2022 Texas Longhorns baseball preview

Expectations are high at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, as they always are for the Texas Longhorns baseball program. Following a season that ended in the national semifinals in Omaha, No. 1 Texas wants to advance to the championship series and get back to the mountaintop for the first time since 2005.

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Many of the players who were on that 2021 team return for the Longhorns. There will be some players in new roles, but those players return with an understanding of what it takes to compete with other elite baseball programs around the country.

Pitching and defense have been staples of the Longhorn baseball program this century, and that should continue in the 2022 season. The likely defensive arrangement in the outfield should be:

LF: Eric Kennedy
CF: Douglas Hodo III
RF: Austin Todd
4^th OF: Dylan Campbell

Considering Todd is returning from injury, Texas will be careful with him over the course of what will be his sixth collegiate season. Campbell, who arrived at Texas as an infielder, is more than capable of playing a corner outfield spot after working on it throughout the long offseason.

“It’s going to be based on how he’s feeling,” Pierce said Thursday about Todd and his usage. “I think it’s also going to be based on there are some other good players who need to play.”

Hodo steps in for Mike Antico in center field. Though Hodo saw most of his action in right last year in relief of Todd, center is not something new for the Longhorn legacy. Texas head coach David Pierce believes he’s primed for a big season.

“I think Hodo is going to have a monster year in center,” Pierce said.

Kennedy remains in his familiar left field spot.

“They can really run, and they’re good with each other,” Pierce said. “They’re confident around the ball.”

3B: Skylar Messinger
SS: Trey Faltine
2B: Mitchell Daly
1B: Ivan Melendez
C: Silas Ardoin
2^nd C: Kimble Schussler
UTIL: Murphy Stehly

Two changes from the 2021 squad, but two notable ones. First is Messinger replacing Cam Williams at third. The second-team All-Big 12 honoree hit .324/.398/.406 (AVG/OBP/SLG) last year for the Kansas Jayhawks, driving in 39 runs.

The second, of course, is Melendez making the switch from designated hitter to first base. Pierce has praised Melendez’s efforts to improve in the field and give Texas the chance to put another potent bat in the lineup. There may be some growing pains, and Melendez isn’t likely to replicate Zach Zubia’s defensive ability right away.

Faltine, who said recently he has a picture of Mississippi State celebrating their win over the Longhorns at Charles Schwab Field Omaha as the lock screen on his phone, will play short and captain the defense.

Daly will return to second base. Interestingly, Pierce mentioned Daly could see some time in the cleanup spot, not because he’s hitting for more power, but because he can put the ball in play to protect Melendez and keep the lineup moving.

Ardoin is back behind the plate, with Schuessler, an A&M transfer, right behind him.

Other players who could factor into the lineup include freshman infielder Gavin Kash, sophomore catcher Peyton Powell, sophomore infielder Jack O’Dowd, and junior infielder Cameron Dayton.

Friday: Pete Hansen
Saturday: Tristan Stevens
Sunday: Tanner Witt
Relievers: Travis Sthele, Jared Southard, Daniel Blair, Caden Noah, Josh Stewart, Andre Duplantier, Zane Morehouse
Closer: Aaron Nixon

A bout with COVID-19 in 2020 limited what Hansen was able to do in the leadup to the 2021 season. Pierce utilized Hansen in Tuesday games until he was called upon to replace Kolby Kubichek in the Sunday spot.

He took the job and ran with it. He now moves from Sunday to Friday, and while there’s no replacing Ty Madden, Texas believes they have a true No. 1 in Hansen. Pierce’s comparison for Hansen? Andy Pettite came to mind, as did Greg Swindell.

“You’ve got a guy that has experience, has pitched in Omaha, and he eats up innings and is a strike-thrower,” Pierce said. “You have a pretty good idea of what you’re getting from Pete.”

Stevens will return to his Saturday spot, while sophomore Tanner Witt makes the adjustment from reliever to starter.

“Really confident with where we’re starting,” Pierce said.

One area to watch over the course of the first few weeks is the bullpen. With Witt moving to the rotation, plus Kubichek and Cole Quintanilla moving on to professional opportunities, Pierce will have to replace several of his top relief options.

What he won’t have to replace is his closer. Nixon is back after a tremendous freshman season. He’ll likely have Andre Duplantier helping him out, but Pierce said he could see Duplantier pitching on Tuesdays from time to time.

Pierce mentioned in January he wants his team to be aggressive on the base paths. It’ll be tough to replicate the stolen base ability Antico provided in 2021, but swiping bases isn’t the only place they plan to be aggressive. In his role as third base coach, Pierce has been aggressive – sometimes too aggressive – in sending runners. That’s where he believes some teams can be pressured into mistakes from Texas trying to take the extra base. Don’t look for that to stop. As far as the stolen base goes, look for Kennedy to try to build on his 18-of-22 year on the base paths.

With the pros having issues working out their labor deal, this could be a banner year for college baseball. Said Pierce on the subject: “There’s a lot of talent in college baseball right now. I think that’s going to be somewhat continued because of the uncertainty of what’s happening in the minor league systems right now, and the affiliates with jobs being cut. You’re going to see more and more players not only come into college but staying in college, potentially longer.”

Since Jose Cruz Jr. is entering his first year with the Rice Owls, there isn’t much of a scouting report available on the visiting club. Cruz Jr. has never managed a team before, and plenty of the players in his program joined this year. As a result, Texas is focusing on its game and will react to the Owls as necessary.

Texas vs Rice

FRIDAY–Texas LHP Pete Hansen (9-1, 1.88) vs. Rice RHP Cooper Chandler (n/a)

SATURDAY–Texas RHP Tristan Stevens (11-3, 3.31) vs. Rice LHP Brandon Deskins (3-4, 3.88)

SUNDAY–Texas RHP Tanner Witt (5-0, 3.16) vs. Rice LHP Thomas Burbank (n/a)

— Joe Cook (@josephcook89) February 17, 2022