still had his mid-90s fastball, he never fully looked like himself until his last start against Coastal Carolina in the College World Series. Its clear that Traver feels like he has some unfinished business, and this could be his year to fully realize his enormous potential. </p>
<h4 id="iaeUUD">Brian Howard, Sr. - RHP (6’9”, 185 lbs)</h4>
<p id="XkLV6o">Howard was TCU’s most reliable pitcher last year. He was 4-0 in his last four starts, securing crucial wins again and again during TCU’s path to the College World Series semi-final. He was only used out of the bullpen his sophomore year, but matured into TCU’s more reliable starter as a junior.</p>
<p id="y5TIjv">During the 2016 season, he went 10-2 with a 3.19 ERA, 93 Ks and 30 BBs in 98 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings pitched. Named a 2017 first-team preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball, among other various preseason honors, Howard seems a lock to return to the starting rotation and produce at a high level. </p>
<h4 id="SqSnFB">Jared Janczak, RS So. - RHP (6’1”, 205 lbs)</h4>
<p id="ipOP8x">Early on in the 2016 season, Luken Baker was the third weekend starter, and Janczak was an excellent compliment to the big man as a reliever. As the season progressed, he became one of the Frogs’ go-to arms out of the bullpen, and when Baker was shut down as a pitcher for the year with elbow discomfort, Janczak was called upon to step into a starting role. </p>
<p id="fJ3ooB">He carried that opportunity to a 7-4 record with a 2.61 ERA, 80 Ks and 26 BBs in 82 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings pitched. In the latter half of the season Janczak showed that he was more than capable of handling the starting role. In the Frogs’ super regional at Texas A&M, Janczak took the mound on Friday night and gave TCU a 1-0 lead in the series. Whatever role he is called upon to perform this year, expect him to have success after further honing his craft in the Cape Cod league over the summer. </p>
<h4 id="B0f1xr">Nick Lodolo, Fr. - LHP (6’6”, 185 lbs)</h4>
<p id="oYm6VO">Lodolo is one of the most anticipated commits in recent years for the Frogs. He was drafted out of high school with the 41st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was the highest unsigned draft pick in 2016. As a senior in high school he was honored as a first-team Rawlings-Perfect Game All-American and was ranked by Baseball America as a top 100 prospect nationally. </p>
<p id="iEooKo">The commitment of Lodolo out of California really shows TCU’s emergence as a national brand. He was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 1 left-hander in the state, and despite many top in-state programs, he opted to come all the way to Texas to join the Frogs. Being a lefty may give him the best chance out of the freshman to earn a spot in the starting lineup, as all of TCU’s weekend starters last year were right-handed. </p>
<h4 id="zvDooA">Charles King, Fr. - RHP (6’5”, 215 lbs)</h4>
<p id="Tg8lkZ">King comes to TCU as a hometown commit from Coppell High School, where he was named a first-team Louisville Slugger All-American as a senior. His other honors include Baseball America naming him the ninth-best overall prospect in the state of Texas. He already has an impressive frame for a freshman and according to Perfect Game, his fastball is clocked at 95 mph, so the power is there. Even if he doesn’t start this year, he is a player that could pay major dividends to the Frogs for years to come. </p>
<h4 id="36R1YG">Jake Eissler, Fr. - RHP (6’1”, 205 lbs)</h4>
<p id="D4TnI3">Schlossnagle made special mention to Eissler as the third freshman who is in the running to be a starter for the Frogs this year. Ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the state of Colorado, Eissler produced a 1.28 ERA with 81 Ks in 60 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings and was named the Colorado 5A Baseball Player of the Year as a senior. </p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/8/14531618/2017-tcu-baseball-preview-starting-pitchers-frogs-collegeTravis Kennedy2017-02-07T12:00:01-06:002017-02-07T12:00:01-06:002017 Baseball Position Preview: The Bullpen
