2024 Big 12 Conference Preview - Part Two
As a reminder, due to the sheet size of the post, the Big 12 preview will be spread out over three separate posts, starting from the projected bottom of the conference and working upwards.
Today's post focuses on Kansas, Houston, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma. There are the teams that I predict to finish mid-table. As you will read below, these teams have some solid talent on campus, but also have enough questions that should keep them from contending for a conference title.
Here is the link to Part One (Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, and UCF) - Preview Part One
Oklahoma Sooners
2023 Record: 32-28 (11-13 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: 2022
College World Series: 2022
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 28
Away: 20
Neutral: 6
Conference Home Series: UCF, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, Baylor
Conference Away Series: TCU, Oklahoma State, BYU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati
Notable non-conference opponents: Oregon, Tennessee, Nebraska, Cal, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Dallas Baptist, UT Arlington
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Tough non-conference schedule and some sneaky tough mid-week games. Several tough back to back weekends in Big 12 play, with the solid mix of home/away.
Pitcher to Watch: Jace Miner
Hitter to Watch: John Spikerman
Team Overview:
After a surprising run through the NCAA tournament in 2022, culminating with being national runners up, the 2023 season was quite the disappointment for Sooner fans. There were some highlights last year, including sweeping rival Texas in Austin, winning the series against TCU and beating Stanford. Despite some shaky pitching, the Sooners made the NCAA tournament, but were quickly dispatched by ECU in the Regionals. The Sooners brought in a top 20 transfer class this offseason, but have also dealt with a number of injury issues leading up to the season. On paper, this year's team does appear to be deeper and stronger than last year's squad.
Offense is undoubtedly the strength of the squad, especially the outfield which returns all three starters. Bryce Madron hit .320, Kendall Pettit hit .309, and John Spikerman hit .270 last year. While those are not overwhelming numbers, the three outfielders bring a ton of athleticism and experience to the lineup. Spikerman had a 2023 to forget, including a lengthy slump, but when right, Spikerman is by far the best player on the team and a future MLB draft pick. JUCO transfer Carter Frederick joins the program after leading NJCAA Division 1 last season with a .493 average. Former Sam Houston transfer Anthony McKenzie was fourth on the team in batting average last season and looks to improve upon that. Washington transfer Michael Snyder is known for his power and brings a veteran presence, while returning player Rocco Garza-Gongora is a versatile defender who has continued to impress this past Fall. Behind the plate, OU returns the talented Easton Carmichael, who was 5th on the team in batting average last season. Lastly, freshman Jaxon Willits, son of Coach Willits, is looking to win the job at shortstop with his extremely high baseball IQ and bat.
On the mound, the Sooners do not return a single pitcher who made more than five starts last season. Due to this, Coach Skip Johnson brought in a large group of power arms, so that he can mold them into a cohesive unit that can compete. LHP James Hitt is one of the favorites to win a starting job, along with Texas Tech transfer Brendan Girton, and Wichita State transfer Jace Miner. All three have very different profiles, but each is a quality arm. Pacific transfer Grant Stevens and prized recruit Jacob Gholston are also looking to force their way into the mix early on. A pair of brothers, Malachi and Kason Witherspoon, both JUCO transfers from Florida are physical righties that will look to bolster the bullpen. Sam Houston transfer Braden Davis is another power arm that will be a factor, along with returning arms such as Gray Thomas, Will Carsten, and Carson Atwood.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
2023 Record: 41-20 (15-9 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: 2019
College World Series: 2016
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 24
Neutral: 4
Conference Home Series: TCU, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, BYU, Texas Tech
Conference Away Series: UCF, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, Houston
Notable non-conference opponents: Michigan, Arkansas, Oregon State, Oklahoma, Dallas Baptist, Oral Roberts, ACU
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Several tough games in non-conference play, but easy run up to conference play. Need to improve upon last year's away record.
