(08-06-2026 05:53 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  Welcome to South Main, RHP Grant Nicholson!

Transfer from Wake Forest. 6’5 build, 92-94 with a sweeper. Dominating the PGCBL this summer.

Last year by my metrics we won the Blaine Brown and Adidas for Sharp, Wiggens, and Nike trade. Time will tell if the Cole Green for Grant Nichalson trade pans out the same way. I am optimistic as we gave up a position player for pitching once again.

(08-04-2026 11:24 PM)WacoOwl Wrote:  https://x.com/jacksnakenberg/status/2084...36741?s=46 2027 LHP from Argyle,TX.

This guy is intriguing. He played for the Dallas Tigers National team, which is an elite travel team. Most of his outings on the mound were high strikeouts and very low hits given up. He's played in some of the top Perfect Game tournaments and done well. Mid 80's velocity, touching 87... which should hopefully put him in the low 90's by the time he's on campus. He must have some deception because his K-rate is quite good and his strikeouts appear to mostly be off swing-and-miss fastballs. 6' tall but husky (210lbs). Will follow with interest.

(06-30-2026 04:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We ALWAYS need more pitching. Even The OG acknowledged that you never have enough pitching.

+100

Rivers Kurland with 2.1IP scoreless with 4K in the Cape Championship Series. Dog.

So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

ECU was pretty clearly the best last season, but the staff was solid. The defense deserves some credit as well. The K’s and BB’s suggest the staff got a lot of help. Pierce did an excellent job of managing the bullpen on top of that.

More important than any of the transfers is getting Sullivan Brackin back who should be ready to return from TJ. He was slated to be our best reliever by a long shot last year. Far and away the best arm we had in the fall.

Hitters dominating summer ball is much more predictive of success than pitchers. Nicholson will need to throw more strikes to have the level of success he’s having in summer ball translate. Wood bats reduce contact quality which makes walks hurt a lot less. You can walk the house if you strike guys out, since no one is going to hit balls over the fence and punish you. The stuff looks comfortably above AAC average though, so he won’t need to be Greg Maddux. Definitely an exciting add who should see the mound.

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

Heard our starting catcher will be via portal.

This staff + pen has to be better than Bragga's first year. Pretty sure that staff had a 6 ERA and awful BB/9 ratio.

There is a juco transfer catcher coming in who was a late SEC decommit. I suspect the staff is expecting him to win the starting role.

(08-10-2026 03:20 PM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

Heard our starting catcher will be via portal.

This staff + pen has to be better than Bragga's first year. Pretty sure that staff had a 6 ERA and awful BB/9 ratio.

2019: Canterino, Kravitz and Parthasarathy was the best weekend rotation we've had in quite some time, and Bordwine (before getting injured) was solid as our midweek starter.. Bullpen was thin, but Jeffries had his best season and Gayle was our closer. 4.62 team ERA, 2:1 K:BB ratio and almost exactly 1 K per IP.

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

C will be one of Minyard (RHH freshman) or Mitchell (LHH Juco transfer, who someone mentioned above as an SEC decommit).

West will get a chance to play C or 1B as well. His offensive upside is probably higher than Boehm’s at 1B or any of the C options given he already has a great offensive season at the D1 level. He’d be a huge help if he can get back to 2024 levels.

KGW probably has the inside track at SS. Played more than Boca last year and had a great summer.

3B should be a competition between Creek (RHH JUCO transfer), Zito, Bocachica, and the freshman Harrison. I’d think Chilcutt gets a chance to win it too.

The OF is way more competitive than you implied. Robson is probably the only one with a job locked down. The transfers Gingrich and Ladusau will definitely see the field. Ladusau especially since he’d have been one of our better hitters last season and is a RHH. Gingrich looks a lot of like Robson 2.0. Daigre will get a chance as well, good summer and a good 2025 in a small sample. And Judson Dowell, RHH freshmen OF, appears to be the best hitter we’ve gotten on campus as a freshmen in recent memory.

I’d say the only jobs I feel certain about are Smith at one of 1B/DH, Davis at 2B (maybe SS?) and Robson in one of the OF spots. Will be an exciting fall and preseason since it’s the deepest position group in years. Scrimmages will actually be interesting since both teams will have solid players at all times.

Really optimistic for this season. Talked to a high MLB scout about Rice baseball. He said Wiggins, Sharp, Robson and Davis all had plenty of interest in this years draft and that some or all of them likely had options to be drafted (I'm guessing low rounds) if they really wanted to go. Good to know that we have them each for 2 more years but I suspect if any of those guys put up a strong season they will be gone next summer.

We were a really young team the last 2 seasons and it will be nice to finally have a solid core of older players to provide leadership. Pitching will still be the strength of the team and I'm glad to see some more lefties coming in. If Boca emerges from his unexplained funk, kGW makes solid improvements, Zito gets healthy and finds his timing and we find a catcher with power, I think hitting can make a tremendous jump. Also I believe Davilia can become a strong power hitter. He barrels the ball well and has power. he just needs to work on his launch angle. Maybe one of the new OFs coming in also emerges as a power hitter. Oh and don't forget Smith. No clue if the incoming freshman are any good. Only issue I see is losing Cole Green and not finding a replacement (but there is still time). I guess Zito is the replacement for Green but it would be nice to bring in 1 more.