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<figcaption>Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>If it’s truly not about how you start, but how you finish, TCU is in excellent shape.</p> <p id="7D3gQM">The Frogs return the bulk of a starting pitching rotation that was as good as any in the country last year, and will only add to it’s lethality with the insertion of freshman Nick Lodolo. And while Brian Howard, Mitchell Traver, Jared Janczak, and some combination of Lodolo/Charles King/Jake Eissler will get the bulk of the innings, Jim Schlossnagle and pitching coach Kirk Saarloos will have plenty of options in the pen when the need arises.</p>
<p id="MJUJEK"><strong>Closer:</strong></p>
<p id="k5C5kJ">The Frogs figured out early on that they had the heir apparent to flame-thrower Riley Ferrell in true freshman Durbin Feltman, who grabbed hold of the role and never relinquished it, notching his first career save against Abilene Christian in late March on his way to a perfect 9/9 campaign.</p>
<p id="dE8CLY">Feltman is as good as it gets at the collegiate level - while not the imposing figure of Ferrell on the mound, he has incredible presence and a calmness about him in the biggest of moments that is rare for a player that young. He was in pressure spots time and time again in 2016, notching post-seasons saves to clinch the Big 12 Tournament, against Gonzaga in the Regional round, against Texas A&M to send TCU to the College World Series, and in their dramatic opening game win against the Red Raiders in Omaha.</p>
<p id="tAfq8T">A first team Freshman All-America, Feltman also earned All-Freshman and All-Big 12 honors in his first season in Fort Worth. He was second on the team in appearances with 27, throwing 24 scoreless innings and finishing with a team-best 1.56 ERA. He struck out 49 batters while walking 11, allowing a scant 15 hits in 34.2 innings of work. He also did this:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best part of his pic is the fans realizing the thumbs down!!!<br> <br>Aggies giged <a href="https://t.co/fH5VwKJPYX">pic.twitter.com/fH5VwKJPYX</a></p>— Paul Arebalo (@PaulArebalo) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulArebalo/status/742241866913959937">June 13, 2016</a>
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<p id="XxyEmC"><strong>The New Faces:</strong></p>
<p id="pAqv6e">The bullpen is still a bit in flux, as Schloss and Saar figure out which two of the four potential starters end up beginning the season in a relief role. It’s a great problem to have, as two of the aforementioned trio of Lodolo/King/Eissler will make for young, but dynamic long relief candidates. My best guess is that Lodolo is just too good to keep off the field, and he starts as the Tuesday night/midweek starter - though Traver and Janczak will certainly be on notice. King is a kid with absolutely electric stuff - the freshman out of Coppell stands 6’5” and rated as a top ten prospect in Texas. He has a five pitch arsenal and can throw from multiple arm slots, and was recruited by pretty much every major program and the entirety of the Big 12 before choosing the Frogs. He will likely see a few starts early in the season, but be groomed to take a full time role as a sophomore.</p>
<p id="Hebppl">Eissler doesn’t come in with quite the hype of Lodolo or King, but mostly because he pitched outside of the baseball hotbeds, growing up in Colorado. Ranked the eighth best prospect in the state, he had a 1.28 ERA as a senior, striking out 81 in 60.1 innings. Another intriguing fresh face is 6’4” lefty Dion Henderson, a 24th round draft pick by the Reds who hails from Detroit. With a low-90’s fastball and a devastating curve, he will only improve as he gets older and stronger - but don’t be surprised if the Frogs trot him out early and often.</p>
<p id="5dYrrt"><strong>The Returning Stalwarts:</strong></p>
<p id="IGkSNf">The two Daltons form the heart of the relievers, as both Brown and Horton can both start or come out of the pen. Horton, who was 8-0 in 12 starts and one relief appearance in 2016, likely moves to long relief, or can be a superb one or two inning guy in a pinch. After boasting a 2.58 ERA in 59.1 innings or work, it’s hard to believe he won’t at least compete for a starting job, but the front end is just so loaded he’s likely to focus on being a reliever heading into the season. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff (just 27 strikeouts to 17 walks), but the potential is there and the lefty will be given time to develop in what is just his sophomore year. Brown, on the other hand, was a reliever from the start, but after struggling in the early part of the season, was saddled with a 5.00 ERA. He threw only 9.0 innings over the course of 10 appearances, becoming a very hit or miss player - literally, as he both struck out 11 players and surrendered 11 hits. He has the big arm and the big movement, but was too easy to get squared up on. Schloss has commented on how good he’s been through the early stages of practice, and if he can be more consistent, he becomes a huge matchup weapon for those high-pressure circumstances where you need a guy to come in and get one out.</p>
