(09-20-2023 08:29 AM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(09-19-2023 04:12 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-19-2023 03:59 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I think we missed some grad transfers earlier in this thread...

OF Brendan Cumming from Princeton (and Houston Lamar): https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/bas...ming/20725
RHP Tucker Alch from Catholic U (and St. Thomas): https://www.baseball-reference.com/regis...ch--000tuc

Neither have been posted on D1baseball's transfer tracker. Though Cummings was a everyday starter for Princeton, he didn't exactly light it up against VERY weak competition. I'd be shocked if he sees much action for us. On the other hand, the RHP looks like he may be able to contribute.

BTW, I'm hearing good things about the FSU transfer (the redshirt Freshman LHP). He was up to 96 MPH on the gun last week. Whether he can throw strikes is another question altogether.

D1's transfer portal list is not the end all. I think they use social media posts to update their list. Cumming is not a surprise. I think he plays a lot and would not classify his competition as VERY weak. FYI, he hit .366 in 40 games in 2022. also, don't discount defense.

We'll see. We have one OF spot open as Garibay and the grad transfer from Witchita State will likely man RF and CF, respectively...and we have a stud Freshman who will be competing for the LF spot.

It’s also worth remembering Harvard took 3 of 4 from Rice early in the 2022 season.

(09-20-2023 05:19 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  It’s also worth remembering Harvard took 3 of 4 from Rice early in the 2022 season.

Yes, and Rice was one of the weakest teams in D1 in 2022.

(09-20-2023 07:03 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-20-2023 05:19 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  It’s also worth remembering Harvard took 3 of 4 from Rice early in the 2022 season.

Yes, and Rice was one of the weakest teams in D1 in 2022.

Not a distinction I would like to see repeated.

A&M continues their ridiculous raid on the transfer portal. After bringing in 15 transfers for the upcoming 2024 season, they've already signed their first grad transfer for the 2025 season-- a Penn senior this year who led the Ivy League last year in HRs (18) and RBIs (63) while hitting .321.

(09-22-2023 03:32 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  A&M continues their ridiculous raid on the transfer portal. After bringing in 15 transfers for the upcoming 2024 season, they've already signed their first grad transfer for the 2025 season-- a Penn senior this year who led the Ivy League last year in HRs (18) and RBIs (63) while hitting .321.

How long before these schools quit bringing in HS players? I've seen where several P5 FB programs are now only targeting 4-5 HS players with the rest of the recruiting going after transfers. And FB has WAY more scholarships than baseball. I believe we will start to see P5 college baseball programs bring in 2-3 HS players and then poach the rest of the players from either other P5 schools or the non-P5 schools. Sad that this is what it has become. Hopefully some guardrails on NIL and transfers is in the works.

Fall baseball roster is online. People smarter than me will have to chime in to announce if it is any good or not. I’d rather talk about Rice baseball than TAMU baseball.

I see the two FSU transfers, the Wichita State transfer, four ? JUCO pitchers I think, the two new grad transfers from Princeton and D3 pitcher. And then a lot of freshmen (and the returning players we knew about). I don’t see some people who were mentioned in this thread (like the WKU SS).

But I may be missing some people.

(09-22-2023 04:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I see the two FSU transfers, the Wichita State transfer, four ? JUCO pitchers I think, the two new grad transfers from Princeton and D3 pitcher. And then a lot of freshmen (and the returning players we knew about). I don’t see some people who were mentioned in this thread (like the WKU SS).

But I may be missing some people.

You're right-- AJ Feitcher not listed. Wonder if it's an oversight. Having said that, I wasn't all that high on him even though he was WKU's starting SS. Where did all the JUCOs pitchers come from-- Soph Marco Fuentes, Soph Jackson Mayo, Jr Thomas Wrehre, Jr Robert Fernandez, Jr Matthew Rheaume? None of these have been reported previously. We certainly need to stock up on pitchers. Hopefully, one or two can contribute. Of the Freshman, I'm most excited about Tobias Motley and the two Puerto Rican kids (though we lost the best of the group to the draft).