Pitcher to Watch: Carson Benge
Hitter to Watch: Nolan Schubart
Team Overview:
Under the guidance of Coach Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State has been quite consistent, reaching the NCAA Regionals each year he has been the head Coach. The 2024 squad has quite a few holes to fill after having lost five of the top six pitchers and five key offensive leaders. While the pitching staff remains a question, the talent is there on paper for Coach Holliday to see his squad punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Offensively, the Cowboys will miss guys like Riggio, Brown, Adkison, Mendham, and McLean. In their place though, Oklahoma State can boast three players that could all be contenders for the All-Big 12 team at their respective position. Outfielder Nolan Schubart was second in batting average last season, hitting .338 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs. Schubart is a guy that could be taken very early in the MLB draft if he can continue to improve and cut down his strikeout rate. Carson Benge is one of the best two-way players in the nation and after pitching sparingly last season due to an elbow injury, is looking for a breakout season in 2024. Benge his .343 with 7 home runs last season and brings an advanced feel for the strike zone. Zach Ehrhard returns to the lineup after having hit .330 with 18 steals last season, despite dealing with a hamstring issue throughout most of the year. Lastly, Oklahoma State will count on veterans Tyler Wulfert and Colin Brueggemann to provide depth in the lineup.
On the mound, there are no easy answers as to who will be the go to guy in 2024. Carson Benge will return to the bump and look to be the shutdown guy from the pen. RHP Janzen Keisel had a rough season last year after transferring in from BYU, but has a big arm and has been solid this Fall. RHP Gabe Davis is another guy that the staff is hoping to have a breakout season, having flashed a high 90s fastball with excellent spin rates. Another potential starter is LHP Drew Blake. Blake has a fastball that sits in the low 90s and mixes in a solid slider to keep hitters off balance. LHP Brennan Phillips made six starts last season, but had an ERA north of 9, though it was inflated by some bad outings early on. High Point transfer Sam Garcia had a 1.94 ERA in 2022, but had a 7.57 ERA in 2023, so he will look to get back his form after having an outstanding fall. Some other options out of the pen are veteran Evan O’Toole, JUCO transfer Brian Holiday, McNeese transfer Bryson Hudgens, Wichita State transfer Robert Cranz, Oklahoma transfer Aaron Weber, and Ryan Ure. Lastly, Ryan Bogusz comes into the season with the expectations he will be THE guy out of the bullpen, as he has been in the past, once he is fully back from injury.
West Virginia Mountaineers
2023 Record: 40-20 (15-9 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: n/a
College World Series: n/a
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 28
Neutral: 1
Conference Home Series: BYU, Oklahoma State, UCF, Baylor, Kansas State
Conference Away Series: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, TCU
Notable non-conference opponents: Ohio State, Pitt, Penn State
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
More away games than home games can always be a challenge. The non-conference games and the conference home series are both quite easy, so the conference away series will determine where they end up.
Pitcher to Watch: Aidan Major
Hitter to Watch: JJ Whetherholt
Team Overview:
After eleven years at the helm, 2024 will be the 12th and final year under Coach Randy Mazey. The reigning Big 12 coach of the year is looking to take another crack at the NCAA tournament after having a historical year in 2023, tying a school record of 40 wins. Historically, West Virginia has averaged just 32 wins per season along with 25 losses. Despite losing a number of key contributors from last year’s squad, Coach Mazey and staff are hoping that Big 12 player of the year JJ Whetherholt and the rest of the squad can make another similar run to last year.
