2007 Aggie Baseball Position by Position Preview

Pitchers Preview

I am going to break the pitching preview down into three parts, returning pitchers, transfer pitchers and freshman pitchers. The roles of several players could change in the preseason and non-conference play so it is too early to try and predict everyone's role for the whole season.  With Coach Childress ability to develop pitchers, the Aggie pitching staff will continue to be a source strength on the team.

Freshman Pitchers Preview (1-20-07)

31 Kevin Cravey R-R 6'-1", 175, Fr-HS Spring, TX (Klein Oak)
13 Clayton Ehlert (OF) R-R 6'-1", 190, Fr-HS Orange, TX (Little Cypress-Mauriceville)
49 Jason Fuqua L-L 6'-3", 180, Fr-HS Baytown, TX (Sterling)
8 Michael Heard (OF) L-L 5'-10", 170, Fr-HS Montgomery, TX (Montgomery)
34 Scott Migl R-R 6'-4", 185, Fr-HS Houston, TX (St. Pius)
16 Shane Minks R-R 6'-3", 200, Fr-HS West Columbia, TX (Columbia)
53 Mitch Nelson L-L 6'-2", 175, Fr-HS Magnolia, TX (Tomball)

Kevin Cravey split time between the infield and the pitching mound in high school but he will focus on the mound at Texas A&M. Austin Creps made the same transition when he arrived from Klein Oak High and Cravey reminds me of the former Aggie star. Cravey has a bulldog mentality and that fearlessness, along with his pitching skill, will earn him innings this season.

"Kevin has a quick, athletic arm and has not shown signs of being intimidated. Kevin is a guy that goes about his business and works hard. We are going to try to put him into situations to succeed early in the year and go from there." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Clayton Ehlert is a very talented outfielder in addition to being a top-pitching prospect. That flexibility will help him as he goes forward in his Aggie career. With a limited roster in conference and post-season play, players that can play multiple positions are a bonus. He should try and emulate Rivers as his career continues.

"Clayton had his ups and downs in the fall. He can play in the outfield or he could see some time on the mound. He has a good arm with an outstanding change and will have a chance to contribute." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Jason Fuqua was a hard luck pitcher in high school or he would have entered college with much more fanfare. He pitched in a very tough district, including 2005 Class 5A state champion Kingwood, and struck out 102 batters. He was drafted in the 39th round by the Colorado Rockies. He certainly fits the profile as a tall left-handed pitcher prospect that throws downhill with velocity.

"Jason is a good young left-handed pitcher that has a chance to play a role for us. He needs to add strength and be put in pressure situations so we can see how he responds. The better he responds, the more opportunities he will get." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Michael Heard is the left-handed version of Ehlert and will be another player that can provide depth on the mound or in the field. He is a tough-minded pitcher who was a four-year player for his father, former Aggie player Clint Heard, at Montgomery High. He played in one of the toughest districts in the state and won playoff games at Kyle Field to advance to the state finals at Round Rock.

"Michael can play both in the outfield and on the mound. He had some ups and downs in the fall, but at the same time he put up good numbers on the mound and got outs. He is making strides as far as getting stronger and making adjustments." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Scott Migl has a bright future in front of him. Dominating the private school ranks, he made a quick adjustment to college ball and continues to improve. He works around the plate and pitched nearly all of last season allowing less than 10 walks. He is another tall pitcher and has a classic motion. As Migl matures, he could throw even harder.

"Scott is a very projectable, strike-thrower who will get a lot of opportunities this spring. He throws four pitches for strikes and he will learn how to compete at this level. His potential is unlimited and he will be important to our program." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Shane Minks was the only prospect on his high school team and is another player that would have had a much higher profile if he had pitched at one of the tradition rich programs. He might be the hardest throwing freshman in the class and he is a fierce competitor. Minks was a quarterback in high school and will benefit from concentrating solely on baseball at the college level.

