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Why This Could Be The Year Texas Tech Baseball Wins National Title

By Matthew Conner

Omaha, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of the stadium during the National Anthem of game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on June 26, 2017 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of the stadium during the National Anthem of game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on June 26, 2017 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech baseball begins its 2018 season today with a 4-game home series versus Maine.  With its entire weekend rotation returning and a lethal lineup in place, 2018 could be the year the Red Raiders win it all in Omaha.

Spring is known as a time of rebirth and renewal.  For the Texas Tech baseball team, this spring brings a renewed optimism following a 2017 season that ended in bitter disappointment with a loss in the Lubbock regional final to Sam Houston. But now, the Red Raiders are back on the diamond and ready to make a serious run at a national championship.

And there is plenty of reason to believe that the 2018 squad will be the team to bring the program its first title.

For the first time in 19 years, the Texas Tech baseball team was picked to finish first in the Preseason Big 12 poll.  The Red Raiders are also a consensus top-5 pick to start the season for the first time in program history.  In the five college baseball polls, Tech is ranked as high as third and no lower than fifth.

And there is good reason for the lofty rankings.  Texas Tech returns its top four starting pitchers from a year ago including the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Stephen Gingery.  The junior lefty was a 1st-team All-American in 2017 after putting up a 1.58 ERA and a 10-1 record.  Gingery has received five preseason All-American honors this season and is as good of a pitcher as there is in the NCAA.

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The rest of the rotation, comprised of Davis Martin, Erikson Lanning and John McMillon are as talented as any rotation in the country and give the Red Raiders a decided advantage in any three-game series.  Martin was a preseason All-Big 12 selection in 2017 and was considered the staff ace until an injury forced him to miss several weeks last season, allowing Gingery to step forward.

At the plate, head coach Tim Tadlock will rely on some exciting young sluggers.  Third baseman Josh Jung had a tremendous freshman season hitting .306 with 6 homers and 43 RBI.  Fellow freshman Grant Little was equally as impressive hitting .335 with two homers and 34 RBI.  Both earned freshman All-American honors and will be counted on to anchor a lineup that is replacing the likes of shortstop Orlando Garcia, Tanner Gardner, Ryan Long and Hunter Hargrove.

Therefore, Tadlock will look to a top 25 recruiting class to fill in the gaps.  Look for true freshman like first baseman Kurt Wilson , infielder Gabe Holt and outfielder Cody Masters to be asked to play important roles right away.

One swing player for the Red Raiders will be senior shortstop Ryan Davis.  After playing second base last year and hitting .269 with six homers and 29 RBI, Davis will replace Garcia at shortstop and he will be asked to be a veteran presence in a lineup that could feature as many as six underclassmen.

"Baseball America is high on the Red Raiders saying, “Martin and Gingery are the headliners, but Texas Tech’s pitching staff has impressive depth and experience that will help its younger lineup find its feet early in the season. By the end of May, the Red Raiders should be one of the most complete teams in the country and be among the serious national title contenders."

But the road through the Big 12 will be tough once again.  TCU is coming off of four-consecutive trips to Omaha and the league that finished last season ranked No. 1 in RPI and had a non-conference winning percentage over .700 features a strong field that features six potential NCAA Tournament teams  (Texas, West Virginia Oklahoma and Oklahoma State along with Tech and TCU).

Still, there is no team in America with more talent than Texas Tech.  The newcomers will be tested early and often and must be ready to contribute early.  Tech will face eleven teams that reached last year’s NCAA Tournament.  Their non-conference schedule includes series against No. 17 South Alabama, at No. 8 Kentucky, at No. 21 Louisville, at No. 3 Arkansas, and two midweek games versus No. 11 Dallas Baptist.

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While the schedule is daunting, it speaks to Tadlock’s confidence in his team.  If the newcomers to the lineup perform up to expectations and the talented returning position players continue to improve, the Red Raider rotation could carry this team all the way to a national title.

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