Wont copy and paste the entire article here. But will try to hit on some key points.
Overview:
"There’s an eagerness around Lubbock, Texas to get the 2024 Texas Tech baseball season started. The Red Raiders have been a perennial power for much of the Tim Tadlock era, but the way the past couple of seasons have ended isn’t up to the standard that Tech is accustomed to over the last decade. Again, there’s nothing ‘bad’ about what the Red Raiders have done the past few seasons. But this is a program very used to getting to Omaha under Tadlock. Could the 2024 campaign end the Omaha hiatus? You bet.
The Red Raiders will have an interesting and dangerous club in the spring. Offensively, there are still some significant position battles going on as the season nears, while behind the plate, the Raiders will welcome one of the nation’s premier players in Kevin Bazzell, who is making a position change after Hudson White transferred to Arkansas during the offseason. The early returns on Bazzell behind the plate have been promising. Where I think Texas Tech could be significantly better in ’24 is on the mound."
Infield:
Catcher-- Kevin Bazzell. “Bazzell is such a good baseball player, and he’s a great teammate, too,” Tadlock said. “Last year, he pretty much just agreed to play third to help out the team, but now, I think everyone kind of recognizes he’s the best catcher on our team. He’s a real guy back there, and he’s a guy who helps your team win at a high level.” Maxcey as the backup.
3rd Base-- Cade McGee
Middle Infield--
Up the middle, the Red Raiders have a good problem on their hands. There are several quality options, with the most notable news that Austin Green is transitioning to the outfield for the upcoming season. Will Burns and Tracer Lopez are once again in the mix. Burns played in 24 games last season and ended the season at shortstop. Meanwhile, Lopez is a talented 5-foot-10, 150-pounder, who showed very well at times last season, hitting .268 with six doubles, four homers and 31 RBIs. “The biggest thing for us is just finding the perfect combination that we want to take the field with — we have some different, but all good, options,” Tadlock said. “Tracer will be out there each day. We know he’ll hit — he knows the zone. Then, there’s a guy like Will Burns, who’s as explosive of a runner as anyone in our program. He’s a dynamic player.” TJ Pompey, Landon Stripling and Travis Sanders are other options to watch. Pompey is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound freshman who had a terrific fall. Tadlock made it abundantly clear that Pompey will likely find his way on the field somewhere in the spring. Stripling is a talented 6-foot, 200-pound, freshman who showed an impressive hit tool this fall and who likely would occupy the second base position. And there’s Sanders, who can play both sides of second base.
1st Base-- Gavin Kash
Outfield-- Austin Green, Owen Washburn, Gage Harrelson, Damian Bravo
Weekend Rotation-- Texas Tech’s weekend rotation is likely to be led by righthander Kyle Robinson. Sophomore righthander Zane Petty is another safe bet in the weekend rotation. Other candidates to be in the weekend rotation include Trendan Parish, Mac Heuer, Jack Washburn and Taber Fast.
“I think all of those guys are ready to compete for those weekend starting spots,” Tadlock said. “I think Mac has a chance to be very, very special, and I think Parish is in a spot where he’s ready to get out there and go prove himself again. I also think Petty threw well in last year’s regional and is ready to take a big step forward.”
Bullpen-- Josh Sanders, Derek Bridges, Ryan Free and Brendan Lysik are back in the mix for another season, and the quartet combined for 67 appearances last season. Having that type of experience back in 2024 is massive for the Texas Tech pitching staff. Jacob Rogers, who started five games last season, is another arm expected to take a step forward in the spring. Rogers was up to 94-95 mph with his fastball this fall and has good feel for multiple offerings. Hudson Luce, who was up to 91 mph with his fastball this fall, also impressed the coaching staff at times and could have a sizable role.
Three more arms that Tadlock pinpointed as potential high impact guys includes Hudson Parker, Chandler Coe and Max Huffling. Parker is a 6-foot, 200-pound, junior who was up to 95-96 mph with his fastball in the fall, while also having the ability to help the Red Raiders behind the plate if need be. Coe is a 6-foot-6, 265-pound, freshman righthander who has unbridled potential with a fastball up to 94-95 mph, along with the potential to have elite stuff moving forward, provided he stays healthy. Then, there’s the 6-foot-9, lefthander in Huffling, who only tops out at 91 mph, but who has some serious angle and funk to his stuff and delivery.