"Shane is a hard-nosed competitive pitcher that will get a lot of innings for us. I can see him filling any role, short or long relief, and maybe starting. He is not intimidated and brings a great mentality to the baseball field." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Mitch Nelson was the one of the top left handed pitchers in the Greater Houston area after his junior season. He suffered an arm injury before his senior year and rehabbed in hopes of helping his Tomball team win a state championship. He pitched at less than 100% in the playoffs to help his team. After arriving in Aggieland the decision was made for Nelson to undergo surgery and will redshirt this season.

"Mitch had to have surgery and we are disappointed he will not pitch this year. He is a strike-thrower and works really hard considering he cannot pick up a baseball. It is going to be exciting to see him compete and contribute next year." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: With talented upperclassmen on the roster it looks like it might be hard for a freshman to contribute on the mound but Rob Childress will find the best pitchers and play them regardless of class. That will keep this group hungry and they have the talent to pitch early for the Aggies. Up to three freshmen will be on the Big 12 travel roster this season.

Transfer Pitchers Preview (1-19-07)

24 Gary Campfield             R-R 6'-2", 200, Jr-Tr Kerrville, TX (Tivy/Navarro JC)
33 Zane Lynch                    R-R 6'-1", 180, Jr-Tr Tyler, TX (Lee/Texarkana JC)
52 Kiel Renfro                    R-R 5'-11", 250, So-Tr Ennis, TX (High/Texarkana JC)

Gary Campfield was one of four starters from Navarro to earn all-conference honors last season. He has tremendous velocity and when Coach Childress changed his delivery, his pitches became even tougher to hit. He was a high school teammate of former Aggie closer Kevin Whelan and like Whelan, he didn't pitch in high school.

"Gary has a power arm and we changed him to a side-arm delivery toward the end of the fall. He will give us a different look out of the bullpen. In addition, now he has movement and sink." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Zane Lynch is not a hard thrower and will never average more than a strikeout an inning but he will throw strikes and ground balls and let his defense make plays behind him. He only walked 13 batters in nearly 70 innings last year. He was a starter at Texarkana but he may have to work from the bullpen to be a major contributor to the team.

"Zane is a strike-thrower from a three-quarter arm slot. He experienced a little dead arm in the fall and had some ups and downs. We expect him to get his arm strength back and make contributions in the spring." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Kiel Renfro missed last season with and arm injury but two years ago he was as tough as any player in the Texas JUCO ranks. He is working his way back into shape but he showed during the Fall World Series that he is a talented as any pitcher on the staff. Renfro has the flexibility to work as a starter or out of the bullpen and as a sophomore transfer with three years of eligibility remaining, he is a big part of the program.

"Kiel has a great feel for pitching. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but still has great feel and pitchability. He is a guy who will see a lot of innings this spring. Whether it is out of the pen or starting. He will not back down from either situation." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: Three talented pitchers that played at the highest level and had tremendous success in the Texas JUCO ranks. Add in Kirkland Rivers into the transfer pitcher mix and these players will have the ball in their hands all season long.

Returning Pitchers Preview (1-18-07)

22 Jordan Chambless                R-R 6'-2", 210, Jr-2L Corpus Christi, TX (Calallen)
37 Evan Gerald                            R-R 6'-3", 200, So-1L Amarillo, TX (Tascosa)
11 Jason Meyer                           L-L 5'-10", 180, Sr-3L Abilene, TX (Cooper)
50 David Newmann                      L-L 6'-2", 205, Jr-RS Houston, TX (Clear Creek/San Jacinto JC)
18 Kyle Nicholson                       R-R 5'-11", 210, Sr-3L College Station, TX (A&M Consolidated)
20 Blake Rampy                          R-R 6'-2", 180, Jr-2L Tomball, TX (Tomball)
41 Travis Starling                      R-R 5'-10", 175, Fr-RS Yoakum, TX (Yoakum)
38 Kyle Thebeau                         R-R 6'-0", 195, So-1L Corpus Christi, TX (Carroll)
39 Matt Ueckert                          L-L 6'-5", 240, Sr-1L Houston, TX (Bellaire/Rice)

Jordan Chambless has always split time between football and baseball and while that worked at the high school level, missing practice in the fall and spring was hindering his development at Texas A&M. Injuries suffered on the football field also held him back but since deciding to concentrate only on baseball he has stayed healthy and is primed for a big season this year. If he establishes a third pitch he could start but he could solve the Aggies search for a closer if he stays in the bullpen.

