Texas A&M baseball's Michael Earley provides offseason update

Although Texas A&M's 2023 season came to an end in early June, the Maroon & White staff have been hard at work providing significant additions to the program. We caught up with assistant coach Michael Earley on Tuesday's edition of TexAgs Radio.

Key notes from Michael Earley interview

• Nothing has changed too much since my promotion. I got waivers to recruit, but now I can recruit more on the road. The day-to-day operation is not different. I'm lucky to be with an athletic department that supports baseball. I can't believe we are in year three. It's gone so fast. Being in Bryan-College Station has been unbelievable.
   
• Recruiting never stops. You are looking at the roster for next year and seeing where guys can play. We are shifting into thinking about the team next year. We are getting Max Weiner downloaded on everything. He is super intelligent. I've only seen him two or three times because we've been recruiting, but he is hard-working.
   
• We had Hayden Schott and Jackson Appel committed in the fall and watched them play a season. They have a ton of college at-bats. Ali Camarillo is a real shortstop. He is gonna be highly coveted at shortstop next year. He is a really great kid. He wants to be here. You appreciate people you are appreciative. We got on Ted Burton first in the transfer portal. My old boss is now at Michigan and coached him. He is a great player. He is one of 10 Michigan players with more the 40 career home runs. He will be a strong player for us.
   
• You would sign Troy Claunch to a 20-year deal right now if you could. They are all different. We have met the transfers a few times. They are so mature. It changes how you go about the day-to-day. They are appreciative to be here, and that goes a long way. This place is special.
   
• The biggest thing for Jace LaViolette is the changes we made after LSU. He was hitting .220 with four or five home runs before. Now, he gets to go in with that for a new season. He is so talented. Now, he sticking with one style of hitting. Jace has that beauty of exit velocity. It's not something that is trained. He walked in with that.
   
• I believe in Ryan Targac as much as anyone. I am excited to have him back. He did not have the season he wanted, but he showed flashes. It's baseball. He will be prepared to the best of his abilities.
   
• I have never seen someone hit the baseball as far as LaViolette and Targac can. I still want someone to hit the train.
   
• Leadership in the locker room happens organically. Those are special people. You never know who it will be. Troy Claunch wore #12, and he was here for one season.
   
• Gavin Grahovac is super talented and physical. He was committed to Arizona State at 14 or 15. He looks like he is a junior. Ideally, for us, he ends up being a third baseman or a more physical second baseman. He has prided himself on being a utility guy.
   
• The freshman class has awesome guys. We aren't working with them yet. They are in summer school. It's like a playground for them right now.
   
• Max Kaufer looked great for a kid that was 17. We have a lot of excitement. Baseball is such a miserable and awesome sport to be a part of sometimes.