Texas, for reasons I’m not sure of, has never been a big recruiting ground for Wichita State baseball. Many other sports, especially men’s basketball, routinely recruit Texas. WSU’s latest baseball commitment is Preston Springer, a 1b-3b from Denton (Texas) and Odessa (Texas) Junior College. Springer spent the summer in El Dorado playing for the Broncos. Odessa coach Brian Blessie played and coached at Butler, so there is a connection to Kansas in Springer’s background.
Springer, according to Blessie, is an excellent hitter who is destined to hit in the middle of the order. He hit four homers for Odessa last season and eight for the Broncos (with a wood bat). As a senior at Denton High, he hit 10. Blessie said Springer worked hard on hitting to all fields last spring and his power dipped a bit. The work is paying off, and Springer is no longer solely a pull hitter.
“Great character, great personality,” Blessie said. “He just wants to hit.”
Springer, who bats lefty and throw right-handed, plays third for Odessa. His future may be at first, Blessie said. Some scouts even see him as a catcher because of his powerful right arm.
Other Shockers from Texas? Jeff Ryan is the one who comes to mind first. Tim Hayes?