"Jordan has one of the best breaking balls in the Big 12 Conference, if not the best. For the first time, he spent the fall with us and was able to work on his secondary pitches. I expect him to be a big part of our pitching staff this season and he can be a starter, long reliever, or short reliever." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Evan Gerald had his delivery changed by Rob Childress before the season last year and it paid dividends almost immediately. His new pitching slot takes the ball away from right-handed hitters and has made him a valuable arm out of the bullpen. He had a good summer in the Texas Collegiate League and could see more action this season.

"Evan has developed nicely and will have a chance to eat up innings for us this year out of the bullpen. He has good sink on his fastball with his sidearm delivery and is very good at getting groundballs." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Jason Meyer could have graduated and tried his hand at professional baseball after last year but he was recruited by the Aggie coaches to stay pitch another season at Texas A&M. The coaches told him of the offensive players being brought into the program and that convinced Meyer he would get the offensive support that was lacking the past two years. In 2005, after starting 5-1, he went 0-4 with 2 no decisions, despite only allowing eight earned runs. In 2006, after moving back into the starting rotation, he went 3-4 with two no decisions. In the games he did not win he allowed only 10 earned runs. Just average college run support would have six or seven more wins the last two years for Meyer.

"Jason is one of the premier pitchers in the Big 12 Conference because of his fierce competitiveness and ability to keep hitters off balance. He can throw all of his pitches in any count and he will be an instrumental leader for our ballclub this season." --Head Coach Rob Childress

David Newmann missed last year after "Tommy John" surgery but he is poised for a break out year in 2007. He pitched a simulated game at the end of the year last season, and after throwing comfortably in the nineties, he was drafted in the 24th round without after missing the complete season. He filled the stands behind home plate with pro scouts this fall and should be a top line weekend pitcher this year. He is "Zach Jackson" type talent and will go high in the draft.

"We are really excited about David being healthy this season. He will make an immediate impact this year and will have a chance to be in the weekend rotation. His stuff is overpowering from the left side and if he throws strikes, he can be dominating." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Kyle Nicholson is a bulldog on the mound and is ready for a great senior year. He started last season in the weekend rotation and also pitched in relief. He allowed only 10 earned runs in his last four starts and went 1-1 with two no decisions in those games. Coach Childress had confidence in him that Nicholson will throw strikes so he could have a similar role this year. He is one of the best defensive players on the mound and he fields his position very well.

"Kyle works fast and throws strikes. He will challenge hitters in any count and has confidence to use all of his pitches in any count. He is a competitor and an invaluable leader to this team because he has been through the battles of a Big 12 schedule." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Blake Rampy missed last season with an arm injury and is trying to work his way back. He did not have the velocity that he previously displayed when I saw him in the fall so he may not contribute right away this spring. Rampy's slider was his out pitch before surgery but he set that up with a solid fastball but to many of his pitches were left in the strike zone during fall scrimmages.

"Blake is healthy again and is showing signs of being the quality pitcher he was prior to his injuries. He will be a valuable addition to our pitching staff this year and will have a chance to be one of our main guys out of the bullpen." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Travis Starling redshirted last season after a standout high school career and when given the chance to pitch in the Texas Collegiate League, he earned all-star recognition. Starling gives right-handers fits with a tough slider that breaks away from them. That sets up a solid fastball that he throws under the hands. That shows a good knowledge of the strike zone and could help the Aggies this season because he throws strikes.

