Texas A&M Aggies
Overall Rank: #11
Conference Rank: #5 SEC
Only a hand full of teams scored more runs than Texas A&M last season. And that potent offense was on full display in the College Station Regional where the Aggies cruised through with three relatively easy wins, including a 22-2 victory over Wake Forest. But facing TCU in the Super Regional proved to be much tougher. The Aggies fell to the Horned Frogs in a thrilling three game series. But now Coach Rob Childress has some serious reloading to do with much of the regular lineup and pitching staff gone.
2016: 49-16, 20-10
2016 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Rob Childress
Key Departed Players:
Kyle Simonds, P, 2.61 ERA, 100.0 IP, 80 SO
Mark Ecker, P, 0.39 ERA, 46.2 IP, 56 SO, 8 SV
Boomer White, .386 BA, 5 HR, 46 RBI
Michael Barash, .324 BA, 5 HR, 43 RBI
J.B. Moss, .318 BA, 6 HR, 43 RBI
Ryne Birk, .310 BA, 7 HR, 45 RBI
Hunter Melton, .300 BA, 12 HR, 67 RBI
Nick Banks, .280 BA, 9 HR, 49 RBI
Key Returning Players:
Brigham Hill, P, 2.51 ERA, 97.0 IP, 99 SO
Austin Homan, IF, .356 BA, 1 HR, 26 RBI
Nick Choruby, OF, .299 BA, 0 HR, 22 RBI
Joel Davis, IF, .293 BA, 3 HR, 22 RBI
Projection:
There is some returning talent though. Austin Homan is a superb contact hitter who hit .356 as a junior last season. Fellow senior Nick Choruby can get on base plenty too. The issue is who is going to drive them in. Joel Davis has some pop to his bat and will be asked to emerge as a leader at the plate. On a team that belted an SEC high 62 home runs last season, Davis will have to provide much of that power. Walker Pennington hit four home runs in just 62 plate at bats last season and the former TCU Horned Frog should get an opportunity to finally show what he can do. Brigham Hill is an All-American talent on the mound. He went 9-2 last season with a 2.51 ERA and struck out 99 batters in 97.0 innings of work. Hill Turner Larkins started six games as a sophomore and made 19 appearances. He boasted a 2.51 ERA and should step into a full time starting spot in 2017. With a bullpen that includes Mitchell Kilkenny, Stephen Kolek and Corbin Martin, the pitching staff will be in good shape. This team will not be as potent on offense this year, but there are younger players who should be able to contribute. With a star pitcher in Hill and some talent around him, the Aggies will have another very good season.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Baseball Tournament
Madness 2017 Draft Rankings:
#16 Corbin Martin
