2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team

The 2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team represented Texas Christian University during the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Horned Frogs played their home games at Charlie & Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium as a member of the Big 12 Conference. They were led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the winningest coach in TCU baseball history, in his 15th year at TCU.

2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 12
2018 record9–4 (0–0 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Bill Mosiello (5th season)
  • Kirk Saarloos (6th season)
  • Zach Etheredge (5th season)
Home stadiumLupton Stadium
2018 Big 12 Conference baseball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T PCT  W L T PCT
No. 7 Texas ‍†‍‍y 17–7–0 .708  42–23–0 .646
Oklahoma State ‍‍‍y 16–8–0 .667  31–26–1 .543
No. 6 Texas Tech ‍‍‍y 15–9–0 .625  45–20–0 .692
No. 24 Oklahoma ‍‍‍y 14–10–0 .583  38–25–0 .603
Baylor ‍‍‡‍y 13–11–0 .542  37–21–0 .638
TCU ‍‍‍ 10–13–0 .435  33–23–0 .589
West Virginia ‍‍‍ 9–15–0 .375  29–27–0 .518
Kansas ‍‍‍ 8–15–0 .348  27–30–0 .474
Kansas State ‍‍‍ 5–19–0 .208  23–31–0 .426
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament
Rankings from Collegiate Baseball [1]

Previous season

The Horned Frogs entered the 2018 season on the heels of four consecutive trips to the College World Series.[2] The 2017 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team entered the season as the unanimous preseason #1 team,[3] and the favorite to win the Big 12 regular season championship.[4] They notched a 39–14 (16–8) regular season record, and won a Big 12 Conference championship for the fourth-straight season, sharing the regular season co-championship with Texas Tech.[5][6] In the postseason, the Horned Frogs advanced to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, before being eliminated by Texas.[7] TCU was selected as the #6 National Seed the NCAA Tournament, the Horned Frogs' highest-ever national seed.[8] Star-first baseman/designated hitter Luken Baker was unavailable for the Tournament after a late-regular season injury.[9] The Frogs coasted to a 3–0 record in the Fort Worth Regional, with wins over Central Connecticut,[10] #11 Virginia,[11] and #20 Dallas Baptist,[12] and a 2–0 sweep of #8 Missouri State in the Fort Worth Super Regional to advance to the College World Series for the fourth-straight year.[13][14] In Omaha, the Frogs fell in their opener to eventual-national champion, Florida, an 0–3 loss at the hands of Gator starting pitcher Alex Faedo.[15] TCU then eliminated #8 Texas A&M[16] and #4 Louisville to advance to a rematch with Florida in the national semifinals.[17] The Frogs' win over the Aggies marked the third consecutive season, and the fourth in the past six seasons, that TCU eliminated Texas A&M from the NCAA Tournament.[18] The Frogs then beat #3 Florida 9–2 in the teams' first rematch[19] before falling to the Gators in a decisive national semifinal game, again an 0–3 loss to Alex Faedo.[20] The loss marked the third-straight year that TCU's season ended in the national semifinals.[21] TCU finished the season ranked #4 in every final poll, with a 50–18 record (the Frogs' third 50-win season).[20]

Preseason

MLB Draft

The following Horned Frogs on the 2016 roster were selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft:

List of Drafted Players
Name2017 ClassPos.TeamRoundSigned/Returned
Austen WadeJuniorOFCleveland Indians5thSigned[22]
Evan SkougJuniorCChicago White Sox7thSigned[22]
Brian HowardSeniorRHPOakland Athletics8thSigned*[22]
Mitchell TraverSeniorRHPLos Angeles Angels20thSigned*[23]
Cam WarnerSeniorINFDetroit Tigers28thSigned*[23]
Elliott BarzilliSeniorINFMiami Marlins32ndSigned*[23]

* indicates draftee had no more college eligibility

Departed Players

The following Horned Frogs on the 2017 roster departed the program prior to the 2018 season:

