We have enjoyed blogging about the Longhorns over the past few seasons, but due to busy schedules, we are going to have to take a break. You can always find out the latest information on the Texas Baseball team by going to TexasSports.com. Thanks for your support over the past few seasons.
Category Archives: News
Thursday Quick Hitters
- RHP Corey Knebel was named to the 2013 Preseason College All-American First Team by Perfect Game. Knebel joins players from Stanford, Arkansas, and NC State, along with others. Augie Garrido confirmed that Knebel will return to his starring role as the Longhorns’ closer in 2013 in a recent interview with Kevin Dunn on Longhorn Network.
- Texas has been ranked 24 in the 2013 Perfect Game Preseason Poll. This follows a number 21 ranking in the 2013 Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll.
- We are now just over one week away from the 2013 Fan Appreciation & Alumni Game. Recent World Series Champion Brandon Belt has said on Twitter that he will be in attendance. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm on Saturday, Febuary 2, 2013.
Stay tuned to Texas Baseball Blog in the coming weeks as we wrap up our Returning Player Profiles and continue the Know Your Enemy Series. Don’t forget you can like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates. 2013 is shaping up to be a great year for Texas Baseball, and we look forward to covering this team on the Road to Omaha.
Monday Quick Hitters
- Sophomore infielder Sam Shaw and Junior infielder Christian Summers have both elected to leave the Texas Baseball program. With an infield as stacked as Augie has in 2013, this is an understandable decision, and we wish Sam and Christian the best in their future baseball endeavors. These departures bring the Texas roster down to the 35-player limit for 2013.
- Lifetime Longhorn Brandon Belt won the World Series with the San Francisco Giants last month. He has now joined Twitter, @bbelt9.
- The Longhorns received 10 commitments from the 2014 class in the first day of signing. You can see what Assistant Coach Tommy Nicholson had to say about his recruits on Longhorn Network. There are some other great recruits that were not mentioned in this interview, so stick with Texas Baseball Blog’s recruiting section for more info on future Longhorns as the high school season gets underway.
- Parker French has begun throwing from the mound for the first time since leaving mid-inning against Mizzou in the Big XII Tournament. Coupled with word that Nathan Thornhill is recuperating from a minor case of tendinitis (and not a more serious injury) brought on by weight lifting, this is great news for Skip Johnson and his pitching staff.
- The 2013 Longhorn Baseball schedule is complete and should be released by the athletic department in the next week or so.
We will be starting a new series in the coming weeks focused on returning players. Keep checking Texas Baseball Blog, and don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter (@TXBaseballBlog) or like us on Facebook to get updates.
Filed under News, Off Season
Tuesday Quick Hitters
- Austin Wood will join Augie Garrido’s coaching staff as a Volunteer Assistant Coach in 2013. Wood’s most famous moment as a Longhorn came in the epic 25-inning, 3-2 victory over Boston College during the 2009 NCAA Regional in Austin. That night, he thew 169 pitches over 13 shoutout innings of relief for the Longhorns.
- Texas alumni Cameron Rupp was named Hi-A Florida State League post-season All-Star catcher for his efforts with the Clearwater Thrashers, a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Rupp hit .264 with 10 home runs for the Thrashers in 2012.
- Stanford’s senior ace, Mark Appel, said on his Twitter account yesterday that Texas will be making the trip to Palo Alto again in 2013, saying, “We did them [a] favor [a] couple years back, so they come here 2 years in a row”. This will even out Stanford’s back-to-back visits to the Disch in 2010 and 2011.
Our New Player Profiles will continue later this week with a look at Westwood HS outfielder Ben Johnson. Stay with Texas Baseball Blog this fall for more information on new and returning players, a preview of conference opponents, and all of the latest Texas Baseball news.
Filed under News, Off Season
Alex Silver Honored with 2012 Tom Walter Award
This morning, College Baseball Insider announced the recipients of the 2012 Tom Walter Award, which recognizes examples of inspiration in college baseball. Junior infielder Alex Silver was selected as one of the honorees as a result of his fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in early 2011. Here is what CBI said about Alex:
Silver was a sophomore infielder for Texas this past season. He was expected to be the starting third baseman during his freshman campaign in 2011. That winter break, he was diagnosed with Stage 1 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He endured numerous treatments before becoming cancer free and making his debut in April, starting eight games down the stretch in 2011. As a sophomore in 2012, he batted .267 with 19 RBI and remains an inspiration for the Longhorns. “I never asked ‘Why me?’ – I guess I was lucky that it was me instead of someone that was less fortunate,” Silver told the Texas sports information office.
Texas Baseball Blog would like to congratulate Alex on receiving this award. It is amazing to see how far Silver has come in his limited playing time, and we look forward to watching him continue to develop as a player.
Photo: Donald Boyles
Filed under News, Off Season
John Curtiss out for 2013 Season
The injury bug has struck once again, with sophomore John Curtiss undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, this is a season long recovery, so Curtiss will miss the 2013 season. However, he told TexasSports,”I’m looking forward to [contributing] in any way I can to the program this season. I think the team is going to be pretty good this year. I know I will work hard to get back.”
