48.
TEXAS
CHRISTIAN
2008 RECORD. Overall: 44-19
(Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference:
19-5 / 1st in Mountain West Conference.
Coach: Jim Schlossnagle
(211-102, 6th season at TCU; 288-196 overall in 7 seasons).
First Game, 2009: Feb.
20 at No. 6
Cal
State
Fullerton
.
OVERVIEW: The Horned Frogs
won 44 games in 2008—four shy of the school-record of 48, set a year earlier—and
there appears to be no reason why the 2009 total shouldn’t be in the same range.
The major casualty is closer Andrew Cashner, who improved dramatically a year ago
to become a first-round pick, but the Horned Frogs still have a deep, talented pitching
staff that features a quartet of starters who are significant prospects, including
freshman phenom Kyle Winkler and hard-throwing sophomores Sean Hoelscher and Greg
Holle. TCU’s interior defense will be solid and experienced, with three seniors
providing stability for talented freshman SS Taylor Featherston.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Bryan Holaday, Jr. .(.311-1-41).
1B: Matt Vern, Sr. (.275-6-44).
2B: Ben Carruthers (1),
Sr. (.308-2-33).
3B: Matt Carpenter (3),
Sr. (.283-*11-46).
SS: Taylor Featherstone,
Fr. (HS—Katy, Texas.
LF: Corey Steglich, Sr.
(.167-1-6).
CF: Brett Medlin, So. (.245-0-3).
RF: Chris Ellington (4),
Sr. (.344-6-*55).
DH: Matt Curry, Jr. (.451-20-90
at
Howard, Texas
, JC).
1/Starter: Tyler Lockwood,
Jr. (7-2, 2.75, *104 IP/71 SO).
2/Starter: Sean Hoelscher,
So. (7-3, 5.02, 66 IP/53 SO).
3/Starter: Greg Holle,
So. (1-2, 4.50, 60 IP/32 SO).
Closer: Erik Miller, Fr.
(HS—Georgetown, Texas).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Sean Hoelscher.
Best Overall Hitter: Matt
Carpenter.
Best Power Hitter: Matt
Curry.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
Matt Carpenter.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Brance Rivera (6.6 seconds).
Best Base Runner: Matt
Carpenter.
Best Defender: Ben Carruthers.
Best Infield Arm: Taylor
Featherston.
Best Outfield Arm: Chris
Ellington.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Kyle Winkler (94 mph).
Best Breaking Ball: Erik
Miller.
Best Changeup: Kyle Winkler.
Best Command: Taylor Cragin.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT:
Kyle Winkler, rhp. Winkler was overlooked
by scouts in the 2008 draft, due mostly to his 5-foot-11 frame. But he has big-time
stuff and could be an impact freshman. His fastball tops out at 94 mph, and he also
has a hard, knee-buckling curveball and an outstanding changeup. He’ll start the
2009 season as mid-week starter but could end up filling any role.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT:
Sean Hoelscher, rhp. Hoelscher was better
known as a football player first, and a third-base prospect second in high school.
So his successful freshman year on the mound was a pleasant surprise. He throws
an 88-92 mph fastball, and his slider is a plus pitch when he commands it.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Matt Curry, 1b.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Curry, a 37th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 2008, put up whiffle-ball numbers last year at Howard JC. He is a pure lefthanded
hitter with loft power, and the TCU coaches compare his tools and approach to a
young Matt Stairs.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Matt Carpenter, 3b. Carpenter is a fifth-year
senior, having missed 2007 with an arm injury. He’s a polished hitter with some
lefthanded power and is a skilled defensive third baseman, although his arm strength
is a bit short.
--DAVID RAWNSLEY