Texas Tech University Athletics
Queen Opts to Return for 2021 Season
June 25, 2020 | Baseball
Senior right-handed pitcher will return to Texas Tech in 2021.
LUBBOCK, Texas – After a senior campaign that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, right-handed pitcher Connor Queen has announced he will return to Texas Tech for the upcoming 2021 season.
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The NCAA announced on March 30 it would allow schools to provide spring sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility. Since then, Texas Tech has worked closely with each of its programs to identify senior student-athletes who wished to return for a final year of eligibility.
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The Red Raiders will welcome back Queen as its lone returning senior after infielder Brian Klein and right-hander John McMillon signed free agent deals with the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals, respectively.
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Since his arrival in Lubbock prior to the 2018 season, Queen has been a consistent option out of the bullpen for the Red Raiders. The Boerne, Texas, product has been a member of a Big 12 title team while making back-to-back runs to the College World Series.
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Queen has made 32 appearances on the mound for Tech, including one start in 2018. During that time, he has accumulated a 5-0 record and 2.89 ERA over 53.0 innings.
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His 2019 campaign was especially strong as he led the team with a 1.06 ERA while going 4-0 in 11 appearances. He opened the year with an impressive streak of eight-straight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen before closing the season with a pair of scoreless frames against Michigan in the opening game of the College World Series.
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In an abbreviated 2020 campaign, Queen appeared in three games and allowed a run on five hits over 6.0 innings. He finished the year with a 1.50 ERA, which ranked fifth on the team.
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Queen's return will provide a boost for a staff that is sending three players to the next level. Starting pitchers Clayton Beeter and Bryce Bonnin will join McMillon in the professional ranks after being drafted in the first three rounds of the 2020 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Beeter (66th overall) and Bonnin (84th overall) are the highest Tech pitching duo ever drafted.
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For more information on Texas Tech Baseball, follow @TTU_Baseball on Twitter.
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The NCAA announced on March 30 it would allow schools to provide spring sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility. Since then, Texas Tech has worked closely with each of its programs to identify senior student-athletes who wished to return for a final year of eligibility.
Â
The Red Raiders will welcome back Queen as its lone returning senior after infielder Brian Klein and right-hander John McMillon signed free agent deals with the Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals, respectively.
Â
Since his arrival in Lubbock prior to the 2018 season, Queen has been a consistent option out of the bullpen for the Red Raiders. The Boerne, Texas, product has been a member of a Big 12 title team while making back-to-back runs to the College World Series.
Â
Queen has made 32 appearances on the mound for Tech, including one start in 2018. During that time, he has accumulated a 5-0 record and 2.89 ERA over 53.0 innings.
Â
His 2019 campaign was especially strong as he led the team with a 1.06 ERA while going 4-0 in 11 appearances. He opened the year with an impressive streak of eight-straight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen before closing the season with a pair of scoreless frames against Michigan in the opening game of the College World Series.
Â
In an abbreviated 2020 campaign, Queen appeared in three games and allowed a run on five hits over 6.0 innings. He finished the year with a 1.50 ERA, which ranked fifth on the team.
Â
Queen's return will provide a boost for a staff that is sending three players to the next level. Starting pitchers Clayton Beeter and Bryce Bonnin will join McMillon in the professional ranks after being drafted in the first three rounds of the 2020 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Beeter (66th overall) and Bonnin (84th overall) are the highest Tech pitching duo ever drafted.
 Â
For more information on Texas Tech Baseball, follow @TTU_Baseball on Twitter.
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