Curtiss made an immediate impact on the Texas pitching staff in his freshman season, going 2-3 in 28 appearances, including 4 starts, with a 3.50 ERA. He struck out 48 while holding opposing hitters to a .237 average. While the staff will miss his arm, look for Toller Boardman to make his Longhorn debut after sitting out his freshman season with a back injury. Senior Josh Urban will also help to fill the void, bringing an experienced arm with him after missing much of 2012 with an injury of his own. Finally, look for some of the incoming freshmen to step up and deliver during fall ball in an effort to land a starting spot in the rotation.
Photo: Donald Boyles
Filed under News, Off Season
Monday Quick Hitters
- The Santa Barbara Foresters earned a second National Championship in as many years with a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Studs. Longhorns Jacob Felts, Taylor Stell, and Kirby Bellow, along with newcomer Weston Hall, have all contributed to the Foresters’ impressive summer season.
- Matt Moynihan ended his shortened summer with the Brewster Whitecaps batting .333, and we expect him to figure heavily into the lineup in 2013.
- Tommy Nicholson sat down with Samantha Steele for a brief interview on the Longhorn Network. You can hear what Coach Nicholson has to say about the Longhorns in 2013 and his new role as Recruiting Coordinator here.
- Kacy Clemens, son of Texas legend Roger Clemens, has committed to Texas. For more information on this elite prospect, check out FJLA’s post on the recruiting section of the blog.
As we move into fall, stay with Texas Baseball Blog for news on Fall Ball, a series on returning players, and a close look at the conference opponents Texas will be facing in 2013. We will be back later this week with a New Player Profile focused on Navarro Junior College transfer Weston Hall. Until then, you can keep up with the latest Texas Baseball news on twitter (@TXBaseballBlog) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TexasBaseballBlog).
Filed under News, Off Season
Thursday Quick Hitters
- Pitcher/Infielder Kirby Bellow, playing this summer with the Santa Barbara Foresters, threw 6 innings, yielding only 3 hits and 1 run while striking out 7 batters last week. You can see the box score from Kirby’s great outing here.
- Sam Shaw, who missed his freshman season with a redshirt, is currently batting .231 with 7 RBI for his summer team, the Austin Gold Sox. Sam is playing alongside recent alumni Jordan Etier, who is hitting .300 for the team.
- We recently had the chance to interview Blake Goins, a Pearland High School star who has comitted to the Longhorns. You can hop over to the recruiting section to read more.
- Alumni Taylor Jungmann threw 7 shutout innings, striking out 6 and walking 1 en route to a W last night. Jungmann is currently playing for the Brevard County Manitees, a Florida State League (A-Advanced) affiliate of the 2011 National League Central Division Champion Milwaukee Brewers.
We will continue our new Player Profiles with pitcher Travis Duke early next week, and our look at returning players will begin shortly. As always, stay with Texas Baseball Blog for the latest news on the Longhorns!
Filed under News, Off Season
Sunday Quick Hitters
- Taylor Stell has heated up recently, posting a .305 batting average for the Santa Barbara Foresters – just above his teammate Jacob Felts, who is currently hitting .304 for their summer team. Felts takes the lead in home runs though, with 3 on the summer season. Kirby Bellow has hurled 16.1 innings for the Foresters, maintaining a 1.65 ERA in the process.
- Trevor Tekyl announced via his twitter that he will be transferring to San Jacinto this coming season. We wish Trevor the best of luck and hope that San Jacinto can take full advantage of his talents.
- Kevin Lusson will begin his professional career with the Amarillo Sox. Lusson will serve as an infielder for the team.
- Tommy Nicholson spoke with the Austin media last week about returning to the 40 acres as an assistant coach. KXAN and KVUE both have video on their sites, and Cedric Golden voiced his support for the hire in a recent column for the Austin American-Statesman.
Stay tuned to the blog in the coming weeks as we turn our focus towards the new players joining the Longhorns in 2013. We will continue our player profiles from last season, and bring you all of the latest recruiting and alumni news as it comes down the pipe.
Filed under News, Off Season
This Year’s Texas Longhorn Recruiting Class
With the MLB First-Year Player Draft signing deadline now behind us the full 2012 Texas Longhorn Baseball Recruiting Class is now complete…The new incoming group will feature 9 True Freshmen and 4 Junior College transfers.