List of Departed Players
Name2017 ClassPos.Reason
Elliott BarzilliSenior3BGraduated, Drafted/Signed[23]
Alec CreelFreshmanRHPDeparted
Nolan BrownRS SeniorCFGraduated
Trent FransonSophomoreINFTransferred to Houston Baptist
Mason HesseSeniorSSGraduated
Dalton HortonSophomoreLHPTransferred to Louisiana
Brian HowardSeniorRHPGraduated[22]
Austin IngrahamJuniorOFTransferred to Texas A&M–Kingsville
Ryan MerrillSeniorSSGraduated
Evan SkougJuniorCDrafted/Signed[22]
Bryan SturgesFreshmanUTransferred to Howard College
Mitchell TraverRS SeniorRHPGraduated, Drafted/Signed[23]
Austen WadeJuniorRFDrafted/Signed[22]
Cam WarnerSenior2BGraduated, Drafted/Signed[23]
Evan WilliamsRS SeniorOFGraduated

Recruiting Class

The Horned Frogs added the following players to the roster as part of their 2017 recruiting class:

List of 2017 Recruits
Name2018 ClassPos.Previous SchoolHometown
A.J. BaltaSROFOregonValencia, CA
Coby BoulwareFRINFBoulder Creek H.S.Anthem, AZ
Danny CrewsJRINFFort Scot C.C.Springfield, MO
Brad CzerniejewskiFROFLake Forest H.S.Lake Forest, IL
Tristan HanoianFRINFOrange Lutheran H.S.Costa Mesa, CA
R.J. LanFROFLa Mirada H.S.La Mirada, CA
Augie MihlbauerFRLHPMukwonago H.S.Mukwonago, WI
James NotaryFRRHPBroomfield H.S.Westminster, CO
Adam OviedoFRINFAlvarado H.S.Grandview, TX
Colton ParrishJRCBlinn CollegeLa Vernia, TX
Johnny RizerJROFBlinn CollegeCypress, TX
Conner ShepherdRS SOINFMt. San Antonio CollegeUpland, CA
Caleb SloanFRRHPRegis Jesuit H.S.Centennial, CO
Dylan SmithJRRHPWeatherford CollegeSouthlake, TX
Russell SmithFRLHPMidlothian H.S.Midlothian, TX

Season Projections

Coming off four-straight College World Series appearances in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, returning anticipated starting pitchers Jared Janczak, Rex Hill and Nick Lodolo, and adding a highly ranked recruiting class, the 2018 Horned Frogs were projected as one of the "Eight for Omaha" in July 2017 by Baseball America, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game.

The Horned Frogs were ranked in each major preseason poll and ranking. TCU was ranked #3 by Perfect Game,[24] #4 in the USA Today Coaches Poll,[25] #5 in the NCBWA Poll,[26] #7 by D1 Baseball[27] and Baseball America,[28] and #9 by Collegiate Baseball.[29]

Big 12 coaches predicted TCU would finish second in league play, with 4 of the 9 coaches picking TCU to finish in first place.[30]

Personnel

Coaching Staff

TCU will return its entire coaching staff from the Frogs' 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 College World Series seasons. Pitching coach Kirk Saarloos, a California native, was reportedly courted by Stanford to replace 31-season head coach Mark Marquess, but Saarloos opted to remain at TCU.

NamePositionSeason at TCUAlma Mater
Jim SchlossnagleHead Coach15Elon University (1992)
Bill MosielloAssociate Head Coach5Fresno State University (1986)
Kirk SaarloosAssistant Coach6California State University, Fullerton (2001)
Zach EtheredgeVolunteer Assistant Coach5University of Texas at San Antonio (2008)

Roster

The Horned Frogs' 2018 roster consists of 17 returners and 15 new players. Nearly half of the roster (15 of 32 players) are from outside the State of Texas. Sophomore catcher Zach Humphreys and freshman pitcher Russell Smith were high school teammates at Midlothian High School, and sophomore pitcher Cal Coughlin and freshman outfielder Brad Czerniejewski were high school teammates at Lake Forest High School in Illinois. Junior catcher Colton Parrish and junior outfielder Johnny Rizer were teammates at Blinn College before transferring to TCU prior to the 2018 season.

