Today, got a chance to talk to Coach David Pierce, 2B Jack O'Dowd, RF Dylan Campbell, CF Eric Kennedy and SP Lucas Gordon. Here is what everyone had to say about opening weekend in Arlington and the season in general.
Coach David Pierce -
Coach David Pierce -
- Excited. 2023. New Year. So much success last few years with a really committed and talented team. They wrote their script. This group's chance to write their own story.
- Great opener with Arkansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt
- See how we handle that and how we compete. See what our mentality is going to be.
- Not going to be perfect
- Opening day starter.
- Fri - LHP Lucas Gordon - strike thrower and going to eat up some innings. Most experience and he is primed and ready to take that spot.
- Sat - RHP Zane Morehouse - really pleased with Zane. Zane has matured so much. His consistency has been really good.
- Sun - RHP Travis Sthele - Slider has come on. His stuff has been up to 95/96. So much more comfortable on the mound. Last year he competed but wasn't just there yet. He feels very healthy right now. He has earned it!
- Squad has been working hard since September. They have bought into culture and how we do things. Until they get into an environment like Globe Life, you really don't know what you have. Goal is to be good early and great late.
- Still have question marks on who should and shouldn't start. A lot of balance though and options across the lineup.
- Leaders - Lucas Gordon and Zane Morehouse on the staff and Dylan Campbell on the field.
- Young guys like Jared Thomas, Jalin Flores, Jayden Duplantier and Rylan Galvan are pushing hard
- The most secure is OF with Porter Brown in LF, Eric Kennedy in CF and Dylan Campbell in RF
- Infield - Jalin Flores at 3B, Jared Thomas at 2B, Jack O'Dowd at 2B, Mitch Daly at SS, Rylan Galvan or Garret Guillemette at C
- Tough losses with Kimble Schuessler and Luke Harrison, but opens up opportunity for others to step in
- A lot of info and analytics out there, but sometimes it is too much. Really focused on competing. Analytics will always play a part and we have a great department, but we have more information that we could ever use and it is up to the staff to decide how to use and put it in practice.
- Teaching young guys and seeing them grow and learn really gets me fired up. My job is to maximize what they can become and that is fun for me.
- I like our best hitters at top of the order and guys that create action after that. Dylan Campbell (DC) is our best hitter. Simple approach that allows him to attack and make things happen. Eric Kennedy is consistent and a guy that will get on base twice a guy. Porter Brown when he gets hot is really really good. Jalin Flores has power for a freshman. Jack O'Dowd has gotten stronger and better, but is still best when he is hitting up the middle or gap to gap.
- Been a challenge for all of us. Guys have different opinions and tough to get on same page, but we have been really good in doing that and making sure we get together on philosophy and how we work day to day
- Two more years in the Big 12 - thoughts on going to SEC?
- Hard to go there mentally as there are two more years. Planning process that the department has done (President Hartzell and CDC) has been really cool and the dedication to doing what is best for Texas athletics.
- Big 12 is a great league. We can compete year in and year out.
- Zero days off in the SEC from 1 to 16. Every team has chance to have 1st Round pick at a number of positions.
- A level of professional baseball in many ways. Fan base is going to be incredible. Level of play is going to be exceptional.
- Throughout the staff you see plus arms. There is no breather.
- Don't see Texas changing a whole lot, stick to what we do and bring in some of the best talent
- Guy that could surprise this year - Porter Brown. He can take over a game offensively and can be special
