Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Baseball Earns More Preseason Honors
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
January 21, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech Red Raider baseball was selected finish second in the Big 12 Conference this season by Baseball America's college baseball preview magazine. Texas A&M, the 1998 Big 12 regular season champions, was voted to win the conference, followed by Texas Tech (2nd), Oklahoma State (3rd), Baylor (4th), Texas (5th), Missouri (6th), Oklahoma (7th), Nebraska (8th), Kansas (9th), Iowa State (10th) and Kansas State (11th). Texas Tech hosts both Texas A&M and Oklahoma State this season at Dan Law Field in Lubbock.
Texas Tech also collected some individual preseason honors by Baseball America. The magazine listed four Red Raiders for preseason all-conference honors including catcher Josh Bard, third baseman Brennan Burns, outfielder Miles Durham and starting pitcher Shane Wright. Bard was mentioned as the second-best draft pick in the upcoming 1999 Major League Baseball draft, while Durham was voted the conference's third pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. The magazine also rated each conference's "Best Tools." Bard was voted the league's "best pure hitter" and "best catcher-arm", shortstop and newcomer Chris Sampson was voted the "fastest runner", and Wright was labelled as the pitcher with "best control."
Texas Tech (44-20/18-11 last season) was picked by Collegiate Baseball as the favorite to win the Big 12 championship. The Red Raiders will enter the 1999 season ranked 13th nationally by Collegiate Baseball, 19th by Baseball America and 20th by Baseball Weekly/ESPN.
Tech will begin its season with the annual alumni game on Saturday, January 30, 1999 at 3 p.m. Texas Tech baseball alums expected to return to Dan Law Field include Mark Brandenburg, Joe Dillon, Monty Ward and Clint Bryant.
1999 PRESEASON POLLS (as of January 21, 1999)
Collegiate Baseball: 13th (Big 12 teams- 13. Texas Tech, 17. Texas A&M, 19. Oklahoma State, 22. Baylor, 31. Texas, 32. Oklahoma)
Baseball America: 19th (Big 12 teams- 11. Texas A&M, 19. Texas Tech, 21. Oklahoma State)
Baseball Weekly/ESPN: 20th (Big 12 teams- 14. Texas A&M, 20. Texas Tech, 24. Oklahoma State)
1999 PRESEASON ALL AMERICA SELECTIONS (for Texas Tech)
Collegiate Baseball: First Team- Shane Wright, Second Team- Josh Bard
Baseball America (selected by scouts): Second Team-Josh Bard
1999 PRESEASON PROJECTED CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Collegiate Baseball- Texas Tech picked to win Big 12 Conference
Baseball America- Texas Tech picked to finish second in Big 12 Conference
OTHER INDIVIDUAL PRESEASON HONORS (for Texas Tech)
Collegiate Baseball Players to Watch: Shane Wright, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Ryan Ruiz
Baseball America Preseason All Conference: C-Josh Bard, 3B-Brennan Burns, OF-Miles Durham, RHP-Shane Wright
Baseball America Top Prospects in 1999 MLB Draft: Josh Bard
Baseball America Top Prospects in 2000 MLB Draft: Miles Durham
Baseball America "Best Tools" in the Big 12: Best Pure Hitter- Josh Bard, Fastest Runner- Chris Sampson, Catcher/Best Arm- Josh Bard, Best Control- Shane Wright.
