4. TEXAS

2008 RECORD. Overall: 39-22 (Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 15-12 / 5th in Big 12.

Coach: Augie Garrido (517-253, 12th season at Texas ; 1,639-755 overall in 37 seasons).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Illinois-Chicago.

 

OVERVIEW: After winning the College World Series in 2002 and 2005, and finishing second in 2004, the Longhorns haven’t been to Omaha since. Their 2008 slate, which included a fifth-place finish in the Big 12 and an early exit in post-season play, fell far short of Texas ’ lofty baseball standards. All but two regulars and almost every key arm return, however, and the expected maturity of a talent-laden sophomore class means a significant turnaround should be in the works. Two of the keys will be the return to health of junior OF Russ Moldenhauer, a third-round draft pick in 2006 who is coming off knee surgery, and fifth-year senior C Preston Clark, possibly the nation’s best defensive catcher. The injury-plagued Clark was limited to mostly a DH role in 2008 because of a sore shoulder that led to labrum surgery in the off-season. The 2009 season will begin on an ominous note for Texas, however, as Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in Division I history, has been suspended for the first four games for a recent DUI arrest.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Preston Clark, Sr. (.263-8-43).

1B: Brandon Belt (3), Jr. (.319-6-*65).

2B: Travis Tucker (1), Sr. (.247-1-25, 22 SB).

3B: Brandon Loy, Fr. (Orioles/32nd round).

SS: David Hernandez, Jr. (.291-4-38).

LF: Tant Shepherd, So. (.357-2-18) / Russ Moldenhauer, Jr. (*.355-1-39).

CF: Connor Rowe, So. (.333-0-4).

RF: Kevin Keyes, So. (.339-4-10).

DH: Cameron Rupp (4), So. (.309-4-32).

1/Starter: Brandon Workman, So. (5-2, 5.06, 53 IP/49 SO).

2/Starter: Cole Green, So. (3-7, 5.28, *3 SV, 58 IP/44 SO).

3/Starter: Taylor Jungmann, Fr. (Angels, 24th round).

Closer: Chance Ruffin, So. (*8-3, *1.96, *3 SV, 78 IP/*82 SO) / Austin Wood, Sr. (7-3, 4.43, 0 SV, 85 IP/42 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brandon Loy.

Best Overall Hitter: Tant Shepherd.

Best Power Hitter(s): Kevin Keyes/Cameron Rupp.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Brandon Loy.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Brandon Loy (6.55 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Travis Tucker.

Best Defender: Preston Clark .

Best Infield Arm: Brandon Loy.

Best Outfield Arm: Kevin Keyes.

Best Fastball (velocity): Brandon Workman (95 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Chance Ruffin.

Best Changeup: Austin Dicharry.

Best Command: Austin Wood.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Taylor Jungmann, rhp / Brandon Loy, 3b. Loy is a sound defender and a legit runner, and should evolve into a natural 3-hole hitter. He is so advanced for a freshman that he’ll probably make a bigger impact in 2009 than Jungmann, but the 6-foot-6, 195-pound righthander has all the makings of becoming a first-rounder in 2011. Jungmann’s fastball is in the 93-94 mph range, and he has command of a curve and changeup.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT(S): Kevin Keyes, of / Brandon Workman, rhp. With a star-studded sophomore class, the Longhorns could make a big impact in the early rounds of the 2010 draft—and have the potential for at least two first-rounders. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Keyes is in better shape than a year ago, when he played sparingly, and has developed a better idea of the strike zone. His raw power potential should come to the forefront this spring. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Workman has two plus pitches—a 92-93 mph fastball that has touched 95, and a nasty 12-6 power curve—and it’s only a matter of experience until he becomes a legit No. 1 arm.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Brandon Belt, 1b. Belt has a solid two-strike approach to hitting can drive balls to the gaps consistently. Despite only six homers, he led the Longhorns in RBIs a year ago and his challenge will be to revamp his approach to hitting to add more power. His prospects for this year’s draft may depend on it. Belt is a solid defender and has pitched on occasion.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Preston Clark , c. Clark has suffered through an assortment of injuries in his Longhorns career—including a shoulder injury that forced him to DH much of last year and a knee injury that sent him to the sidelines in post-season play. If healthy and able to catch full-time this spring, he could be a difference-maker for a pitching staff that posted a 4.48 ERA a year ago.

--ALLAN SIMPSON