"Travis continues to improve each time he takes the mound. He has worked hard to develop command of his secondary pitches and will be in the hunt to see some time on the mound this season. When he is throwing his breaking ball over the plate, he is tough to hit." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Kyle Thebeau was as good as any pitcher in the summer baseball leagues last year, building on a solid freshman season in Aggieland. Thebeau had a bit of a tired arm during the fall and facing the same batters scrimmage after scrimmage also allowed hitters to wait for his changeup, leading to some rough outings. He will compete for a weekend slot or the all-important Tuesday night starts for the Aggies again this year. His continued development is a key to the season.

"Kyle has the potential to be dominating as either a starter or reliever. He has good velocity, but he is defined by his excellent change, which is rare for a right-hander. Kyle has matured since last season and he will get a lot of innings on the mound this year." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Matt Ueckert was the best left-handed pitcher in the bullpen last year and he will likely be in the same role this season. He is a Childress favorite because he attacks the strike zone and throws strikes. Coming off arm surgery, the Rice transfer gradually built up his arm strength last year and pitched in key games, going 4-1 with a save while compiling a 3.98 ERA. Two years removed from the surgery, he should have even more velocity to setup his off-speed pitches.

"Matt ate up a lot of innings for us last year coming out of the bullpen and I expect him to do the same again this year. All he does when his number is called is throw strikes and get outs. He is a very valuable out of the bullpen, but he could also see some spot starts throughout the season." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: Even without factoring in the newcomers, the returning pitchers could form the basis of the complete pitching staff. Meyer and Newmann will be keys to the weekend and both Nicholson and Thebeau could be the other two starters. Ueckert is the key pitcher from the left hand side in the bullpen and Chambless has the talent to be an All-Big 12 type closer at the end of games.

No team in the nation will have two more experienced catchers behind the plate than A&M's pair of Stinsons. Craig is finally healthy after battling injuries the past two years and looks like his old self. Josh improved hitting the ball this fall and was very accurate throwing the baseball. They should spit time behind the plate and both should stay fresh and not wear down as the season progresses.

10 Kevin Gonzalez                  R-R 5'-10", 180, Fr-HS Houston, TX (Mayde Creek)
40 Caleb Shofner (2B)           R-R 5'-10", 170, Fr-HS Waco, TX (Midway)
14 Josh Stinson                      L-R 6'-1", 205, Sr-1L Nederland, TX (Port Neches-Groves/San Jacinto JC)
19 Craig Stinson                    R-R 6'-3", 210, Sr-3L Cranston, RI (Bishop Hendrickson)

Kevin Gonzalez will learn behind the two senior catchers but he has already shown the ability to be a good receiver behind the plate. He has a solid bat and should hit for power as he matures in the program. He will likely play in a limited role this season.

"Kevin is a high-energy player that had some ups and downs this fall, like most freshmen do. He is a guy that we are definitely going to count on in the future and brings a lot to our program with his work ethic." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Caleb Shofner is another young player that will provide depth in the future but he is behind talented upperclassmen at catcher and second base so his playing time will likely be after this season. He will use the time to improve his strength and that will make him a better player. He is a talented hitter and should provide help at the plate when he does play.

"Caleb is a guy that plays hard. He is an old-school baseball player. He is a catcher, but he can also play other positions on the field. He needs to develop physically and get stronger, but he is working hard to do that." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Craig Stinson was All-Big 12 before the injuries struck, robbing him of his arm strength and it was slow to come back to full strength. That was his ticket to the professional baseball and losing that affected his total game. He started hitting the ball this summer in the TCL and that carried over to the fall. He was poised for a terrific Fall World Series before a foot injury sidelined him.

"Craig is one of the premier defensive catchers in college baseball. He is an exceptional catch-and-throw guy and is as good a receiver as I have seen. He has made tremendous offensive strides in the off season and should be a big threat in the line-up." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Josh Stinson worked hard on his game this summer despite not going to play in a summer league. It paid off with a great fall practice and he is poised to have an excellent spring at the plate. Along with Craig Stinson, his pitchers trust him to make the plays behind the plate that give them a chance to throw an excellent ballgame.

