What To Expect From Aggies Baseball In 2024

Here's where Texas A&M stacks up heading into 2024 after failing to make the super regionals

Jim Schlossnagle is all about looking toward the future. That future could entail a College World Series title heading back to College Station. It also will be with a variety of new faces potentially joining the mix.

Texas A&M baseball hit a wall midseason that eventually factored into their route to postseason play. Inept starting pitching, lack of quality at-bats and the inability to hit with runners in scoring position late played a role in series losses to LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Sure, A&M rebounded in the SEC Tournament to become the first double-digit seed to make it to the conference title game. And yes, the Aggies outlasted programs like Auburn, Arkansas and SEC champion Vanderbilt as the last team out in the regional round. Still, after starting the preseason ranked No. 5, the inability to create Olsen Magic for a shot at Omaha likely leaves fans questioning the program's future.

The Aggies hit a crossroads entering Year 3 under Schlossnagle. The young talent has prospered and should continue to build at the plate and on the mound. Veteran prospects could head back to College Station for their senior season or potentially leave via the MLB draft next month. Schlossnagle's biggest concern is adding the right players via the transfer portal to pair with a hopefully promising first-year class.

Here's everything you need to know about the Aggies entering the offseason.

Who Won't Be Back In 2024

Five players have played their final game at Blue Bell Park and in college altogether due to eligibility. Second baseman and captain Austin Bost, outfielder Jordan Thompson, outfielder Brett Minnich, right-hander Carson Lambert and left-hander Matthew Dillard will all have to continue their playing careers at the professional level or begin the next chapter of their lives outside the sport.

Bost, who took over for Troy Claunch at this season's 12th Man, took a step back in production, but a step forward in leadership. In 65 games, No. 12 posted a .226/.353/.372 slash line with five homers and 43 RBIs. Minnich, who suffered a broken thumb in the season-opening win against Seattle University, was limited to 38 games but still finished with career highs in home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.519).

Thompson made headlines during the Aggies' run to Omaha with two homers in the regional and super regionals. He took over midway last spring as the starting center fielder and boosted his stock with career numbers at the plate. Thompson also posted at least a .971 fielding percentage during his stay at Blue Bell Park.

Lambert and Dillard were one-year rentals, joining the Aggies as graduate transfers from USC and Sam Houston, respectively. Lambert struggled with command, posting a 7.84 ERA in 20.2 innings while allowing six home runs.

Dillard's record (1-3) likely doesn't justify his impact. In 29.1 innings of work, the Southpaw struck out 31 batters and allowed 35 hits. He finished with a 5.22 ERA and allowed 17 total runs. 

Who Will Be Back In 2024

Naturally, a handful of names that barely saw action could enter the portal, but 12th Man fans are likely focused on players who shined as freshmen. For now, it's hard imagining outfielder Jace LaViolette, catcher Max Kaufer and pitchers Shane Sdao, Justin Lamkin and Troy Wansing not being staples for the 2024 season. 

Few players in the country made a bigger impact than LaViolette. Replacing home run leader Dylan Rock in left field, the 6-6 freshman from Katy took over in more ways than one, leading the Aggies in home runs (21), RBIs (63) and stolen bases (18) while posting a slash line of 287/.414/.632. 

Kaufer isn't guaranteed to start behind the backstop, but his defensive metrics won him the job for most of the regular season. He came up clutch with the bat during A&M's run through the Stanford Regional, totaling three RBIs in the series win over Cal State Fullerton and four total hits. He finished with a .183 batting average but also drew 27 walks. 

Wansing and Lampkin are the hopeful 1-2 combo of the future. The two had their ups and downs throughout the regular season but gave fans something to talk about during their stay in Hoover, Ala., with one-hit outings. 

Both pitchers are left-handers, meaning Schlossnalge must add a righty to the rotation at some point. Still, Wansing delivers a three-pitch combo that when at its peak is impressive. Lampkin still is coming into his own with a talented fastball that should add more velocity this offseason. 

Sdao (4-1) was arguably A&M's best reliever, finishing with a 4.78 ERA while striking out 46. He impressed during the postseason, allowing five earned runs in four appearances. 

Kaeden Kent and Kasen Wells both should expand their roles in 2024 with the departures of Thompson and Bost. The duo were highly-touted members of the 2023 recruiting class and got a taste of the action early in the season, combing for 38 hits and 29 RBIs. 

Who Is On The Fence Of Returning? 

Where a player hears their name called likely determines their future at Olsen Field. The Aggies have plenty of faces who could pro depending on draft location, including first baseman Jack Moss, shortstop Hunter Haas, right-handed starter Nathan Dettmer and left-handed reliever Will Johnston. 

Moss has been the Aggies' most consistent hitter since arriving from Arizona State, posting back-to-back years of 90-plus hits. He doesn't hit for power, however, totaling just 10 home runs in two years. Teams may be hesitant to add him early due to the lack of pop, even though his .368 batting average marks a team-high. 

Ryan Targac and Trevor Werner are wild cards. They had productive campaigns, but scouts could want to see a bit more discipline at the plate. Targac, who does a bit over everything, finished with a .224/.370/.429 slash line while totaling a career-high 43 walks. Werner finished with a .252/.349/.514 line and tallied a career-best 14 HRs and 52 RBIs. 

Haas is the name that could garner the most attention. One year after transferring over from Arizona State, the 6-2 infielder totaled 10 homers, 46 RBIs and 49 walks while recording a .974 fielding percentage. He also finished third on the roster with a .323 batting average. 

Pitching always matters in the pros, so Dettmer could get the call after delivering six quality innings against the Cardinal. He's recorded the most starts (48) among A&M pitchers since 2021 and features a four-pitch arsenal. While his 1-4 record was less than stellar, Dettmer has proven he can handle the pressure in tight situations, picking up wins over Louisiana and Louisville in the regionals and Notre Dame in the CWS. 

Who Are The New Faces?

Expect more to come, but A&M has so far added in four new prospects via the transfer portal in Columbia outfielder Hayden Schott, Pennsylvania catcher Jackson Appel, Cal State Northridge shortstop Ali Camarillo and Temple College infielder Cade Climie.

On paper, Schott should be Minnich's replacement in right. He spent the previous two years playing the corner outfield spot for the Lions and was named to a pair of All Ivy-League teams. Last season, Schott finished with a .333/.410/.618 line and totaled 11 home runs on 62 hits. 

Appel could fight for starting reps with Kaufer after a productive 2023 season. He posted a .300 batting average and finished with 41 RBIs. He also posted a .983 fielding line and was credited with just seven errors. 

Camarillo and Cline are likely roleplayers until a spot opens up for them. Camarillo finished with a .371 batting average, second-highest among players in the Big West. He also totaled seven homers and finished top-five in OPS (1.032). Cline smacked eight homers, 40 RBIs and drew 20 walks across 40 games at the junior college level and should serve as a backup to both Werner and Moss at the corner. 

In recruiting, A&M is expecting big things from infielder Tyler White and outfielder Gavin Grahovac. Grahovac, one of the top outfield prospects in the MLB draft, could forgo his college career if selected high enough next month. 

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