FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech baseball team reported Thursday afternoon to the Dan Law Field clubhouse as players started class on campus for the start of the fall semester.
A total of 45 players, including 28 newcomers, will begin competing for roster spots in the upcoming weeks when fall practices get underway. Several of the Red Raiders’ top players from a year ago reported, including freshmen All-Americans Barrett Barnes and Jamodrick McGruder.
“We are excited to have all of our players here on campus,” third-year head coach Dan Spencer said. “It’s great to see our returning players along with the newcomers that we have spent this past year recruiting. Now we are all looking forward to the start of the fall season.”
Tech’s recruiting class is highlighted by a pair of players who passed up the opportunity to play professional baseball to join the Red Raiders for the 2011 season. Freshman outfielder Andre Wheeler (Austin, Texas – Anderson HS) was selected in the 22nd round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Christian (Southlake, Texas – Weatherford JC) was drafted in the 41st round by the New York Mets.
Another Red Raider newcomer, Daniel Coulombe (Scottsdale, Ariz.), transfers in from South Mountain Community College after spending his freshman season at USC. Coulombe was a 17th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
Texas Tech will start small group activities on Monday, Sept. 6, before leading up to the first team practice which is set for Monday, Sept. 20. The fall workouts will conclude with the annual Red & Black scrimmage in October. More details on the Red & Black scrimmage will be available at a later date.
The 45-man fall roster will be competing for 35 roster spots, which will form the 2011 Red Raiders roster.
BREAKING DOWN THE ROSTER
BY POSITION
Pitchers – 20 (10 RHP, 10 LHP)
Infielders – 8
Two-Way Players – 6 (position players/pitchers)
Outfielders – 5
Catchers – 4
Multi-Position Players – 2
BY CLASS
Seniors – 1
Juniors – 16
Sophomore – 12
Freshmen – 16
BY STATE
Texas – 33
Oklahoma – 4
Washington – 4
Oregon – 1
Arizona – 1
Illinois – 1
Canada – 1