Overview:
"There’s an eagerness around Lubbock, Texas to get the 2024 Texas Tech baseball season started. The Red Raiders have been a perennial power for much of the Tim Tadlock era, but the way the past couple of seasons have ended isn’t up to the standard that Tech is accustomed to over the last decade. Again, there’s nothing ‘bad’ about what the Red Raiders have done the past few seasons. But this is a program very used to getting to Omaha under Tadlock. Could the 2024 campaign end the Omaha hiatus? You bet.
The Red Raiders will have an interesting and dangerous club in the spring. Offensively, there are still some significant position battles going on as the season nears, while behind the plate, the Raiders will welcome one of the nation’s premier players in Kevin Bazzell, who is making a position change after Hudson White transferred to Arkansas during the offseason. The early returns on Bazzell behind the plate have been promising. Where I think Texas Tech could be significantly better in ’24 is on the mound."
Infield:
Catcher-- Kevin Bazzell. “Bazzell is such a good baseball player, and he’s a great teammate, too,” Tadlock said. “Last year, he pretty much just agreed to play third to help out the team, but now, I think everyone kind of recognizes he’s the best catcher on our team. He’s a real guy back there, and he’s a guy who helps your team win at a high level.” Maxcey as the backup.
3rd Base-- Cade McGee
Middle Infield--
Up the middle, the Red Raiders have a good problem on their hands. There are several quality options, with the most notable news that Austin Green is transitioning to the outfield for the upcoming season. Will Burns and Tracer Lopez are once again in the mix. Burns played in 24 games last season and ended the season at shortstop. Meanwhile, Lopez is a talented 5-foot-10, 150-pounder, who showed very well at times last season, hitting .268 with six doubles, four homers and 31 RBIs. “The biggest thing for us is just finding the perfect combination that we want to take the field with — we have some different, but all good, options,” Tadlock said. “Tracer will be out there each day. We know he’ll hit — he knows the zone. Then, there’s a guy like Will Burns, who’s as explosive of a runner as anyone in our program. He’s a dynamic player.” TJ Pompey, Landon Stripling and Travis Sanders are other options to watch. Pompey is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound freshman who had a terrific fall. Tadlock made it abundantly clear that Pompey will likely find his way on the field somewhere in the spring. Stripling is a talented 6-foot, 200-pound, freshman who showed an impressive hit tool this fall and who likely would occupy the second base position. And there’s Sanders, who can play both sides of second base.
1st Base-- Gavin Kash
Outfield-- Austin Green, Owen Washburn, Gage Harrelson, Damian Bravo
Weekend Rotation-- Texas Tech’s weekend rotation is likely to be led by righthander Kyle Robinson. Sophomore righthander Zane Petty is another safe bet in the weekend rotation. Other candidates to be in the weekend rotation include Trendan Parish, Mac Heuer, Jack Washburn and Taber Fast.
“I think all of those guys are ready to compete for those weekend starting spots,” Tadlock said. “I think Mac has a chance to be very, very special, and I think Parish is in a spot where he’s ready to get out there and go prove himself again. I also think Petty threw well in last year’s regional and is ready to take a big step forward.”
Bullpen-- Josh Sanders, Derek Bridges, Ryan Free and Brendan Lysik are back in the mix for another season, and the quartet combined for 67 appearances last season. Having that type of experience back in 2024 is massive for the Texas Tech pitching staff. Jacob Rogers, who started five games last season, is another arm expected to take a step forward in the spring. Rogers was up to 94-95 mph with his fastball this fall and has good feel for multiple offerings. Hudson Luce, who was up to 91 mph with his fastball this fall, also impressed the coaching staff at times and could have a sizable role.
Three more arms that Tadlock pinpointed as potential high impact guys includes Hudson Parker, Chandler Coe and Max Huffling. Parker is a 6-foot, 200-pound, junior who was up to 95-96 mph with his fastball in the fall, while also having the ability to help the Red Raiders behind the plate if need be. Coe is a 6-foot-6, 265-pound, freshman righthander who has unbridled potential with a fastball up to 94-95 mph, along with the potential to have elite stuff moving forward, provided he stays healthy. Then, there’s the 6-foot-9, lefthander in Huffling, who only tops out at 91 mph, but who has some serious angle and funk to his stuff and delivery.
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