Kirk Saarloos, TCU players reflect on legacy of 2023 TCU baseball team

TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos reflected on his team’s legacy in 2023 after a College World Series experience. It surely won’t be a season forgotten.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our program and our players,” Saarloos said. “Obviously ran up against a great Florida team and just came up one run short. But like I told them, just the story and the journey that they took us on this year will never be forgotten. 

“I think it completely changes our program in terms of what they did from the middle part of the season until now. It just stinks that it’s over. But I’ve never been more proud of a group.”

Star catcher Kurtis Byrne couldn’t be prouder of his team after its run. The Horned Frogs saw their season end against Florida Wednesday with a 3-2 loss.

“It’s definitely meant a lot especially whenever, two months ago, when we got swept by West Virginia, we had a decision to make in the course of where this season was going to go,” Byrne said. “I think as a unit we just came together and we played TCU brand of baseball. And there’s nothing that can really compete with that. 

“And just from that point on, it’s just been awesome just watching this team develop and the friendships that we’ve all had. It’s the tightest group that I’ve ever been a part of. And just been a phenomenal group.”

Infield Brayden Taylor echoed those comments, really keeping the legacy of this TCU team in focus.

“Like he was saying, not everybody thought we were going to be at this point in the year where we’re at,” Taylor said. “And I can’t say enough about my teammates and staff and everyone who has supported us all. I’m very lucky to be part of this team. As Kurtis said it’s the most tight-knit group I’ve ever been around. Very lucky. Very, very happy to be part of it.”

TCU’s baseball squad made it to the CWS semifinals, the sixth TCU program to do so, regardless of sport, this season.

“It’s really cool to be part of such a great school,” Taylor said, adding to the TCU legacy. “Us in the fall as a baseball team, we always would go to all the football games, watch what they did. They had a phenomenal run. We take what we learn from them. 

“The same thing with basketball. It was just super cool that a little school in Fort Worth could do so much. I think that plays a lot into our game where people sometimes overlook us. But, like I said, it’s a very special time to be a Horned Frog.”

Byrne pretty much summed it up for the future.

“Brayden pretty much said it all,” Byrne said. “It’s a special year for TCU athletics and hopefully it will get the ball rolling for next year as well.”