2016 Record: 24-29
2016 Big 12 Record: 10-14
New faces will abound on the diamond for Baylor in 2017, with the Bears adding 14 high school players and 5 transfers to the roster. Only 10 players remain from prior coach Steve Smith's tenure, as 2nd year head man Steve Rodriguez continues to put his stamp on the team.
While few in number, the returners do include six everyday starters, including catcher and leading hitter Matt Menard. The pitching staff also returns Junior closer and second-team preseason All American Troy Montemayor, who converted on 14 saves while sporting a 0.78 ERA a season ago.
The Bears will receive an early test in March, when they face Ole Miss, LSU and Texas A&M at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic in Houston. Two days after facing the Aggies, the Bears travel to play nationally ranked Sam Houston State in Huntsville before returning to Waco for a weekend series against the University of Houston. Three days after that, the Bears are on the road yet again against an always-tough Dallas Baptist team. An additional non-conference test will take place in Seattle when the Bears face the Washington Huskies from March 31-April 2.
With returning experience and an the influx of new talent, the Bears are poised to make noise in the Big 12 in the years to come. How quickly that new talent can adjust to and perform at the Division 1 level will likely dictate how much of that noise will be made in 2017.
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