Offensively, it all starts with the aforementioned Whetherholt. The only difference this year is that he will be moving over to shortstop to try and further boost his MLB draft stock that is already sky high. In 2023, Whetherholt hit .449 with a .787 slugging %, 1.304 OPS, 101 hits, and 36 stolen bases. During the summer, he did not slow down at all, hitting .321 during his brief time in the Cape Cod league. A likely top 10 draft pick, Whetherholt has kept his head down and his sole focus is helping do whatever it takes to get back to the NCAA tournament. Ellis Garcia hit .260 last season and will make the move from 3B to 2B. Houston Baptist transfer Reed Chumley slashed .392/.448/.722 with 11 home runs last season and brings experience to the lineup. Returning veteran Grant Hussey will again anchor 1B and provide excellent raw power at the plate, hoping to replicate or improve upon his 14 home runs from last season. UT Arlington transfer Ben Lumsden could potentially take over at 1B, allowing Hussey to shift out to LF. Lumsden is another power hitter, hitting 11 home runs for Clay Van Hook’s Mavericks in 2023. Kyle West, a transfer from Division II University of Charleston is another power bat in the lineup that will likely start at DH for the Mountaineers. Last season, West hit .397 with 22 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases, carrying his hot form into summer where he plied his trade in the Northwoods league, hitting .323. Behind the plate, Logan Sauve will be the starter and may also be called upon to protect Whetherholt in the lineup, though he will need to improve upon his .267 average from last season. The outfield remains a bit of a question for West Virginia as they must replace all three starters from last season, which contributed 40% of the team’s home runs and 46% of the stolen bases. Skylar King is the favorite to win the job in CF, and though he was buried on the roster last year, he has great speed and athleticism. Sam White is looking to build on his freshman campaign which he hit .246 with 7 doubles and 4 home runs in limited action.
On the mound, West Virginia has work to do as well after losing their top two starters. Blaine Traxel graduated and Ben Hampton transferred to TCU, while bullpen anchor Carlson Reed also was drafted during the summer. That trio accounted for 43% of all innings pitched in 2023. Aidan Major (4-2, 4.88 ERA, 2 saves) looks to play a major role for West Virginia, though he will need to ensure he keeps his emotions in check. Hayden Cooper, a transfer from SIU-Edwardsville comes in after a 1-3 record with a 5.06 ERA, but had a solid Fall and looks to be in contention for a starting role. Derek Clark, a transfer from Division II Northwood University, does not possess the typical pitchers frame, but he struck out nearly one batter per inning and put up solid numbers this past summer playing in the Cape Cod league. Another transfer, Tyler Switalski, formerly of Gardener-Webb, was a second team All-Big South selection after posting an 8-5 record and 5.60 ERA. Tyler hopes to contend for a role in the rotation as well. Returning veterans Maxx Yehl, Gavin Van Kempen, and Carson Estridge are a trio of sophomores who were key bullpen arms last year and will look to emulate their roles in 2024. David Hagamn is another arm that is looking to expand his role in the bullpen for West Virginia this season. Lastly, Baylor transfer Hambleton Oliver joins the squad after four years pitching for the Bears and hopes to leverage that experience to provide a boost to the bullpen. Oliver had a 2-4 record and 4.31 ERA, including 5 saves last season.
Houston Cougars
2023 Record: 36-23 (17-6 American Athletic Conferece)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2018
Super Regional: 2014 (lost to Texas)
College World Series: 1967
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 34
Away: 18
Neutral: 4
Conference Home Series: Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, UCF, Oklahoma State
Conference Away Series: BYU, TCU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Kansas
Notable non-conference opponents: Texas State, Vanderbilt, Louisiana, Texas A&M, Sam Houston, Rice, UTSA, UT Arlington
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Home cooking! With 37 games at home, Houston will have the benefit of not having a robust travel schedule. There are a number of tough non-conference games. Overall, the conference schedule is fairly balanced with home and away games, plus they avoid Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Pitcher to Watch: Jaxon Jelkin
Hitter to Watch: Justin Murray
Team Overview:
Houston missed the NCAA tournament due to a rough early start to the 2023 season and an RPI that left no wiggle room. The Cougars on paper look like a potential mid-table team in their first season of Big 12 play. The biggest question facing Houston this season is finding a reliable 3rd starter.That will fall squarely on the shoulders of new pitching Coach Sean Kenny, previously with Georgia and former Texas pitching Coach Woody Williams, who assumes the role of Director of Pitching Strategy and Development.