"Josh is a very good defensive catcher with an extremely accurate arm. He has made super strides offensively, and does a great job of playing inside our offense." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: The two Stinsons give Texas A&M as talented a pair of catcher as any team in the country and I doubt that any team has two senior catchers with the starting experience of this pair. The have a great relationship with the pitching staff as well as with the Rob Childress and that makes for a winning combination. Most teams will avoid running against the Aggies with these two catching and that is one reason why the Aggie earned run average was in the top 25 in the country last season and should be again this year.

The outfield has more newcomers than any other position this season but Kyle Colligan (.292-3-23) and Blake Stouffer (.259-3-15) rose to meet the challenge and should start again this season. That leaves multiple players competing for only one spot, and that competition should continue all season long.

43 Daman Aaron                L-L 6'-3", 205, Jr-Tr Lubbock, TX (Monterey/Howard JC)
12 Kyle Colligan                R-R 6'-2", 200, So-1L Fort Bend, TX (Dulles)
35 Ben Feltner                   S-R 5'-11", 175, Jr-Tr Cedar Park, TX (High/Temple College)
2 Keith McInnerney           L-R 6'-2", 180, So-Tr Elk City, OK (High/North Central CC)
21 Joe Register                  R-R 5'-11", 220, Jr-Tr Lufkin, TX (High/Texarkana JC)
28 Kirkland Rivers (P)     L-L 6'-0", 185, Jr-Tr Henderson, TX (Henderson/Texarkana JC)
40 Blake Stouffer              S-R 6'-1", 185, Jr-1L San Antonio, TX (Alamo Heights)

Daman Aaron played through injuries this fall, showing the grit and determination that the Aggie coaches expect from their players. He hit well over .400 both years in junior college and should hit at this level as well. Aaron, like Darby Brown, runs the bases well, and that aggressive nature fits Coach Deggs philosophy to a tee.

"Daman is a big, physical, left-handed hitting outfielder that had a good fall even though he was injured. He will get a lot of opportunities in the spring. He has a chance to hit for power, but he is also athletic enough to steal some bases." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Kyle Colligan is the poster boy for a backup turning starter in the Childress regime. He was going to redshirt but he continued to work hard during practice and when the coaches thought he was better than Brandon Glover, his redshirt came off and he went right into the starting lineup at mid-season. He is coming of a tremendous fall practice and is the best hitter and best defensive outfielder on the team.

"Kyle made huge strides last season as a freshman and continued to become a better player this past summer and fall. He has the rare combination of speed and power and should be a contributor in the middle of our line-up. Defensively, he has the ability to run down balls in the alleys." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Ben Feltner has speed to burn, he will imeadately remind Aggie fans of Jason Tyner. When he put the ball on the ground he creates pressure for the defense to make a perfect play, any bobble or hesitation and he is safely on first. Then the fun begins, just like Tyner, he can make a bunt single into a triple on just a couple of pitches. The coaches will find a spot for him in the lineup to take advantage of that speed.

"Ben is as exciting a newcomer as we have in our program. He will most likely play left or right and is possibly the fastest runner I have coached in 15 years. He creates havoc on the bases and does a good job with the short game." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Keith McInnerney might be overshadowed by some of the other transfers, but when healthy, he is just the kind of athlete the Aggie coaches want in the program. He still has three years to play and that makes him an exciting part of the future of the program. Another left hand hitter who can run, McInnerney can turn singles into double on balls hit to the gaps.

