Preview: Thompson Era Underway as Baylor Baseball Opens Season against Central Michigan

WACO, Texas – Baylor Baseball opens the season against reigning MAC Tournament champions Central Michigan in a three-game set this weekend at Baylor Ballpark.

Games are slated for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Friday’s game will be televised on ESPN+, but Saturday and Sunday’s games will not be broadcasted.

The preview presser is available to watch above.

Baylor Bears

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Mitch Thompson will debut as Baylor’s head baseball coach on Friday.

2022 Record: 26-28

2022 Big 12 Record: 7-17

Head Coach: Mitch Thompson

• Career Record: 372-138 (10th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 0-0 (1st season) 

2023 Projections

• D1Baseball: 9th in the Big 12
• Coaches Poll: 9th in the Big 12

Central Michigan Chippewas

2022 Record: 43-19 (1-2 Record in Gainesville Regional)

2022 MAC Record: 30-7

Head Coach: Jordan Bischel

• Career Record: 280-133 (11th season)
• Record at Central Michigan:143-57 (5th season)

2023 Projections

• D1Baseball: 3rd in the MAC
• Coaches Poll: 2nd in the MAC

Probable Starting Fielders: Baylor (2022 Stats)

C: So. Cortlan Castle (262 AVG, 8 R, 11 H, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, .354 OB%)

1B: Jr. Will Pendergrass (Cisco CC Transfer, .341 AVG, 43 R, 62 H, 13 2B, 42 RBI, 11 BB, .406 OB%) 

2B: Fr. Kolby Branch (Freshman)

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Baylor returns only two home runs from last year’s team, both of which belonged to sophomore DH Casen Neumann.

3B: So. Hunter Teplanszky (TCU Transfer, 18 ABs, .167 AVG, R, 3 H, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, .286 OB%)

SS: So. Austin Stracener (Texas A&M Transfer, 8 ABs, .250 AVG, R, 2 H, .250 OB%)

LF: Jr. Hunter Simmons (Howard College Transfer, .393 AVG, 77 H, 19 2B, 16 HR, 51 RBI, .485 OB%)

CF: Jr. Cole Posey (New Mexico Transfer, .297 AVG, 20 R, 27 H, 5 2B, 14 RBI, 12 BB, .404 OB%)

RF: RS-Fr. Gavin Brzozowski (Northeast Texas CC Transfer, DNP - Injured)

DH: So. Casen Neumann (.292 AVG, 13 R, 21 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 11 BB, .375 OB%)

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Blake Helton was ranked the No. 123 best starting pitcher in the NCAA, according to D1Baseball.

Probable Starting Pitchers (2022 Stats)

BU SP1: RHP Blake Helton (0-1, 1.61 ERA, 20.2 IP, 6 ER, 16 SO, 12 BB) 

CMU SP1: LHP Garrett Navarra (10-3, 5.15 ERA, 80.1 IP, 46 ER, 85 SO, 27 BB)

BU SP2: LHP Cam Caley (4-0, 6.68 ERA, 32.1 IP, 24 ER, 23 SO, 18 BB)

CMU SP2: LHP Adam Mrakitsch (7-1, 2.37 ERA)

BU SP3: RHP Mason Marriott (2-3, 5.96 ERA, 25.2 IP, 17 ER, 22 SO, 26 BB)

CMU SP3: RHP Keegan Batka (5-3, 4.50 ERA)

What I Am Looking For This Weekend

• The only thing I know for certain about Friday’s matchup is that Blake Helton is really good. But on a more pressing note, where will the offense come from? I’m not sure if even the coaching staff knows what to expect with such an inexperienced group of guys.
• I’m really curious to see how Cam Caley and Mason Marriott perform. Both struggled with command last year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much they have improved.
• Off the field, I’m excited to see a large crowd for Mitch Thompson’s debut as head coach. It will be a more enjoyable experience for everyone if Baylor Ballpark is the place to be on weekends throughout the spring. If you are on the fence about coming, come on out.

Quick Side Notes

• Don’t be surprised if there are three different lineups this weekend. Mitch told me that only three guys really separated themselves throughout the fall and spring, and all three of them are underclassmen. The rest is a work in progress.
• There may be some pitch counts on Baylor’s starting pitchers this weekend that limit them from going deep into their outings.
• Do not sleep on the Chippewas. Central Michigan is averaging 44 wins across the past five seasons and have represented the MAC in the last three NCAA Tournaments. They are turning into a very solid program, and head coach Jordan Bischel will likely get a Power Five job this summer.
• Tom Winkske, Central Michigan’s volunteer assistant, played at Fort Hays State with Coach Thompson, and they have a good relationship. Also, starting CMU outfielder Marquis Jackson transferred from MCC this past summer. So those are some interesting storylines to monitor throughout the weekend.