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

By Rodriguez, did you mean Roberto Fernandez? Expected better from you than to group the Latinx players together and interchange their last names. We as a fan base need to be better if we want to recruit these players and make Rice’s campus feel like home. Unless of course Mauricio Rodriguez is making his long awaited return to South Main and you are first on the scoop, in which case I retract my qualms.

(08-10-2026 04:19 PM)SmurfGlazer Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

C will be one of Minyard (RHH freshman) or Mitchell (LHH Juco transfer, who someone mentioned above as an SEC decommit).

West will get a chance to play C or 1B as well. His offensive upside is probably higher than Boehm’s at 1B or any of the C options given he already has a great offensive season at the D1 level. He’d be a huge help if he can get back to 2024 levels.

KGW probably has the inside track at SS. Played more than Boca last year and had a great summer.

3B should be a competition between Creek (RHH JUCO transfer), Zito, Bocachica, and the freshman Harrison. I’d think Chilcutt gets a chance to win it too.

The OF is way more competitive than you implied. Robson is probably the only one with a job locked down. The transfers Gingrich and Ladusau will definitely see the field. Ladusau especially since he’d have been one of our better hitters last season and is a RHH. Gingrich looks a lot of like Robson 2.0. Daigre will get a chance as well, good summer and a good 2025 in a small sample. And Judson Dowell, RHH freshmen OF, appears to be the best hitter we’ve gotten on campus as a freshmen in recent memory.

I’d say the only jobs I feel certain about are Smith at one of 1B/DH, Davis at 2B (maybe SS?) and Robson in one of the OF spots. Will be an exciting fall and preseason since it’s the deepest position group in years. Scrimmages will actually be interesting since both teams will have solid players at all times.

I've given up on Boca. Had a cute start to career in Puerto Rico but hasn't done anything for me since. Let's just move on.

Boca is a talented player that played hurt most of last year (as did Zito). Before we "give up" on any player (especially ones who have started for us in the past and who have plenty of talent), let's see what they can do when really healthy and ready to perform.

Boca will be a factor this year

(08-12-2026 01:48 PM)OwlLifer1969 Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 02:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-10-2026 09:40 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  So we’re returning all of our pitching (which was already top 3 in AAC if not top 1), and we added plus arms from UF and Wake? Why wouldn’t we be the consensus #1 staff in AAC in 2027?

And I don’t really wanna hear anyone saying we shouldn’t jinx it. Let’s be realistic. Our staff is deeper than it’s been since pre 2015.

Yeah, several guys who didn't contribute much last year are having excellent Summers. Aside from all our frontline pitchers returning, we get Bracken, Eppley and Rodriguez back, all of whom missed the entire season with injury. If these guys return fully healthy and regain their old form, we could have the best staff in years-- at least since Bragga's first year. A bullpen of Thames, Eppley, Bracken and Sharp could be elite level. And Rodriguez gives us a qaulity fourth starter, IF healthy.

On offense, I'm assuming Zito (who's having a great Summer) effectively replaces Green. Smith stays at DH. I assume the infield stays pretty much intact with Zito (3B), Webb/Boca (SS), Davis (2B), Boehm (1B). Daigre is LF, Robson in RF and a Davilla/??? platoon in CF? Catcher is the one huge question mark as I don't see Pierce suddenly getting comfortable with West behind the dish.

By Rodriguez, did you mean Roberto Fernandez? Expected better from you than to group the Latinx players together and interchange their last names. We as a fan base need to be better if we want to recruit these players and make Rice’s campus feel like home. Unless of course Mauricio Rodriguez is making his long awaited return to South Main and you are first on the scoop, in which case I retract my qualms.

Yes, I meant Fernandez. And stop with the attempt accusing me of bigotry.

(08-12-2026 03:28 PM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  Boca is a talented player that played hurt most of last year (as did Zito). Before we "give up" on any player (especially ones who have started for us in the past and who have plenty of talent), let's see what they can do when really healthy and ready to perform.

Boca will be a factor this year

Boca actually got hot the last month of the season. IMO, he's a better defensive SS than KGW, who I would move to 3B and play Zito in OF (or have to two platoon at 3B).

Nothing like a turnaround, winning season to take recruiting to the next level. Van Hook has posted multiple new recruits over the past several days. And according to Dustin McComas, Senior Scouting Director for 5 Tools Baseball, 3 of them are very highly regarded 2028 prospects, including one of the best all-around catchers in Texas, from Katy.

Owls sign another Strake Jesuit kid, Noah Franshaw, a fleet left-handed hitting outfielder https://x.com/noahfran2028/status/211407...eJwKJ3aZbw

Vince Sinisi's son just committed to Rice...

https://x.com/DustinLMcComas/status/2118100448225964534

Our 2027 - '28 recruiting classes have gotten noticed. Baseball America ranked it as one of the top 5 "under the radar" recruiting classes.