"Keith had a great junior college career and we expect the same here. He battled injuries in the fall, but came out and punched the time clock everyday. He fits into our mold and is an athletic player who is only going to get better as he gets stronger." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Joey Register has that blue-collar mentality that the Aggie coaches want to instill in the program. He is an all around ballplayer and showed that versatility at Texarkana JC. Not the most talented player on that team he still did what it took to help them advance to the JUCO World Series. When his team needed a pitcher; he was their closer, and when they needed a steal; he ran the bases as well as anyone on his team. He is faster first to third than down the line and he has a powerful bat.

"Joey is a big, strong athletic player. He knows our system and knows what we are trying to do. He had a couple of injuries this fall, but came to work everyday and played through some pain. He will get plenty of chances this spring." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Kirkland Rivers has been injury plagued since his high school days but that has never kept him from playing nearly every game possible. At Texarkana he was the JUCO defensive player of the year as a freshman despite being unable to really throw due to an arm injury. In TCL ball he was named to the All-Star team before a leg injury kept him limited. He worked at first last fall for the first time ever and showed a great glove, he will likely compete for the closer role and the coaches want his bat in the lineup. He reminds me of Scott Beerer, just left-handed, and if he stays healthy he may just be an All-American before leaving Texas A&M.

"Kirkland is a player who has a chance to pitch and play outfield for us. He throws from a low, three-quarter arm slot with outstanding movement. He gives us a different look on the mound and he can either come out of the pen or start." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Blake Stouffer moved from the infield to the outfield last season and after a rough start defensively, he improved all year long. He played centerfield this summer and was an all-star. This fall, after injuries struck his team, he moved to third base and showed he could start there as well. Stouffer has become a team leader and is poised for a breakout season.

"Blake is an athlete who can play in the infield or the outfield. He is rare in that he can hit for power and has good speed to cause havoc on the bases. Blake can be productive anywhere in the line-up and he allows us to have flexibility, both offensively and defensively." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: This talented group of athletes gives the Aggie coaches the flexibility to put speed, power or defensive prowess on the field at any one time or changing it during the game. Colligan is light years ahead of his performance in 2006 and has developed into a spectacular defensive outfield. His ability to cover ground, along with Stouffer being able to do the same could give the left field job to a bigger bat with a little less coverage. If one of the newcomers is better than the Aggie third baseman, Stouffer could go back to the infield and have Colligan flanked by two transfers.

Third base is a wide-open position this spring for the Aggies. Austin Boggs, a three year starter who hit .282-0-20 last season is transferring out of the program at mid-term. Any one of Paker, Ruggiano or Walker could start the season but all three will play and have plenty of at-bats this spring.

32 Josey Parker                   R-R 6'-0", 205, Jr-Tr Jasper, TX (High/Panola JC)
17 Bryan Ruggiano              R-R 6'-0", 170, So-Tr Belton, TX (High/Temple JC)
25 Justin Walker                 R-R 6'-3", 200, Fr-HS Dallas, TX (Highland Park)
54 Justin Whittenberg        R-R 6'-0", 185, Fr-HS Midland, TX (High)

Josey Parker suffered from a separated shoulder and missed most of the fall so he has ground to make up this spring. He has tremendous power at the plate and was recruited to provide the pop that has been missing in the Aggie offense the past two seasons. Parker should be completely healthy this spring and is the one player I will focus on more than any other during practice.

"Josey is a guy that had some tough-luck injuries this fall, so we did not get to see him play much. We love his spirit and work ethic and he is a guy we are definitely counting on to produce in the middle of our line-up." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Bryan Ruggiano is the spitting image of his brother, albeit not as big, and is an exciting ball player. He could also play second or play in the outfield this year. He has excellent speed and should be a base stealing threat and can force the action on the basepaths. Ruggiano is a big part of the future of the program with three years of eligibility remaining.

"Brian is a guy that can play anywhere on the baseball field. He is a baseball player. He fits into our mold as a hard-nosed type of player that can play all the infield positions and in the outfield. He could probably catch if we asked him to." --Head Coach Rob Childress

This fall, Justin Walker was outstanding before being nicked up by injuries right before the Fall World Series. Walker was one of the leading hitters during the fall and had the most homeruns on the team. He will be in for a battle to win the starting spot but I expect him to play more in the field than any other freshman on the squad.