Offensively, Houston have a strong core of players in Anthony Tulimero, Thomas Lyssy, Alex Lopez, and two-way star Justin Murray. Tulimero brings a veteran presence behind the plate and power in the lineup. Two-way talent Justin Murray led Houston in batting average (.379) last season, along with a 1.020 OPS and 11 home runs. Arkansas transfer Harold Coll should make an immediate impact to the lineup, bringing power and experience, but will need to cut down on the strikeouts. Maine transfer Jake Rainess was an outstanding pickup from the portal and should be one of the best hitters on the team. A 5th year senior, Rainess hit .344 in 2021 and .383 in 2022, before hitting .321 last season, along with 16 home runs. Alex Lopez is an outstanding utility player and looks to improve upon his .270 batting average from last season. One other name to know is freshman Ace Reese. Reese had an outstanding fall and hit a towering home run against Texas A&M during the fall scrimmage.
The strength of Houston in 2024 is undoubtedly the pitching staff. Starting with the back end, the Cougars boast a premier arm in Justin Murray. He appeared in 25 games last season, racking up 10 saves. JUCO transfer Jaxon Jelkin is a 6’5” power righty that has an excellent fastball and slider. RHP Paul Schmitz posted an ERA of 3.70 last season and looks to improve upon that after working hard this off season. Despite his shorter stature, Jose Torrealba has a solid fastball and bulldog mentality. Alabama transfer Antoine Jean is a guy that the staff hopes can make an impact in the middle innings to get to closer Murray. Texas transfer Chris Stuart has a solid fastball and wipeout slider, but must continue working on his consistency.
Kansas Jayhawks
2023 Record: 25-32 (8-16 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2014
Super Regional: n/a
College World Series: 1993
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 18
Neutral: 9
Conference Home Series: TCU, UCF, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Houston
Conference Away Series: Cincinnati, BYU, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas
Notable non-conference opponents: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas State, Kentucky
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
While Kansas plays 9 games at a neutral site, they only have three non-conference away games. The Jayhawks have a tough home conference slate. KU has to be more consistent at home.
Pitcher to Watch: Ethan Lantheir
Hitter to Watch: Kodey Shojinaga
Team Overview:
Last season Kansas hit the portal and JUCO ranks hard in order to put together their roster after making a Coach change. That strategy paid off well, finding numerous major contributors. KU has taken that same approach this offseason to bring in older, experienced players as 2nd year Coach Dan Fitzgerald continues to build his recruiting pipeline. Based on the personnel loses from last season, the ceiling for Kansas appears to be mid-table or lower in the Big 12.
Offensively, the Jayhawks return five of their top hitters from last season, providing them a strong core group to build around in 2024. The first name is the precocious sophomore Kodey Shojinaga, who burst onto the scene last season, enduring up with a .374 batting average. As Texas found out last season, Kodey is patient at the plate and uses his quick hands to adjust and spray the ball all over the field. Defensive stalwarts Cranford and Brooks also return, providing Kansas a strong defensive infield group. Offensively, Brooks provides plenty of pop to the lineup. In addition, Chase Jans and Janson Reeder provide a double boost of power to go along with outstanding transfer portal pickup Lenny Ashby from New Mexico. Ashby hit .341 with 17 home runs as a freshman in 2022 and followed that up with a BA of .381 and 9 home runs last season.
On the mound, the expectation is that transfer Ethan Lanthier will assume the role of staff ace from the departed Colin Baumgartner. Lanthier has a simple delivery with a fastball sitting in the mid 90s and had an extremely productive career at Division II St. Cloud. Lanthier impressed this summer on the Cape as well, though out of the bullpen. Wichita State transfer Grant Adler will likely hold the second starting role, and has a solid fastball/slider combination. Another transfer, Reese Dutton from USC Upstate, looks like a candidate to round out the starting rotation. Dutton, like Lanthier, comes from a smaller school and has a track record of success, but he will have to adjust to life in the Big 12. A potential wildcard is JUCO transfer Evan Shaw. If Shaw does not make it into the starting rotation, he will be a valuable arm out of the pen. Lastly, speak of the bullpen, senior RHP Thaniel Trumper and RHP Kolby Dougan are back for another season and will be heavily utilized.