I'm still holding out some hope that Holderbach returns for his final year of eligibility as he still has not landed off the portal. Solid bat and outstanding defensive first baseman.

(09-22-2023 04:58 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-22-2023 04:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I see the two FSU transfers, the Wichita State transfer, four ? JUCO pitchers I think, the two new grad transfers from Princeton and D3 pitcher. And then a lot of freshmen (and the returning players we knew about). I don’t see some people who were mentioned in this thread (like the WKU SS).

But I may be missing some people.

You're right-- AJ Feitcher not listed. Wonder if it's an oversight. Having said that, I wasn't all that high on him even though he was WKU's starting SS. Where did all the JUCOs pitchers come from-- Soph Marco Fuentes, Soph Jackson Mayo, Jr Thomas Wrehre, Jr Robert Fernandez, Jr Matthew Rheaume? None of these have been reported previously. We certainly need to stock up on pitchers. Hopefully, one or two can contribute. Of the Freshman, I'm most excited about Tobias Motley and the two Puerto Rican kids (though we lost the best of the group to the draft).

I'm still holding out some hope that Holderbach returns for his final year of eligibility as he still has not landed off the portal. Solid bat and outstanding defensive first baseman.

The WKU SS is not coming, as I believe he is injured and might not play this year. Also, I believe that Fuentes was at Rice last year but injured so off the spring roster.

Regarding Holderbach, the list on D1 Baseball is not complete. Just because something is not there does not make it so. You might check out App St.

Hold the Mayo. He was previously reported in this thread (I had made a joke about Rice and mayo going well together).

Mayo and Rheaume seem to have had the best stats in JUCO ball. Fernandez and Wrehe didn’t seem to pitch much at their respective jucos. I can’t find anything on Fuentes.

(09-22-2023 03:45 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(09-22-2023 03:32 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  A&M continues their ridiculous raid on the transfer portal. After bringing in 15 transfers for the upcoming 2024 season, they've already signed their first grad transfer for the 2025 season-- a Penn senior this year who led the Ivy League last year in HRs (18) and RBIs (63) while hitting .321.

How long before these schools quit bringing in HS players? I've seen where several P5 FB programs are now only targeting 4-5 HS players with the rest of the recruiting going after transfers. And FB has WAY more scholarships than baseball. I believe we will start to see P5 college baseball programs bring in 2-3 HS players and then poach the rest of the players from either other P5 schools or the non-P5 schools. Sad that this is what it has become. Hopefully some guardrails on NIL and transfers is in the works.

Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

Just got another 2024 commit-- RHP Isaiah Castañeda (6'3", 175 lbs) from Pearland, TX...

https://twitter.com/Isaiahjc11/status/17...6077323461

Couldn't find much on him except that he was clocked at 91 on his FB this past Summer

(09-24-2023 06:44 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Just got another 2024 commit-- RHP Isaiah Castañeda (6'3", 175 lbs) from Pearland, TX...

https://twitter.com/Isaiahjc11/status/17...6077323461

Couldn't find much on him except that he was clocked at 91 on his FB this past Summer

Quote:Dustin McComas@DustinLMcComas

Enormous recruiting win for Rice. Castaneda is a true two-way talent with one of the best OF arms I’ve seen, hitting ability, speed and also a loose arm on the mound up to 90 with projectable frame.
@FiveToolTexas
55 member.

(09-23-2023 10:19 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

who will likely leave IF they pan out.

(09-23-2023 10:19 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(09-22-2023 03:45 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(09-22-2023 03:32 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  A&M continues their ridiculous raid on the transfer portal. After bringing in 15 transfers for the upcoming 2024 season, they've already signed their first grad transfer for the 2025 season-- a Penn senior this year who led the Ivy League last year in HRs (18) and RBIs (63) while hitting .321.

