Texas Tech Baseball Begins Fall Team Practices
September 19, 2014 | Baseball
Tadlock and the Red Raiders opened their fall season today at Rip Griffin Park.
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball team opened its fall season on Friday with its first team practice of the 2014-15 school year at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Tim Tadlock returns for his third season as head coach a year after leading the Red Raiders to the College World Series while being named National Coach of the Year. The Red Raiders return 22 players off last season's team.
Tech brings back its entire starting infield as junior first baseman Eric Gutierrez (.302, 12 HR, 58 RBI), senior second baseman Bryant Burleson (.272, 21 2B, 37 RBI), senior shortstop Tim Proudfoot (.309, 19 RBI, .990 FLD%) and sophomore third baseman Ryan Long (.212, 22 RBI) all return for the 2015 season.
The Red Raiders also welcome back two of their starting outfielders from a year ago, including Freshman All-American Stephen Smith (.287, 20 RBI, 37 BB) and Tyler Neslony (.375, 4 HR, 34 RBI), who led the Big 12 in batting.
Tech welcomes back 13 of its 16 pitchers from 2014, including Freshman All-American Dylan Dusek (8-0, 1.94 ERA), senior left-handed pitcher Cameron Smith (8-3, 2.7 ERA), senior right-handed pitcher Dominic Moreno (4-5, 3.14 ERA), senior right-handed pitcher Corey Taylor (5-3, 2.61 ERA) and sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Moseley (1-2, 2.84 ERA) to name a few. Overall, Tech returns eight pitchers that started games last season.
In addition, for the first time in school history the Red Raiders had two players selected in the Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft that decided to return to campus for the following season. Proudfoot was a 21st round pick by the Oakland Athletics and Moreno was selected in the 33rd round of the draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Red Raiders had three newcomers selected in the MLB Draft that made it to campus, including Toronto Blue Jays 17th round pick right-handed pitcher Quinn Carpenter (Iowa Western CC), Los Angeles Angels 32nd round pick catcher Kholeton Sanchez and Detroit Tigers 37th round pick right-handed pitcher/outfielder Patrick Mahomes - who is currently playing football with the Red Raider football team.
Tech's fall season will conclude with the annual Red & Black Series. More information on the Red & Black Series will follow at a later date.