As a reminder, due to the sheet size of the post, the Big 12 preview will be spread out over three separate posts, starting from the projected bottom of the conference and working upwards.
Today's post focuses on Kansas, Houston, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma. There are the teams that I predict to finish mid-table. As you will read below, these teams have some solid talent on campus, but also have enough questions that should keep them from contending for a conference title.
Here is the link to Part One (Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, and UCF) - Preview Part One
Oklahoma Sooners
2023 Record: 32-28 (11-13 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: 2022
College World Series: 2022
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 28
Away: 20
Neutral: 6
Conference Home Series: UCF, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, Baylor
Conference Away Series: TCU, Oklahoma State, BYU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati
Notable non-conference opponents: Oregon, Tennessee, Nebraska, Cal, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Dallas Baptist, UT Arlington
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Tough non-conference schedule and some sneaky tough mid-week games. Several tough back to back weekends in Big 12 play, with the solid mix of home/away.
Pitcher to Watch: Jace Miner
Hitter to Watch: John Spikerman
Team Overview:
After a surprising run through the NCAA tournament in 2022, culminating with being national runners up, the 2023 season was quite the disappointment for Sooner fans. There were some highlights last year, including sweeping rival Texas in Austin, winning the series against TCU and beating Stanford. Despite some shaky pitching, the Sooners made the NCAA tournament, but were quickly dispatched by ECU in the Regionals. The Sooners brought in a top 20 transfer class this offseason, but have also dealt with a number of injury issues leading up to the season. On paper, this year's team does appear to be deeper and stronger than last year's squad.
Offense is undoubtedly the strength of the squad, especially the outfield which returns all three starters. Bryce Madron hit .320, Kendall Pettit hit .309, and John Spikerman hit .270 last year. While those are not overwhelming numbers, the three outfielders bring a ton of athleticism and experience to the lineup. Spikerman had a 2023 to forget, including a lengthy slump, but when right, Spikerman is by far the best player on the team and a future MLB draft pick. JUCO transfer Carter Frederick joins the program after leading NJCAA Division 1 last season with a .493 average. Former Sam Houston transfer Anthony McKenzie was fourth on the team in batting average last season and looks to improve upon that. Washington transfer Michael Snyder is known for his power and brings a veteran presence, while returning player Rocco Garza-Gongora is a versatile defender who has continued to impress this past Fall. Behind the plate, OU returns the talented Easton Carmichael, who was 5th on the team in batting average last season. Lastly, freshman Jaxon Willits, son of Coach Willits, is looking to win the job at shortstop with his extremely high baseball IQ and bat.
On the mound, the Sooners do not return a single pitcher who made more than five starts last season. Due to this, Coach Skip Johnson brought in a large group of power arms, so that he can mold them into a cohesive unit that can compete. LHP James Hitt is one of the favorites to win a starting job, along with Texas Tech transfer Brendan Girton, and Wichita State transfer Jace Miner. All three have very different profiles, but each is a quality arm. Pacific transfer Grant Stevens and prized recruit Jacob Gholston are also looking to force their way into the mix early on. A pair of brothers, Malachi and Kason Witherspoon, both JUCO transfers from Florida are physical righties that will look to bolster the bullpen. Sam Houston transfer Braden Davis is another power arm that will be a factor, along with returning arms such as Gray Thomas, Will Carsten, and Carson Atwood.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
2023 Record: 41-20 (15-9 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: 2019
College World Series: 2016
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 24
Neutral: 4
Conference Home Series: TCU, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, BYU, Texas Tech
Conference Away Series: UCF, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, Houston
Notable non-conference opponents: Michigan, Arkansas, Oregon State, Oklahoma, Dallas Baptist, Oral Roberts, ACU
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Several tough games in non-conference play, but easy run up to conference play. Need to improve upon last year's away record.