How long before these schools quit bringing in HS players? I've seen where several P5 FB programs are now only targeting 4-5 HS players with the rest of the recruiting going after transfers. And FB has WAY more scholarships than baseball. I believe we will start to see P5 college baseball programs bring in 2-3 HS players and then poach the rest of the players from either other P5 schools or the non-P5 schools. Sad that this is what it has become. Hopefully some guardrails on NIL and transfers is in the works.

Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

I get your point but Rice will never compete, IMO, going max portal. Too expensive and credits don't transfer (for those that care about a degree and all). Be a beast at HS recruiting and fill in small gaps via portal/Juco. With the way the portal is going there are going to be plenty of quality HS players available. Prove that it can be done and this portal nonsence will wane (somewhat).

(09-25-2023 12:54 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(09-23-2023 10:19 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

who will likely leave IF they pan out.

Yes, yet another portal issue. However, if you're good why leave a good academic institution (except for the cost which I won't bore all with that AGAIN)? The draft will find you at Rice as it has for many many years. Be a stud at Rice and you'll be fine. Scouts are more into metrics these days than who your competition is.

(09-25-2023 01:21 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 12:54 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(09-23-2023 10:19 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

who will likely leave IF they pan out.

Yes, yet another portal issue. However, if you're good why leave a good academic institution (except for the cost which I won't bore all with that AGAIN)? The draft will find you at Rice as it has for many many years. Be a stud at Rice and you'll be fine. Scouts are more into metrics these days than who your competition is.

Save for grad transfers (e.g., Walsh), Rice very rarely loses undergrad starters to the portal. Smiggy was an exception. As I and others have said before, Rice has to rely on high school recruiting, and finding the diamonds in the rough. The Top 200 prospects are either going in the draft or going to those P5 programs that offer signficant NIL deals. And the same holds true with the transfer portal. Rice cannot compete with the P5 programs dangling top NIL offers for the proven impact players. Rather, Rice only attracts those highly regarded high schoolers who sat on the bench while Freshmen or Sophomores at the P5 program where they were recruited (Walsh, Reidel, Gallo, Johnson, McCracken) or the grad transfer attracted to Rice for their masters program. If we're going to return to national prominence it will depend upon improved/unconventional recruiting and player development. It's not a coincidence that this is precisely the strategy deployed by The OG during our glory years.

(09-25-2023 02:28 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 01:21 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 12:54 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(09-23-2023 10:19 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Why take the risk? 22/23 year old college grad with 2-3 years of stats to study v. a project from Magnolia West.

who will likely leave IF they pan out.

Yes, yet another portal issue. However, if you're good why leave a good academic institution (except for the cost which I won't bore all with that AGAIN)? The draft will find you at Rice as it has for many many years. Be a stud at Rice and you'll be fine. Scouts are more into metrics these days than who your competition is.

Save for grad transfers (e.g., Walsh), Rice very rarely loses undergrad starters to the portal. Smiggy was an exception. As I and others have said before, Rice has to rely on high school recruiting, and finding the diamonds in the rough. The Top 200 prospects are either going in the draft or going to those P5 programs that offer signficant NIL deals. And the same holds true with the transfer portal. Rice cannot compete with the P5 programs dangling top NIL offers for the proven impact players. Rather, Rice only attracts those highly regarded high schoolers who sat on the bench while Freshmen or Sophomores at the P5 program where they were recruited (Walsh, Reidel, Gallo, Johnson, McCracken) or the grad transfer attracted to Rice for their masters program. If we're going to return to national prominence it will depend upon improved/unconventional recruiting and player development. It's not a coincidence that this is precisely the strategy deployed by The OG during our glory years.

100% agree with this.

(09-22-2023 04:31 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I see the two FSU transfers, the Wichita State transfer, four ? JUCO pitchers I think, the two new grad transfers from Princeton and D3 pitcher. And then a lot of freshmen (and the returning players we knew about). I don’t see some people who were mentioned in this thread (like the WKU SS).

But I may be missing some people.

I counted 49 on the Fall Roster. If I'm not mistaken they can only carry 40 on the roster with 27-28 on the active roster for each spring series. I guess there are some redshirts coming after fall ball.