Christopher (CJ) Hinojosa SS – Spring, TX (Klein Collins HS)
Ben Johnson OF – Austin, TX (Westwood HS)
Chad Hollingsworth RHP – Waco, TX (Robinson HS)
Ty Culbreth LHP/OF – Bryan, TX (Bryan HS)
Holden Helmink RHP – Conroe, TX (Willis HS)
Travis Duke LHP – Pearland, TX (Dawson HS)
Jeremy Montalbano C – Katy, TX (Seven Lakes HS)
James Barton C – Austin, TX (Hyde Park Baptist HS)
Mark Gottsacker OF – Dallas, TX (Highland Park HS)
Madison Carter UTL – Sherman, TX (Grayson CC)
Ty Marlow INF – Giddings, TX (McLennan CC)
Weston Hall OF – Leander, TX (Navarro College)
Codey McElroy INF – Chattanooga, OK (Eastern OK St. College)
Notes: 7 of the 9 incoming freshman are ranked among the top 62 recruits in Texas, according to Perfect Game…including CJ Hinojosa (4), Ben Johnson (14), Holden Helmink (21), Chad Hollingworth (26), Mark Gottsacker (41), Travis Duke (48), Ty Culbreth (62)
SS CJ Hinojosa was selected in the 26th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Houston Astros, ranked the 32nd best prospect in the nation by Perfect Game, and the 4th best prospect in Texas, making him the highest ranked prospect entering the Big 12 next season. A 2012 Rawlings Preseason All-American, Hinojosa batted .405 with 38 runs, 45 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs, and 12 stolen bases as a junior in 2011. CJ was also selected to West Roster for the 2011 Perfect Game All American Classic, an event that features the best prep stars from across the country, CJ was just one of five athletes from the state of Texas who participated in that event. Hinojosa was also a member of the 2011 Texas Rangers Area Code Team.
OF Ben Johnson was selected in the 34th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Atlanta Braves. According to Perfect Game he is the second highest ranked incoming position player (State Ranking 14, National Ranking 106) that will be entering the Big 12 next season. He batted .462 with 5 home runs to go with stealing 17 bases in 2012, Ben was also a multi-year starter at QB for Westwood High School. At a recent Perfect Game Pre-Draft Showcase Ben was clocked at a 6.46 60-yard dash, the third fastest time of all participants in the event. Ben along with fellow Longhorn signees Chad Hollingworth and Jeremy Montalbano recently helped Team Texas win the 2012 Heartland Classic in Norman, OK; the event featured teams representing seven states and Team Texas finished with a perfect 8-0 record. Ben was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
RHP Holden Helmink was selected in the 22nd round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Holden was selected 18-4A 1st Team All-District in 2012 while helping Willis High School in Conroe, TX to the 4A State Playoffs.
RHP Chad Hollingsworth was named 2012 19-3A Most Valuable Player in leading Waco Robinson to the 3A State Semi-Finals. Chad was selected 1st Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, he was also a member of the 2011 Texas Rangers Area Code Team.
LHP/OF Ty Culbreth,along with future teammates Chad Hollingswoth and CJ Hinojosa, was included on the 2011 Texas Rangers Area Code Roster. Ty helped lead Bryan High School to the 5A Regional Finals in 2012, in doing so was named a 12-5A First Team All-District honoree as well as selected 2nd Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.
LHP Travis Duke finished the 2012 season 6-1 with a 1.56 ERA, 71 K’s, 11 BB’s in 45 IP for Dawson High School in Pearland, TX….that included 4 complete games and 3 shutouts. Travis allowed only 1 Earned Run in 38 innings pitched during district play.
OF Mark Gottsacker hit .406 with 3 HR’s, 18 RBI, 15 SB’s this past season for Highland Park High School in Dallas, TX. He was named the 2012 District 10-4A Most Oustanding Player as well as 2nd Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. Mark was the 87th best draft eligible prospect in Texas (including college & high school) prior to the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft according to Baseball America.
C Jeremy Montalbano was named 19-5A Most Valuable Player in 2012 as well as selected 3rd Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association while helping lead Seven Lakes High School out of the Katy School District to a 19-5A District Championship while advancing to the second round of the 5A playoffs before losing to eventual state champion Cy Ranch.
C James Barton hit .562 this past season for Hyde Park Baptist High School in Austin, TX while helping lead the Panthers to the TAPPS 4A State Semi-Finals. James was named TAPPS 4A 1st Team All-State as well as 3rd Team All-Central Texas in 2012, he was also 2nd Team All-State as a Junior in 2011.
INF Ty Marlow led McClennan CC this past season in all major offensive categories (.356, 8 HR, 60 RBI) Ty began his college career at Texas A&M before transfering after the 2011 season. Ty played high school baseball in Giddings, Texas for his father, Mike Marlow, along side current Longhorn & younger brother Brooks. Ty was 1st Team All-State as a Junior and Senior.
OF Weston Hall stole 25 bases out of 26 attempts in 2012 while starting in CF for Navarro College, he was named 2012 Region XIV East All-Conference 2nd Team.
UTL Madison Carter lead Grayson County College in 2012 with a .380 Batting Average, while compiling 68 hits, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 2 HR’s & 43 RBI to go with a .423 OB% and a .730 SLG%.
INF Codey McElroy was ranked in the Top 100 of draft eligible Junior College prospects prior to the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft according to Perfect Game. Codey lead Eastern Oklahoma State College last season in Runs (47), Walks (33), and was 2nd on the team in HR’s (8)
- fjla
Filed under News, Off Season, recruits