Pitcher to Watch: Carson Benge
Hitter to Watch: Nolan Schubart
Team Overview:
Under the guidance of Coach Josh Holliday, Oklahoma State has been quite consistent, reaching the NCAA Regionals each year he has been the head Coach. The 2024 squad has quite a few holes to fill after having lost five of the top six pitchers and five key offensive leaders. While the pitching staff remains a question, the talent is there on paper for Coach Holliday to see his squad punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Offensively, the Cowboys will miss guys like Riggio, Brown, Adkison, Mendham, and McLean. In their place though, Oklahoma State can boast three players that could all be contenders for the All-Big 12 team at their respective position. Outfielder Nolan Schubart was second in batting average last season, hitting .338 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs. Schubart is a guy that could be taken very early in the MLB draft if he can continue to improve and cut down his strikeout rate. Carson Benge is one of the best two-way players in the nation and after pitching sparingly last season due to an elbow injury, is looking for a breakout season in 2024. Benge his .343 with 7 home runs last season and brings an advanced feel for the strike zone. Zach Ehrhard returns to the lineup after having hit .330 with 18 steals last season, despite dealing with a hamstring issue throughout most of the year. Lastly, Oklahoma State will count on veterans Tyler Wulfert and Colin Brueggemann to provide depth in the lineup.
On the mound, there are no easy answers as to who will be the go to guy in 2024. Carson Benge will return to the bump and look to be the shutdown guy from the pen. RHP Janzen Keisel had a rough season last year after transferring in from BYU, but has a big arm and has been solid this Fall. RHP Gabe Davis is another guy that the staff is hoping to have a breakout season, having flashed a high 90s fastball with excellent spin rates. Another potential starter is LHP Drew Blake. Blake has a fastball that sits in the low 90s and mixes in a solid slider to keep hitters off balance. LHP Brennan Phillips made six starts last season, but had an ERA north of 9, though it was inflated by some bad outings early on. High Point transfer Sam Garcia had a 1.94 ERA in 2022, but had a 7.57 ERA in 2023, so he will look to get back his form after having an outstanding fall. Some other options out of the pen are veteran Evan O’Toole, JUCO transfer Brian Holiday, McNeese transfer Bryson Hudgens, Wichita State transfer Robert Cranz, Oklahoma transfer Aaron Weber, and Ryan Ure. Lastly, Ryan Bogusz comes into the season with the expectations he will be THE guy out of the bullpen, as he has been in the past, once he is fully back from injury.
West Virginia Mountaineers
2023 Record: 40-20 (15-9 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2023
Super Regional: n/a
College World Series: n/a
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 28
Neutral: 1
Conference Home Series: BYU, Oklahoma State, UCF, Baylor, Kansas State
Conference Away Series: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, TCU
Notable non-conference opponents: Ohio State, Pitt, Penn State
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
More away games than home games can always be a challenge. The non-conference games and the conference home series are both quite easy, so the conference away series will determine where they end up.
Pitcher to Watch: Aidan Major
Hitter to Watch: JJ Whetherholt
Team Overview:
After eleven years at the helm, 2024 will be the 12th and final year under Coach Randy Mazey. The reigning Big 12 coach of the year is looking to take another crack at the NCAA tournament after having a historical year in 2023, tying a school record of 40 wins. Historically, West Virginia has averaged just 32 wins per season along with 25 losses. Despite losing a number of key contributors from last year’s squad, Coach Mazey and staff are hoping that Big 12 player of the year JJ Whetherholt and the rest of the squad can make another similar run to last year.