"Justin was probably the biggest surprise at the plate this fall. He hit for great power and has a chance to add some punch in the middle of our line-up. He will get some chances this spring." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Justin Whittenberg, all-state in high school, showed a strong bat this fall and played pretty well at third base. He is going to redshirt and since he is still recovering from a shoulder injury in high school, he will be completely healthy by next season. He is a good athlete who performed well against the skilled pitching staff at the Fall World Series.

"Justin can flat-out hit. He will most likely redshirt so he can develop physically and defensively. He fits our mold as a hard-nosed player and he will continue to grow as an all-around baseball player." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: This will be a key battle for playing time this year between Parker, Ruggiano and Walker. All three players could start and I expect one of the three to play third and another could be the designated hitter if not in the field. With A&M looking for power from the position, Parker and Walker need to be in the lineup to drive in runs.

Jose Salazar turned his one season in Aggieland into a shot at professional baseball. He led the team at the plate (.308-1-27) and was solid in the field. This year could see the Aggies best player on the field at shortstop. Brandon Hicks has everything it takes to be the top newcomer in the Big 12 and will be the starter all season long.

4 Brodie Greene              R-R 6'-1", 180, Fr-HS Bullard, TX (High)
9 Brandon Hicks (P)       R-R 6'-2", 195, Jr-Tr Pasadena, TX (Sam Rayburn/San Jacinto JC)

Brodie Greene has a tremendous future at shortstop and has the coaches as excited as any young player on the roster. He was an excellent basketball player in high school and he shows a high level of athleticism on the diamond. Now that he is concentrating only on baseball, he should improve by leaps and bounds. He is a young version of Hicks, and that is a tremendous compliment and will learn behind a terrific player.

"Brodie is from a small high school in East Texas and is a true shortstop. He is very athletic and can run. He is going to be a guy who is going to play a role for us as a freshman and is going to be a major player in our program for the next three years." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Brandon Hicks reputation preceded him to Aggieland. The coaches were afraid that he would be gobbled up by professional baseball before ever stepping foot on Olsen Field so having him in the program was a recruiting coup. The only question concerning his game was his offense but after the Aggie coaches adjusted his swing, he was tremendous at the plate this fall.

"Brandon is a true shortstop that had a good fall for us. He made all the plays at short and even pitched for us at times. He is the guy that won the shortstop job in the fall and we expect him to have a great year. He will be consistent and can also make spectacular plays." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: I think that Hicks is another in the long line of great shortstops (Ever Magallanes, Chuck Knoblauch, Steve Scarbrough and Cliff Pennington) that has been in the Aggie program. He is tremendous defensively, excellent with the glove and he has a powerful arm. What makes Hicks different is his size. He has the new MLB shortstop body, size and strength. I expect a huge season from Hicks. Greene is the future and he can be the same kind of player that Hicks is now and should benefit from playing this season behind a top pro prospect.

Texas A&M should be strong up the middle this season and second base should contribute both offensively and defensively. Parker Dalton played second base and shortstop last season while hitting .242-1-10. He may not start this season as Dane Carter has performed well since transferring to Aggieland.

47 Dane Carter             L-R 5'-8', 160, Jr-Tr Graham, TX (High/Vernon)
1 Parker Dalton           R-R 6'-1", 185, Sr-3L Houston, TX (Memorial)
30 Jeff Hulett (C)         R-R 6'-0", 190, Fr-HS Shreveport, LA (Evangel)

Dane Carter has the speed and athleticism that coaches said was missing last year in the Aggie offense. Carter was a good as any player at getting on base and setting the table for an offense while batting near the top of the lineup during fall scrimmages. He has a great eye at the plate and will have a high on base percentage, and that will give him a chance to steal bases (he set the school record at Vernon for stolen bases

"Dane is a savvy, hard-nosed player that can really run. I feel like he will battle for the starting job at second base. He is a guy that will hit at the top or bottom of our line-up and has confidence on the bases. He fits well into our philosophy." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Parker Dalton may have a new role this season but having a player that can play any position on the infield gives the coaches flexibility to hit for other players without worrying if they have players to put back in the field. Dalton is one of the teams most savvy base runners and was successful on 15 of 18 steal attempts and will play a key role on the team wither he starts or not.