2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameBats/ThrowsHeightWeightYearHigh School/Junior CollegeHome town
1 INF Coby Boulware R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Boulder Creek H.S. Anthem, AZ
3 INF Tristan Hanoian L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Orange Lutheran H.S. Costa Mesa, CA
4 OF Johnny Rizer L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Blinn College Cypress, TX
5 INF Adam Ovideo R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Alvarado H.S. Grandview, TX
7 OF Josh Watson S/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Martin H.S. Arlington, TX
8 INF Danny Crews L/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Fort Scott C.C. Springfield, MO
9 INF Conner Shepherd L/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS So Mt. San Antonio College Upland, CA
10 C Zach Humphreys R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Midlothian H.S. DeSoto, TX
11 OF R.J. Lan R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr La Mirada H.S. La Mirada, CA
12 LHP Nick Lodolo L/L 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Damien H.S. LaVerne, CA
13 INF Michael Landestoy R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Sr Saint George School Santo Domingo, D.R.
15 RHP Durbin Feltman R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Oak Ridge, H.S. Conroe, TX
16 INF Connor Wanhanen L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Flower Mound H.S. Flower Mound, TX
17 C Colton Parrish L/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Blinn College La Vernia, TX
19 INF Luken Baker R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Jr Oak Ridge, H.S. Spring, TX
20 INF Cal Coughlin S/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Lake Forest H.S. Lake Forest, IL
21 RHP Charles King R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Coppell H.S. Coppell, TX
23 LHP Haylen Green L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Lufkin H.S. Lufkin, TX
24 RHP Jake Eissler R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Thunder Ridge H.S. Littleton, CO
25 OF Brad Czerniejewski R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Lake Forest H.S. Lake Forest, IL
26 RHP Sean Wymer R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Flower Mound H.S. Flower Mound, TX
29 LHP Augie Mihlbauer L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Mukwonago H.S. Mukwonago, WI
31 RHP Dalton Brown R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 204 lb (93 kg) Jr Arlington Heights H.S. Benbrook, TX
32 RHP James Notary R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Broomfield H.S. Westminster, CO
33 LHP Russell Smith L/L 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Fr Midlothian H.S. Midlothian, TX
34 RHP Trey Morris R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) So Taylor H.S. Katy, TX
35 OF A.J. Balta L/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Oregon Valencia, CA
37 RHP Austin Boyles R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) RS So Klein Collins H.S. Spring, TX
40 RHP Dylan Smith R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Weatherford College Southlake, TX
41 RHP Jared Janczak R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Jr Belton H.S. Belton, TX
43 LHP Dion Henderson L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Fr Oak Park H.S. Detroit, MI
44 RHP Caleb Sloan R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Regis Jesuit H.S. Centennial, CO
Head coach

Jim Schlossnagle

Assistant coach(es)

Bill Mosiello
Kirk Saarloos
Zach Etheredge

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: February 8, 2018

Schedule & Results
2018 TCU Horned Frogs Baseball Schedule & Results
Legend:        = Win        = Loss      Bold = TCU team member
Regular Season
February
Date Time (CT) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Big 12 Sources
February 167:00 pmESPN3at Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZW
3–2		Coughlin
{1–0)		Vorhof
(0–1)		Feltman
(1)		3,4791–0–Stats
Story
February 173:00 pmat Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZW
14–6		Lodolo
(1–0)		Lundin
(0–1)		–2,0122–0–Stats
Story
February 182:00 pmat Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZL
8–912		Smith
(1–0)		King
(0–1)		–1,9342–1–Stats
Story
February 242:00 pmLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXL
2–3		Baayoun (2–0)Janczak
(0–1)		Rivera
(2)		4,1202–2–Stats
Story
February 245:30 pmLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
8–3		Lodolo
(2–0)		Castro
(0–1)		Notary
(1)		4,0053–2–Stats
Story
February 251:00 pmFSSWLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
5–2		Green
(1–0)		Andrews
(0–2)		Feltman
(2)		4,3434–2–Stats
Story
March
Date Time (CT) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Big 12 Sources
March 16:30 pmTexas–Arlington*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
14–17		Smith
(1–0)		Moffat
(0–2)		–4,0135–2–Stats
Story
March 26:30 pmUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
4–3		Eissler
(1–0)		Bocko
(0–1)		–4,6396–2–Stats
Story
March 32:00 pmUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
6–2		Lodolo
(3–0)		Raymond
(1–1)		–4,7367–2–Stats
Story
March 41:00 pmFSSWUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXL
2–15		Denholm
(1–1)		Smith
(1–1)		–4,0637–3–Stats
Story
March 66:30 pmTexas–Rio Grande Valley*#14Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW
7–2		Eissler
(2–0)		Carreon
(0–1)		–4,0218–3–Stats
Story
March 98:00 pmat USC*#14Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CAW
10–1		Janczak
(1–1)		Clarke
(1–3)		–1,1059–3–Stats
Story
March 1112:30 pmvs #10 Vanderbilt*#14Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL
4–7		9–4–
March 136:30 pmat Rice*Reckling Park • Houston, TX–
March 166:30 pmMinnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 175:00 pmMinnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 1812:30 pmFSSW+Minnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 206:30 pmArkansas–Pine Bluff*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 236:30 pmKansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 242:00 pmFSSWKansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 251:00 pmFSSW+Kansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 276:30 pmDallas Baptist*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 308:00 pmESPNUat Oklahoma StateAllie P. Reynolds Stadium • Stillwater, OK
March 316:00 pmESPNUat Oklahoma StateAllie P. Reynolds Stadium • Stillwater, OK
Postseason

