Working through the coach speak: Everything we learned from Jim Schlossnagle's season-opening press conference

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns baseball program spoke to the media to preview the season on Friday, meaning the beginning of baseball season in Austin is not far off.

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This time around, however, the media was greeted with a less familiar face in the dugout. Jim Schlossnagle addressed the media for the first time this calendar year on Friday, talking all things Texas baseball and the expectations for the 2025 season. As is usual in talking with head coaches, there are plenty of things said by managers that truly don’t mean anything. But Schlossnagle, as well as hitters Max Belyeu, Kimble Schuessler and Jalin Flores, gave Texas fans a lot to talk about heading into the 2025 season.

Here is everything you’ll need to know from Texas baseball’s first media availability.

***Schlossnagle’s offseason approach is the same in Austin as it was at his past programs. His first goal is always getting the pitchers ready, which is why pitching coach Max Weiner has undergone a 12-week training program with the Longhorn arms.

***There was a lot of talk about the pitchers, but here’s what we know: Jared Spencer and Luke Harrison are the current best starters on the team. The two have combined for 13 starts in their career, but Schlossnagle is extremely excited about Spencer’s upside and Harrison’s strike-throwing ability. Harrison has spent most of the last two season’s injured, but Schlossnagle emphasized that he looks bigger after a full offseason in the weight room. Either way, no pitcher had thrown more than two innings before Friday.

***The two other starting slots are completely open. Texas returns just two starters from last year, but both are recovering from injury. Schloss likes Max Grubbs, last year’s No. 1 starter, but a shoulder injury has kept him behind Spencer and Harrison for now. Ace Whitehead is “a ways off”, meaning there will need to be a new face in the rotation. An early guess? Freshmen like Drew Rerick or Dylan Volantis get given the early shot.

***Adrian Rodriguez is going to be a stud. Here’s what coach Schloss said about the true freshman: “Adrian has done really well. I’m a big believer in the weight room and Adrian has gotten 19 pounds heavier. He’s running faster, a switch hitter, but he’s really young and it’s hard to be great in our league as a freshman. You can do it, but when you do it, you’re awesome. And so he’s got a chance to do that.” Flores called him a “grinder” and both Belyeu and Schuessler had positive takes on the kid. At just 18 years old, Rodriguez may already be the front-runner to replace Peyton Powell at the hot corner.

***Schlossnagle is still most excited about the veterans on the team. Says the front end of the team is SEC-level and ready for play but the depth needs to be able to do the same, similar to how it was when he was at A&M. Remember, Texas returns those three hitters as well as Rylan Galvan, Andre Duplantier II and Will Gasparino, who looks to have made a huge physical jump this offseason

***Schlossnagle is a firm believer that the players are what dictates champions. Said Schloss, “Players are the ones that write the lineup.” It seems like guys like Rodriguez have the chance to earn their spot.

***Talked about the SEC as “The big leagues of college baseball.” — “That personal challenge to try and win here at this great place in that league is what excites me a lot.”

***Schlossnagle also made an emphasis of adding SEC experience like Connor McCreery and Aiden Moffett in the portal, as well as getting a guy like Spencer who has pitched in a super regional.

***Some fun quotes from Schlossnagle: “I get it, 38 trips. I sit in an office with coach Disch, coach Falk, coach Augie their pictures on the wall. It stares at me every single day. But I’m not afraid of that.”

***Other fun quotes: “I don’t like little players unless, unless you can really run or you’re left handed.”

***Schloss added that he doesn’t golf and doesn’t have any hobbies

***Max Belyeu loves ULM transfer left fielder Easton Winfield’s power

***Kimble Schuessler feels great at first base, Zach Zubia has been a lot of help. He caught and played DH last year, but is likely the No. 1 1B option at this point in time.

***Jalin Flores has a really awesome mentality, per Schloss. Weight room has helped him as well in filling out his power.

***For the football people: Schlossnagle gave Jonah Williams a ton of credit for coming to school early and jumping right in. He speaks up in the club house and is not afraid to be assertive but is really funny. Still hasn’t healed from a broken collarbone. “I haven’t seen him do anything but run, he can really do that.” Gifted athletic freak of nature according to Max Belyeu

Texas is D1Baseball’s No. 19 team and Baseball America’s No. 14 team heading into the preseason, and the ceiling for this squad is obviously high given the staff and talent on the roster. Texas’ first game is Shriners Children’s College Showdown against Louisville. They will also play Ole Miss and former rival Oklahoma State that weekend. Here’s how I see the lineup for those games.

• Friday Starter: Jared Spencer
• Saturday Starter: Luke Harrison
• Sunday Starter: Max Grubbs
• C: Rylan Galvan and Kimble Scheussler
• 1B: Kimble Scheussler and Jaquae Stewart
• 2B: Ethan Mendoza
• 3B: Adrian Rodriguez
• SS: Jalin Flores
• LF: Easton Winfield
• CF: Will Gasparino
• RF: Max Belyeu
• DH: Casey Borba
• Bullpen: Andre Duplantier II, Easton Tumis, Connor McCreery, Aiden Moffett and Will Mercer
• Bench: Tommy Farmer, Oliver Service, Sam Richardson with Jayden Duplantier and Jonah Williams as Pinch Runners.