"Parker has really embraced his role as one our team leaders. He sets a great example of how to handle on-field and off-field situations to our younger players. He has a tremendous work ethic that is contagious to the rest of the ballclub and he will be one of our mainstays in the middle infield." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Jeff Hulett was injured early during fall practice and battled back to have a good fall season. He comes from a baseball family and part of an exciting freshman class. He has tremendous power and is another fast athlete (an all-state wide receiver). He can play catcher as well as any other position on the field.

"The best way to describe Jeff is that he is a baseball player. He can play anywhere on the field and can flat-out hit. He made great adjustments in the fall." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: I think this is Carter's job to lose this preseason. He is a natural leadoff hitter, showing a fine eye at the plate and has had a high on base percentage. If he sets the table this season, the Aggie offense will be much improved. Dalton provides excellent depth on the infield, is one of the best base runners on the squad so his role will be different this season but not any less important than the past two seasons as a starter. Hulett could also play at first or in the outfield but the depth at those positions will likely keep him at second.

We start our 2007 preview at first base. The Aggies have suffered a power outage at the plate the last two seasons so the Aggie coaches are looking for production at the corner infield and outfield spots this season. Last year Jake Vasquez was the leading hitter at the position (.276-5-21) before leaving and transferring to Cal-Fullerton.

44 Luke Anders                    L-L, 6'-6", 220, So-1L, College Station, TX (A&M Consolidated)
42 Darby Brown                    L-R, 6'-3", 220, Jr-Tr, Lubbock, TX (Cooper/Howard JC)
48 Spencer Jackson (OF)    R-R, 6'-1", 220, Jr-1L, Sugar Land, TX (Elkins/TCU)

Luke Anders may have progressed farther than any player on the Aggie roster since last season. He had a great fall at the plate and looks to concentrate on hitting this season. Anders is the biggest player on the team and when he gets his arms extended through the hitting zone his power is outstanding. He needs to improve his speed on the bases, and the way that Matt Deggs runs the Aggie offense, not having speed on the bases may limit his playing time.

"Luke has really worked hard on his approach at the plate this past summer and fall. He has made major strides in that area and has a chance to hit for power to all fields." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Darby Brown was brought in to win the first base job after two outstanding years in junior college. Brown is very fast for his size and is a very good defensive first baseman. Brown needs to turn on the ball from the middle of the plate in and drive the ball and since is an excellent hitter to the opposite field, he will see plenty of pitches on the inner half of the plate.

"Darby had a great junior college career and finished strong in the fall. He is a hard-working and self-motivated guy that we are going to count on to play first base and produce RBIs in the middle of our line-up." --Head Coach Rob Childress

Neither the Aggie coaches nor Spencer Jackson were not going to make excuses for struggling last year (.209-2-16) so they did not say anything about Jackson's hand injury that limited him even before his surgery.  He iss such a competitor that he came back early to help his team and was never even close to 100%. Jackson is one of the team leaders and he sets an aggressive attitude when he is on the field, something Childress and Deggs want on the field at all times.

"Spencer is a powerful hitter that can either play first base or a corner outfield position. He runs well for a guy his size and has a chance to be productive in the middle of our lineup." --Head Coach Rob Childress

2007 Outlook: I expect big things from the position this season. I would not be surprised if Brown and Jackson were platooned against right and left-handed pitching respectively. If Brown can hit with the power he showed as a freshman at Howard JC (17 homeruns) he would help fill the power void that has plagued A&M the past two seasons.