The Longhorns begin their final Big 12 Baseball season on Friday and they do so with big expectations. David Pierce and his team has big aspirations and want to leave the conference much like Steve Sarkisian’s football team did… as conference champions. Texas Football won the Big 12 and made the College Football Playoff. The baseball version of that would be winning the Big 12 and making the College World Series in Omaha.
Omaha is a place Texas is very familiar with as they have made it to the College World Series a whopping 38 times. If it was not for bad stadium lights at Stanford, Texas very well could ended up in Omaha in 4 of the last 5 years. The Longhorns have not won a national title since 2005, and fans are hungry for another. Winning titles are clearly hard but Texas has the talent year-in and year-out to do so. This team is no different if things break their way. Let us take a look at some of the critical pieces in order for the Longhorns to have the season they want and end with a dogpile in Omaha.
SS Jalin Flores
Sophomore shortstop Jalin Flores came to campus as a freshman last year with large expectations. He was someone many expected to be selected in the MLB Draft and sign with a team, therefore never stepping foot on campus. Getting Flores on campus was a major win but it brought unfair expectations as well. Many expected him to dominate as a freshman but that just isn’t realistic most of the time.
Flores started to heat up at the end of last year and is due for a good season in 2024. Texas needs him to take to take another step as a sophomore. Luckily for Flores the return of Troy Tulowitzki will help his development tremendously. Tulo stepped back from the program last year but when he was with the program in 2022 he helped SS Trey Faltine and the offense tremendously. Having a former all-star shortstop to show Flores the ropes is invaluable. Watching how he has developed this offseason will be a key story early in the season for the Longhorns.
P Charlie Hurley
Charlie Hurley will be the Saturday starter for the Longhorns while Tanner Witt is brought along slowly as he continues his recovery from Tommy John. Hurley is arguably the most important player for the Longhorns – not just pitcher, but player overall. If you only have an ace on Friday’s and nothing else in the weekend rotation, it will make for a long season.
Hurley was used mostly out of the bullpen last year in a high-pressure role. That will help him perform at a higher level this season. Friday starter and Ace Lebarron Johnson Jr. will pitch at an All-American level which is great, but how effective Hurley is will likely determine the ceiling of the 2024 Longhorns.
OF Will Gasparino
Freshman OF Will Gasparino is one of the most talented freshman that has stepped on the Longhorns’ campus in years. When you look at his frame and you can see his raw potential. The 6’6 OF was expected to be drafted and sign with a team, similar to Flores last year. Flores is a great prospect but Gasparino is on another level.
Head Coach David Pierce hasn’t indicated which OF spot Gasparino will play or if he will DH, but no question he will be in the lineup. When Duke 1B transfer Luke Storm stepped away from baseball early into preseason practice, it left a hole in the lineup. Gasparino is going to be asked to help fill that hole. Gasparino has been drawing a lot of comparisons to former Vanderbilt OF Star Spencer Jones who is now a promising prospect for the Yankees. If Gasparino matches those expectations, Texas fans will be very happy. That being said, it is important to remember Gasparino is a freshman and will go through typical freshman mistakes. He will be a big talent to watch.