Offensively, it all starts with the aforementioned Whetherholt. The only difference this year is that he will be moving over to shortstop to try and further boost his MLB draft stock that is already sky high. In 2023, Whetherholt hit .449 with a .787 slugging %, 1.304 OPS, 101 hits, and 36 stolen bases. During the summer, he did not slow down at all, hitting .321 during his brief time in the Cape Cod league. A likely top 10 draft pick, Whetherholt has kept his head down and his sole focus is helping do whatever it takes to get back to the NCAA tournament. Ellis Garcia hit .260 last season and will make the move from 3B to 2B. Houston Baptist transfer Reed Chumley slashed .392/.448/.722 with 11 home runs last season and brings experience to the lineup. Returning veteran Grant Hussey will again anchor 1B and provide excellent raw power at the plate, hoping to replicate or improve upon his 14 home runs from last season. UT Arlington transfer Ben Lumsden could potentially take over at 1B, allowing Hussey to shift out to LF. Lumsden is another power hitter, hitting 11 home runs for Clay Van Hook’s Mavericks in 2023. Kyle West, a transfer from Division II University of Charleston is another power bat in the lineup that will likely start at DH for the Mountaineers. Last season, West hit .397 with 22 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases, carrying his hot form into summer where he plied his trade in the Northwoods league, hitting .323. Behind the plate, Logan Sauve will be the starter and may also be called upon to protect Whetherholt in the lineup, though he will need to improve upon his .267 average from last season. The outfield remains a bit of a question for West Virginia as they must replace all three starters from last season, which contributed 40% of the team’s home runs and 46% of the stolen bases. Skylar King is the favorite to win the job in CF, and though he was buried on the roster last year, he has great speed and athleticism. Sam White is looking to build on his freshman campaign which he hit .246 with 7 doubles and 4 home runs in limited action.
On the mound, West Virginia has work to do as well after losing their top two starters. Blaine Traxel graduated and Ben Hampton transferred to TCU, while bullpen anchor Carlson Reed also was drafted during the summer. That trio accounted for 43% of all innings pitched in 2023. Aidan Major (4-2, 4.88 ERA, 2 saves) looks to play a major role for West Virginia, though he will need to ensure he keeps his emotions in check. Hayden Cooper, a transfer from SIU-Edwardsville comes in after a 1-3 record with a 5.06 ERA, but had a solid Fall and looks to be in contention for a starting role. Derek Clark, a transfer from Division II Northwood University, does not possess the typical pitchers frame, but he struck out nearly one batter per inning and put up solid numbers this past summer playing in the Cape Cod league. Another transfer, Tyler Switalski, formerly of Gardener-Webb, was a second team All-Big South selection after posting an 8-5 record and 5.60 ERA. Tyler hopes to contend for a role in the rotation as well. Returning veterans Maxx Yehl, Gavin Van Kempen, and Carson Estridge are a trio of sophomores who were key bullpen arms last year and will look to emulate their roles in 2024. David Hagamn is another arm that is looking to expand his role in the bullpen for West Virginia this season. Lastly, Baylor transfer Hambleton Oliver joins the squad after four years pitching for the Bears and hopes to leverage that experience to provide a boost to the bullpen. Oliver had a 2-4 record and 4.31 ERA, including 5 saves last season.
Houston Cougars
2023 Record: 36-23 (17-6 American Athletic Conferece)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2018
Super Regional: 2014 (lost to Texas)
College World Series: 1967
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 34
Away: 18
Neutral: 4
Conference Home Series: Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, UCF, Oklahoma State
Conference Away Series: BYU, TCU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Kansas
Notable non-conference opponents: Texas State, Vanderbilt, Louisiana, Texas A&M, Sam Houston, Rice, UTSA, UT Arlington
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
Home cooking! With 37 games at home, Houston will have the benefit of not having a robust travel schedule. There are a number of tough non-conference games. Overall, the conference schedule is fairly balanced with home and away games, plus they avoid Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Pitcher to Watch: Jaxon Jelkin
Hitter to Watch: Justin Murray
Team Overview:
Houston missed the NCAA tournament due to a rough early start to the 2023 season and an RPI that left no wiggle room. The Cougars on paper look like a potential mid-table team in their first season of Big 12 play. The biggest question facing Houston this season is finding a reliable 3rd starter.That will fall squarely on the shoulders of new pitching Coach Sean Kenny, previously with Georgia and former Texas pitching Coach Woody Williams, who assumes the role of Director of Pitching Strategy and Development.
