Great interview Gabe. I worked with Ross Hales and Grayson Long for years and coached against Coach Denny (great coach) Great to hear those guys mentioned. Good luck to Austin and the Ags this season.
Texas A&M Baseball
A&M shortstop Austin Homan shares his story, talks start of 2017 season
Key notes from Austin Homan interview
- There are a lot of new faces, but Coach Bolt and Coach Seely do an unbelievable job recruiting, so the talent level never really drops off. We may a look a little different than last year, but talent wise we are the same. That’s one of the things about being at A&M, the baseball here is incredible.
- It will be a little different. Last year I didn’t have to worry too much with Birk and Boomer there to help me out. But now being the guy in the infield is a little different.
- Maybe I could be the vocal leader, you also have Cole Bedford behind the plate taking charge, and being loud. Hunter Coleman has done a good job, it was something we had to help him with in the fall. At first he was really quite, I remember telling him, “you have to yell,” there are six or seven thousand fans yelling in the stands. He’s done a good job adjusting and learning that.
- He’s a kid who has a good head on his shoulders. His heart is always in the right place. He is always focused. I think learning from his dad has been a huge impact on him.
- I think this will be one of the best infields I’ve ever been a part of personally. We basically have three shortstops and a third baseman in Joel Davis. Joel at first, he took a little time getting used to it, but these last few weeks he’s done a great job of adjusting.
- The leaders of the team are Nick Choruby, he’s the only guys who’s been here for four years. Blake Kopetsky, it’s his third year here, the super senior. Joel, he’s loud and good at helping the young guys. Walker Pennington does a good job, even though it’s not his favorite role probably. With the pitchers you got Corbin and Brigham.
- Braden Shewmake is incredible. He’s a 6.6 runner. For a freshman to be hitting the way he did in the fall is crazy with the level of pitching we see day in and day out. He was a relentless hitter in the fall and I think he’s leading the team in hitting points so far this spring. This kid can flat out swing a bat.
- You get hit points for hard contact, a good at-bat, moving a runner or execution. He’s got great hands and unbelievable range and his bat has got some pop. I remember this summer, one day I threw BP to the younger guys, and he hit five out of six out of the yard. I was like, “Man, this kid is good.” Then we got into fall ball and he was.
- This year we have a motto of compete, and relentless goes hand in hand with that. No matter what, you are going to go out there and compete and be relentless. I may not be the best player on the field, but I promise you I will go out there and out compete against you.
- I really didn’t have any offers at all coming out of high school, I was just lucky to get into San Jacinto. I was really small in high school, only 5-9, 155. Now I’m 5-11, 185. I walked on at San Jacinto. I was supposed to redshirt my freshman year, but 15-20 games into the year a couple guys got hurt and next thing you know I’m in the starting line up. I played DH, shortstop, third, and left-field that year.
- I found out A&M was interested in me late in my sophomore year at San Jacinto. Late one night after a doubleheader, Coach Seely texted me. I was excited because I grew up a diehard Aggie. I went on a visit the next Tuesday and verbally committed to A&M. This is my dream school, I bleed maroon.
- In a way I tip my hat George Janca, he beat me out for the job in the fall. I love him to death, he’s one of my really good friends. I came back in the spring and had a really good spring.
- Everyday I step on the field I think about my mom. I say a little prayer, I tell her I love her and ask her to watch over me. My grandfather was one of the original Junction Boys and my mom went to A&M. She was a huge impact on me, especially as a young kid, especially in my baseball career.
- It was one of those things that kind of hit you quick, you’re not really prepared for that. One day she was fine, then Tuesday I get a call saying she was in the hospital. The coaches and my teammates were just unbelievable through all of that. They were calling me, texting me to make sure everything was ok.
- I think the key for us, is to not worry about what we did last year. We need to worry about what we can control. Coach Childress always says, “The most important game of the year, is this one.” That's the way need to approach this season.
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