<p id="05eJuH">Sean Wymer, a sophomore righty out of Flower Mound is another guy who will need to step up in year two, after going 3-0 in 16 appearances (two starts) with a 4.68 ERA and a 39/15 strikeout/walk ratio. He gets a lot of movement out of his throws but can be a little wild (15 walks, 32 hits allowed in 32.2 innings), and just needs to be more consistent in 2017.</p>
<p id="uXkO9N">Ryan Burnett is the elder statesman of the group; the redshirt junior has pitched in 41 games in his career, compiling a 1.71 ERA in 52.2 innings of work - striking out 56 and allowing only 11 walks. He became a cult hero of sorts in 2016, compiling a win and a save in the CWS after it was revealed he was pitching on a torn ACL. Burnett was money throughout the post-season as a whole last year, striking out three of four batters he faced against OSU in the Big 12 tournament and throwing 2.1 innings of shutout relief in the championship game against West Virginia. He earned a win against Gonzaga in the Regionals, and retired all three batters from A&M that he faced in the Supers. He was a perfect ten for ten in the Frogs’ win over Coastal Carolina in the second game of the CWS. With such a young group behind him, Burnett will be called upon to not just pitch well, but be a leader for the relief staff. He has shown that won’t be a problem.</p>
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<p id="9pTq1h">With so much hype around the starters - and rightfully so - it’s easy to forget about the pen. But this group of dynamic players, though young, can be real difference-makers for TCU throughout the season, and especially in the post-season when the games come fast and furious and pitching depth rules all.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/7/14517280/2017-baseball-position-preview-the-bullpenMelissa B. Triebwasser2017-02-03T12:00:02-06:002017-02-03T12:00:02-06:002017 TCU Baseball Position Preview: Outfielders
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<figcaption>Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>TCU returns two starters and gets a former piece back from injury in 2017.</p> <p id="KqgCZ5">The only every day player that the Frogs will need to replace this season is outfielder Dane Steinhagen, who graduated last spring - but sliding right into his place is redshirt senior Nolan Brown, who is back to full health after sitting out last year with a wrist injury.</p>
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<p id="QJDN9C">Brown will return to center field this spring, sliding junior Austen Wade to right and leaving sophomore Josh Watson patrolling left. Though Steinhagen was a solid piece a year ago, getting Brown back automatically improves the defense considerably due to his speed and range manning the middle. Wade, who was an honorable mention All-Big 12 nominee last year, batted .286 with 11 doubles, a triple, and a home run, knocking in 27 runs in the process. He also stole 13 of 16 bases successfully. He found his stroke in his first season seeing significant playing time, and should lock down right field for the course of the year.</p>
<p id="VCRvuA">Opposite Wade will be Watson, who showed flashes of his incredible power but struggled with strikeouts in his freshman campaign. He hit .280, mashed 11 dingers, 12 doubles, and five RBIs - but struck out 65 times in 67 games. On the bright side, he had 44 RBIs, 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts, and slugged an impressive .506. He should increase his average and decrease his strikeouts in year two, especially with the types of hitters he will be surrounded with in a deep and variable lineup.</p>
