Texas Baseball Lineup Projection: Position Players

A week from today, the Longhorns will jog onto UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The rival Rice Owls will be in the opposite dugout, and David Pierce’s first game leading the Texas program will be against one of his mentors, Wayne Graham. Baseball is almost here.

So, what will the Texas lineup look like? Good question. Competition was a theme during the fall, and remains one during preseason practices; it’ll also remain one throughout the first portion of the season because there aren’t many positions that are decided with clear starters. It might sound weird, but one of Pierce's toughest jobs early in the season will be filling out a lineup. That's a good thing for Texas, though, or at least it should be.

Let’s take a look at a position-by-position breakdown of the competition at each spot on the diamond besides pitcher:

Catcher
The choice is clear. There are only two questions about the position: Can he stay healthy, and can a new coaching staff get his raw power and hitting talent to finally show?

OB’s pick for projected starter: Michael Cantu (junior)

Position depth: Of all the players on the Texas roster Cantu is probably the most important because the drop-off behind him is more significant than any other position. To put it bluntly, Texas is in deep you know what if Cantu gets hurt. Redshirt sophomore Michael McCann is behind Cantu, and the depth is so shaky that the Longhorns tried some infielders at catcher during the fall.

First Base
Not only do the Longhorns have solid options here, but they also have flexibility, leadership, power, and defense.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Kacy Clemens (senior)

Position depth: Clemens will enter this season after leading the team in hitting (.303 batting average), on-base percentage (.418), and was second in slugging percentage (.470). Behind him is freshman Ryan Reynolds, a dynamic, switch-hitting talent that’s likely to begin the season in the starting lineup at another position.

Second Base
A new face leads the way, and, like Cantu, the Texas staff will look to bring the best out of a bat that could emerge as a .270 or better hitter with double-digit homers. Texas has more options here than probably anywhere else on the diamond. Zane Gurwitz is the best option at second base, but he sounds like the favorite to start in center field, which could speak to how well the other options at second have looked.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Bret Boswell (redshirt junior)

Position depth: Boswell found his confidence and his swing this past summer, and was arguably the best player in the California Collegiate League where he hammered the baseball repeatedly. Joe Baker is competing for this starting job as well, and the righthander gives Texas a platoon option and defensive upgrade if Boswell struggles with the glove. Even if Boswell starts, Baker is too much of a playmaker to not receive at-bats in the infield as a utility-type player. Speaking of ultility players, Jake McKenzie can play every spot in the infield, and will probably pitch a little too.

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Shortstop
Is it possible that Texas would start a true freshman at the most difficult position in the infield? Yes, it’s very possible. Like second base, the Longhorns have versatility and depth at shortstop. However, they don’t have a clear answer… yet.

OB’s pick for projected starter: David Hamilton (freshman)

Position depth: Selected in the 28th round out of high school by the Los Angeles Angels, Hamilton is a top-of-the-order bat that can change games with his hitting and speed. There was a real chance that the lefthanded hitting freshman could have been selected in the top 10 rounds, but his firm commitment to Texas pushed him down the draft. Hamilton’s arrival on campus could fill the shortstop position, and a position at the top of the lineup for multiple years. As Texas fans know, Baker’s glove profiles well at shortstop, and he's started games there before, and could again. The junior’s arm remains an off-and-on issue at times, and Texas is likely to play the younger option over the older one if the battle is close.

Hamilton created a little distance between him and the rest of the pack at the position. The San Marcos native is stronger than when he arrived in the fall, and his glove and arm have steadied at shortstop. Boswell, Gurwitz, and Travis Jones all worked at shortstop during Texas’ fall practices, and can play there if needed.

Third Base
Since Boswell is projected at second base and Jones will probably be in the outfield, third base will very likely be played by a true freshman. Good news for Texas? Both have shown impressive hitting ability during scrimmages, are very competitive, and boast leadership characteristics and advanced approaches. The bad news for Texas? Defense is a question mark for both until proven otherwise.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Ryan Reynolds (freshman)

Position depth: Reynolds is going to be in the lineup somewhere. He’s simply too good of a hitter, and he’s a legitimate switch-hitter with pop from both sides of the plate. During the fall, the team Reynolds was on - Texas switched players between both teams to make different lineups often - very rarely lost.

Andres Sosa, another true freshman, is really pushing Reynolds at third. Sosa lacks speed, and is probably the slowest position player on the roster. However, he makes up for it with instincts defensively, and impressive bat speed to go with an aggressive approach that the plate that often leads to him barreling the ball. Boswell, Jones, Gurwitz, and Baker could all play third base if called upon.

Left Field
At corner outfield positions, teams ideally receive some power, hitting, and enough defense to be classified as average. Texas should get that with some speed and athleticism too.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Travis Jones (junior)

Position depth: It was somewhat of an assumption in the fall that sophomore Tyler Rand would take this job and run away with it, but Jones, who hit .300/.395/.411 last season over 180 at-bats, has been too impressive to keep out of the lineup consistently. Jones’ confidence and style often put him in a positon to put pressure on pitchers and defenses when he’s at the plate or on the bases. Augie Garrido routinely praised Jones’ work-ethic his first two seasons, and that work-ethic hasn’t changed.

Could Austin Todd play here? It’s certainly possible.

Center Field
If things work out as expected, Texas should be able to check these boxes: defense, speed, and hitting.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Zane Gurwitz (senior)

Position depth: Somehow, Todd, who was the MVP of Texas’ Orange-White Fall World Series, might be on the outside looking in. Gurwitz’s defense can be elite, and the San Antonio native emerged as one of Texas’ best hitters last season (.294/.352/.449).

It seems like Texas feels best about a lineup with Gurwitz in the outfield instead of second or third base. Todd gives Texas an option at all three outfield positions and designated hitter. If Gurwitz is needed elsewhere due to struggles by other players, Texas won’t hesitate to throw Todd in the lineup. Good luxury to have.

Right Field
Go ahead and pencil this spot in for 10-15 homers, and a slash line that looks something like .285/.380/.500.

OB’s pick for projected starter: Patrick Mathis (junior)

Position depth: Mathis is the man in right. He just needs to stay healthy, cut down on the swings-and-misses (especially against lefthanders), and let the big dog eat.

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