"#" represents ranking. All rankings from Collegiate Baseball on the date of the contest.
"()" represents postseason seeding in the Big 12 Tournament or NCAA Regional, respectively.

Rankings
See also: 2018 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Final 
Coaches'[31] 4 4* 4* 12  
Baseball America[32] 7 7 7 7  
Collegiate Baseball^[33] 9 9 12 14  
NCBWA†[34] 5 7 7 7  
D1Baseball

^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
 † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
 * New poll was not released for this week so for comparison purposes the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

See also

References
  1. "2020 Big 12 Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. pp. 4–8. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  2. "TCU Announces 2018 Baseball Schedule". TCU Athletics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. "TCU Is Baseball's Consensus No. 1". TCU Athletics. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  4. "TCU Tops Big 12 Preseason Poll". TCU Athletics. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. "TCU Clinches Title Share With Wild Win". TCU Athletics. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. "Cal Avoids Sweep With Saturday Win". TCU Athletics. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. "TCU's Tournament Run Ends Saturday". TCU Athletics. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  8. "Postseason Play Starts Friday Night at Lupton". TCU Athletics. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  9. Mendez, Carlos (29 May 2017). "TCU's Baker undergoes surgery, won't return for NCAA postseason". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  10. "TCU Opens Tourney With Win". TCU Athletics. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  11. "Janczak Leads TCU To Regional Final". TCU Athletics. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  12. "TCU Is Super Once Again". TCU Athletics. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  13. "Skoug Powers TCU To Game 1 Win". TCU Athletics. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  14. "FOUR-PEAT! TCU Heads Back To Omaha". TCU Athletics. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  15. "www.gofrogs.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/061117aaa.html". TCU Athletics. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  16. "TCU Stays Alive; Tops Texas A&M 4-1". TCU Athletics. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  17. "Wymer, TCU Shine In 4-3 Victory". TCU Athletics. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  18. Mendez, Carlos (20 June 2017). "TCU, A&M had to play again, and the same team had to go home again". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  19. "TCU Forces Decisive Game With Win". TCU Athletics. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  20. "TCU CWS Run Comes Up Short". TCU Athletics. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  21. Lebreton, Gil (25 June 2017). "TCU knows the feeling of another Omaha disappointment". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  22. "Trio Of Frogs Drafted On Day 2". TCU Athletics. June 13, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  23. "Three Frogs Drafted On Final Day". TCU Athletics. June 14, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  24. "2018 Preseason College Top 25". Perfect Game. January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  25. "Baseball Coaches Poll". USA Today. January 25, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  26. "Florida Tops 2018 Preseason NCBWA Poll". National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  27. "2018 D1Baseball Preseason Top 25". D1 Baseball. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  28. Cahill, Teddy (January 23, 2018). "Preseason College Baseball Rankings top 25 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  29. "Collegiate Baseball Div. I Poll 12-19-18". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. December 19, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  30. "Texas Tech Tops Preseason Poll for First Time since 1999". Big 12 Conference. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  31. Baseball Coaches Poll
  32. Baseball America College: Top 25
  33. NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls-Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
  34. NCBWA Division I poll
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