<p id="1QVNyD">Nolan Brown’s return is a welcome event for Jim Schlossnagle and the Frogs, as the plus defender brings an element of speed to the outfield grass and the base paths. Brown saw very limited action in 2016, mostly as a defensive replacement, but had only three at bats over the course of the year, reaching base twice and stealing a base. In his last full season of health, he hit over .300 and stole 19 bases while starting 65 games in centerfield. Additionally, he drew an impressive 23 walks from the lead off spot, and when you can get a guy with his ability to take bases on first, it creates a ton of opportunity for the offense behind him. Inserting Brown back into the top of the lineup dramatically changes the way opposing pitchers approach the Frogs - when you have such a patient hitter leading off, and such big bats behind him, there’s not a lot of room for error.</p>
<p id="kRXlQl">Backing up the three expected starters is a veteran and a pair of TCU rookies; redshirt senior Evan Williams returns, juco transfer Austin Ingraham makes his debut, and freshman Haylen Green will split time between the outfield and bullpen.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/3/14443942/2017-tcu-baseball-position-preview-outfieldersMelissa B. Triebwasser2017-02-02T12:00:01-06:002017-02-02T12:00:01-06:002017 TCU Baseball Position Preview: Catchers
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<figcaption>TCU Baseball vs Arizona State in the Fort Worth Regional Championship game | Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>The Frogs have one of the best catchers in the country in junior Evan Skoug.</p> <p id="vgiNCA">We have been so spoiled for the last two years with Evan Skoug.</p>
<p id="ZKWnIX">The Frogs’ catcher has started 160 of 161 possible games over his first two seasons in Fort Worth, rarely missing even a single inning. He was so good and so consistent that his backup, junior Zach Plunkett, left for Arkansas this offseason, knowing he wasn’t going to get Skoug off the field.</p>
<p id="ie3We3">From the time he stepped foot on campus he was leader; despite being just a true freshman, he earned the respect of an incredibly veteran pitching staff in 2015, working with future pros Preston Morrison, Alex Young, Trey Teakell, and Riley Ferrell to lead the Frogs to a then second-consecutive World Series. During that year, Skougie batted .285 while starting ever game, blasted seven dingers and 15 doubles, all while knocking in 46 RBIs and stealing five bags in eight attempts. As a sophomore, he would improve in every category - upping his average to .301, smacking 21 doubles, nine home runs, and a triple, while batting in 51 runs. He improved his walks from 46 to 51 and cut his strikeouts down from 50 to 47. Lastly, he was 7-7 in steals.</p>
<p id="Ns79aW">While his numbers were off the charts for a collegiate catcher, what truly endeared Evan to fans and teammates alike was the incredibly person he was off the field. Rarely without a smile, Skoug befriended honorary teammate Micah Ahern, often writing his name on the tape on his wrists or in the dirt behind home plate before games. It was an authentic love, like it was with the entire lineup, but it was clear there was an extra special connection between the college athlete and the brave young boy fighting for his life.</p>
<p id="65IJqR">Skoug helped lead the Frogs to Omaha yet again, where he had six hits in four games, and returns for his third - and potentially final - season in Fort Worth. For Skoug, who will be draft eligible at the end of this season and rates as a top 50 MLB prospect, it’s championship or bust in 2017, and he will be a key cog for the Frogs to fulfill that dream. One area where I expect Skoug and the coaches to focus on this year is his ability to throw base stealers out - despite having a cannon for an arm, he threw out jut 18 of 39 base runners in 2016 and eight of 32 in 2015. That’s not all on the catcher of course, but if there is an area the pro scouts will want to see dramatic improvement in from him this season, that would be it.</p>
<p id="2cB7uw">With Skoug being so durable, TCU hasn’t much had to worry about depth behind him, but had a more than capable backup in Plunkett the last two years, if needed. Now, it will be true freshman Zach Humphreys tasked with filling those massive cleats if needed, though judging by the previous two years he will do more watching and learning than actually playing - hopefully. Humphreys comes to TCU by way of Midlothian High, where he was an All-State team member DFW Sports Day Offensive Player of the Year as a senior after batting .515 and drawing 38 walks.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2017/2/2/14435396/2017-tcu-baseball-position-preview-catchersMelissa B. Triebwasser