Texas Tech baseball held its first practice of the spring on Friday, Jan. 26, at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park in preparation of the 2018 season.
After meeting with the media, head coach Tim Tadlock and the Red Raiders hit the field for their first organized team practice of the year, three weeks before the start of the 2018 campaign.
The Red Raiders return 22 letterwinners from last year’s squad, a team that posted a 45-17 overall record, clinched the program’s sixth conference title in school history and second consecutive Big 12 crown. Tech also earned its second-straight No. 5 national seed for the NCAA Tournament, capping 2017 as high as seventh in the end-of-year polls. The 2018 campaign marks the sixth under Tadlock, who owns a 194-112 record in Lubbock, and the 69th season of Texas Tech baseball.
Tech will start the year with its highest preseason ranking in program history. The Red Raiders have been ranked as high as No. 3 by D1 Baseball and the USA Today Coaches poll, which is the highest preseason ranking in program history. Tech has also been slotted fourth (PG) and fifth (Baseball America & Collegiate Baseball Newspaper) in this year’s preseason rankings.
Included in Tech’s 22 returning student-athletes are Big 12 & National Pitcher of the Year Steven Gingery, Big 12 Freshman of the Year & Freshman All-American infielder Josh Jung, fellow Freshman All-American Grant Little, All-Big 12 First Team outfielder Cody Farhat, 2016 Freshman All-American RHP Davis Martin, 2016 All-Big 12 honoree infielder Michael Davis and 2014 Freshman All-American LHP Dylan Dusek.
The Red Raiders open the 2018 slate at home with a four-game series against Maine, beginning Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)