The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
St. John’s
No. 15 Baseball preview: St. John’s
02.26.2024 | Baseball
The Longhorns close out their season opening homestand by hosting the Johnnies.
#15 TEXAS vs. ST. JOHN'S
February 27, 2024
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone
Live stats: https://texassports.com/sidearmstats/baseball
All-time series: Series tied, 2-2
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
TUESDAY–Texas RHP Max Grubbs (1-0. 3.86) vs. St. John's LHP Evan Chaffee (0-0, 54.00)
THE MATCHUP—Texas closes out it's season opening homestand by welcoming St. John's to UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns hold a 2-2 record against the Johnnies and the teams have only previously met in the postseason, first facing off in the 1949 and 1966 College World Series and in the 2008 NCAA Rice Regional. The programs share another connection as former outfielder Mike Antico started his career at St. John before transferring to Texas for his final season in 2021.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Texas pitched a weekend series shutout of Cal Poly, the first series shutout since March 2002 against UT Pan American. Starting pitchers Lebarron Johnson Jr., Charlie Hurley and Cody Howard combined for 19 shutout innings and relievers Gage Boehm, Grant Fontenot, Max Grubbs, David Shaw and Easton Tumis took care of the rest. The Longhorns have gotten great production from the top of the lineup through the first seven games, with Jared Thomas batting .571 with five doubles, one homer and 12 runs scored. Peyton Powell is batting .467 with two doubles, a triple, four homers and 15 RBI. Jalin Flores has also had a nice start, with two doubles, two homers and six RBI.
PRESEASON PICKS—In a vote of the league's head coaches, Texas was selected to finish second in the Preseason Big 12 Baseball Coaches' Poll. The Longhorns sit behind preseason favorite TCU, who received 11 first place votes. Texas picked up the other two first place votes to finish second. Last season, Texas won the Big 12 regular season championship after being picked fourth in the preseason poll.
PRESEASON HONORS—Lebarron Johnson Jr. picked up plenty of preseason praise, being named Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year as well as landing on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. OF Porter Brown joined Johnson on the Preseason All-Big 12 team as well as picking up some Preseason All-America recognition. Freshman OF Will Gasparino was also named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.
PRESEASON RANKINGS—Texas made an appearance in all five of the major preseason polls and opens the season at No. 16 in the D1 Baseball poll. The Longhorns highest preseason rank is No. 8 in the Perfect Game poll, while Texas is also 9th in the NCBWA poll, and 13th in both the Baseball America poll and USA Today Coaches poll.
DRAFT WINS AND LOSSES—Texas lost five players to the MLB Draft following the 2023 season but also got five key players back who will lead the Longhorns in 2024. The Longhorns biggest losses in the draft were 4th round selection Dylan Campbell and sixth-rounder Lucas Gordon. OF Porter Brown and INF Peyton Powell were not selected though and will lead the offense this season, while Charlie Hurley, Lebarron Johnson Jr. and Tanner Witt are expected to play big roles on the mound. Freshman OF Will Gasparino making it to the Forty Acres was also a big win for the program.
FIFTIETH SEASON AT THE DISCH—Texas embarks on its 50th season at UFCU Disch-Falk Field after the facility opened in 1975. The first game at The Disch was played on Feb. 17, 1975 with the eventual National Champions sweeping a doubleheader of St. Mary's. Texas will officially celebrate 50 years of Disch-Falk Field and the 50th anniversary of the 1975 National Championship team during the 2025 season.
OWN THE DISCH—A large part of the Longhorns success under head coach David Pierce has come down to dominating at home. Since 2017 Texas has produced a 183-49 (.789) record at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including a 6-1 mark this season. Since the stadium opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1614-409-3 at home for a .797 winning percentage. The fan base has also done a great job of making the Disch a difficult place to play. With the exception of the 2021 season because of limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas has led the Big 12 in attendance for 15-consecutive seasons. This season, the Longhorns are averaging 7,605 fans per game, the fifth-highest average attendance in the country.
MIDWEEK SUCCESS—In seven seasons under head coach David Pierce, the Longhorns have taken care of business in midweek games. Since 2017, Texas has gone 73-19 (.791) in midweek games including a 12-2 record last season. The Longhorns have been even more exceptional in home midweek games, winning 86% of the time for a 57-9 record.
THE SCHEDULE—The 2024 schedule features 37 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including 19 of the first 25 games at home. The Longhorns will also play in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Minute Maid Park, March 1-3, against LSU, Texas State and Vanderbilt. The Longhorns open the season with an eight-game homestand, beginning with the Opening Weekend series against San Diego. Texas will also host rival Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday, March 5 before opening Big 12 play at Texas Tech March 8-10. In league play, Texas will host Baylor, BYU, TCU, Oklahoma State and Kansas and will also travel to Kansas State, Houston, Oklahoma and UCF. The 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship returns to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 21-25.
traDISCHion—Texas Baseball will honor its history throughout the 2024 season as part of the Saturday TraDISCHion series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. For the third-consecutive season the Longhorns are celebrating past greats every Saturday (and a few Fridays) throughout the year. The 2024 TraDISCHion schedule:
Feb. 18 vs. San Diego: LHP Richard Wortham (1973-76)
Feb. 24 vs. Cal Poly: LHP Justin Simmons (2001-04)
March 16 vs. Washington: RHP Beau Hale (1998-2000)
March 23 vs. Baylor: LHP Austin Wood (2006-09)
April 6 vs. BYU: 1B Danny Peoples (1994-96)
April 20 vs. TCU: OF/LHP Dennis Cook (1984-85)
May 4 vs. OSU: RHP Cole Green (2008-11)
May 17 vs. Kansas: INF Spike Owen (1980-82)
HEAR 'EM—In partnership with Learfield IMG College, Texas games will be broadcast on the Longhorn Radio Network, primarily on AM 1300 The Zone. Craig Way handles primary play-by-play duties alongside Roger Wallace. This season fans will also hear analysis from Longhorn greats Keith Moreland, Ty Harrington and Nathan Thornhill throughout the season.
WATCH 'EM—Nearly all of Texas' home games will be broadcast on Longhorn Network this season. The team of Keith Moreland and Greg Swindell will return to the booth to call the action for 34 home games. The first two games of the TCU series, April 19-20 will be broadcast on ESPNU.