Offensively, Houston have a strong core of players in Anthony Tulimero, Thomas Lyssy, Alex Lopez, and two-way star Justin Murray. Tulimero brings a veteran presence behind the plate and power in the lineup. Two-way talent Justin Murray led Houston in batting average (.379) last season, along with a 1.020 OPS and 11 home runs. Arkansas transfer Harold Coll should make an immediate impact to the lineup, bringing power and experience, but will need to cut down on the strikeouts. Maine transfer Jake Rainess was an outstanding pickup from the portal and should be one of the best hitters on the team. A 5th year senior, Rainess hit .344 in 2021 and .383 in 2022, before hitting .321 last season, along with 16 home runs. Alex Lopez is an outstanding utility player and looks to improve upon his .270 batting average from last season. One other name to know is freshman Ace Reese. Reese had an outstanding fall and hit a towering home run against Texas A&M during the fall scrimmage.
The strength of Houston in 2024 is undoubtedly the pitching staff. Starting with the back end, the Cougars boast a premier arm in Justin Murray. He appeared in 25 games last season, racking up 10 saves. JUCO transfer Jaxon Jelkin is a 6’5” power righty that has an excellent fastball and slider. RHP Paul Schmitz posted an ERA of 3.70 last season and looks to improve upon that after working hard this off season. Despite his shorter stature, Jose Torrealba has a solid fastball and bulldog mentality. Alabama transfer Antoine Jean is a guy that the staff hopes can make an impact in the middle innings to get to closer Murray. Texas transfer Chris Stuart has a solid fastball and wipeout slider, but must continue working on his consistency.
Kansas Jayhawks
2023 Record: 25-32 (8-16 Big 12)
Last Appearance:
Regional: 2014
Super Regional: n/a
College World Series: 1993
2024 Schedule Breakdown:
Home: 26
Away: 18
Neutral: 9
Conference Home Series: TCU, UCF, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Houston
Conference Away Series: Cincinnati, BYU, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas
Notable non-conference opponents: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas State, Kentucky
Overarching thoughts on schedule:
While Kansas plays 9 games at a neutral site, they only have three non-conference away games. The Jayhawks have a tough home conference slate. KU has to be more consistent at home.
Pitcher to Watch: Ethan Lantheir
Hitter to Watch: Kodey Shojinaga
Team Overview:
Last season Kansas hit the portal and JUCO ranks hard in order to put together their roster after making a Coach change. That strategy paid off well, finding numerous major contributors. KU has taken that same approach this offseason to bring in older, experienced players as 2nd year Coach Dan Fitzgerald continues to build his recruiting pipeline. Based on the personnel loses from last season, the ceiling for Kansas appears to be mid-table or lower in the Big 12.
Offensively, the Jayhawks return five of their top hitters from last season, providing them a strong core group to build around in 2024. The first name is the precocious sophomore Kodey Shojinaga, who burst onto the scene last season, enduring up with a .374 batting average. As Texas found out last season, Kodey is patient at the plate and uses his quick hands to adjust and spray the ball all over the field. Defensive stalwarts Cranford and Brooks also return, providing Kansas a strong defensive infield group. Offensively, Brooks provides plenty of pop to the lineup. In addition, Chase Jans and Janson Reeder provide a double boost of power to go along with outstanding transfer portal pickup Lenny Ashby from New Mexico. Ashby hit .341 with 17 home runs as a freshman in 2022 and followed that up with a BA of .381 and 9 home runs last season.
On the mound, the expectation is that transfer Ethan Lanthier will assume the role of staff ace from the departed Colin Baumgartner. Lanthier has a simple delivery with a fastball sitting in the mid 90s and had an extremely productive career at Division II St. Cloud. Lanthier impressed this summer on the Cape as well, though out of the bullpen. Wichita State transfer Grant Adler will likely hold the second starting role, and has a solid fastball/slider combination. Another transfer, Reese Dutton from USC Upstate, looks like a candidate to round out the starting rotation. Dutton, like Lanthier, comes from a smaller school and has a track record of success, but he will have to adjust to life in the Big 12. A potential wildcard is JUCO transfer Evan Shaw. If Shaw does not make it into the starting rotation, he will be a valuable arm out of the pen. Lastly, speak of the bullpen, senior RHP Thaniel Trumper and RHP Kolby Dougan are back for another season and will be heavily utilized.
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