2016 College Conference Preview: Big 12

BA breaks down the Big 12 Conference, including our projections for player of the year, pitcher of the year and top prospects. Teams in the Preseason Top 25 are linked to their preview capsules.

Baseball Members (First Year): Baylor (1997), Kansas (1997), Kansas State (1997), Oklahoma (1997), Oklahoma State (1997), Texas (1997), Texas Christian (2013), Texas Tech (1997), West Virginia (2013)

Checking out: None.

Team to Beat: Oklahoma State. Boasting a deep stable of arms and versatile offense, the Cowboys look poised to get back to Omaha for the first time in 17 years.

Top 25 Teams: (9) Oklahoma State, (18) Texas Christian, (21) Oklahoma

Other Projected Regional Team Texas: The Longhorns would’ve missed regionals last season had they not won the Big 12 tournament, but they should be back in the thick of the race in 2016. Texas should be solid up the middle with power hitting catcher Tres Barrera behind the plate, smooth fielding Bret Boswell taking over for the departed C.J. Hinojosa at shortstop and veteran Zane Gurwitz in center. Starting pitching looks like another strength, especially if Kyle Johnston takes another step forward after posting a 2.21 ERA last year in a relief role as a freshman, and Morgan Cooper, who went 4-2, 2.89 in 2014, returns to form after missing 2015 following Tommy John surgery.

Notable Storylines: Baylor made the league’s lone coaching change, bringing in Steve Rodriguez from Pepperdine, where he led the Waves to eight NCAA tournaments in 12 seasons. The Bears haven’t been to regionals since 2012, which ultimately cost longtime coach Steve Smith his job. It won’t be a quick turnaround, as Rodriguez inherits the Big 12’s lowest scoring offense from a year ago, but he can at least lean on a veteran rotation led by tough LHP Daniel Castano . . . Texas Tech shouldn’t be overlooked, as the Red Raiders still have some key holdovers from their 2014 Omaha team in power hitting 1B Eric Gutierrez and dependable OF Tyler Neslony. The rotation is the concern, as there are few known quantities outside of veteran sinkerballer RHP Ryan Moseley . . . Opposing Big 12 coaches see West Virginia as a potential sleeper, largely on the strength of some intriguing young arms that took their lumps last season but should be tougher this time around, like sophomore RHPs B.J. Myers and Conner Dotson. The Mountaineers also have a quality senior to mix in in LHP Ross Vance.

Player of the Year: Donnie Walton , ss, Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were ecstatic to get Walton back for his senior season. His exceptional bat control and smart approach in the box helped him hit .326 as a junior, and he anchors OSU’s defense as well.

Pitcher of the Year: Alec Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma. Hansen has top of the first round stuff, and the Sooners are counting on a big year from the junior if they’re going to break through to regionals after a two-year absence.

Freshman of the Year: Luken Baker, 1b/rhp, Texas Christian. The biggest prize in TCU’s seventh-ranked recruiting class, Baker should step into the middle of the Frogs’ lineup as well as its weekend rotation, offering a power arm and bat.

BEST TOOLS Best Pure Hitter: Sheldon Neuse, Oklahoma. Best Raw Power: Tres Barera, Texas. Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Donnie Walton, Oklahoma State. Best Athlete: Ryan Sluder, Oklahoma State. Fastest Baserunner: Nolan Brown, Texas Christian. Best Baserunner: Nolan Brown, Texas Christian. Best Defensive Catcher: Michael Cantu, Texas. Best Defensive 1B: Eric Gutierrez, Texas Tech. Best Defensive 2B: Jake Wodtke, Kansas State. Best Defensive 3B: Steve Serratore, Kansas State. Best Defensive SS: Donnie Walton, Oklahoma State. Infield/Best Arm: Sheldon Neuse, Oklahoma. Best Defensive Outfielder: Zane Gurwitz, Texas. Best Outfield Arm: Corey Hassel, Oklahoma State. Best Fastball: Alec Hansen, Oklahoma. Best Breaking Ball: Trey Cobb, Oklahoma State. Best Changeup: Jake Elliott, Oklahoma. Best Control: Stephen Villines, Kansas.

Tournament: 8 teams, May 25–29 at Oklahoma City

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TOP 20 PROSPECTS FOR 2016 DRAFT

1. Alec Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma

2. Garrett Williams, lhp, Oklahoma State

3. Mitchell Traver, rhp, Texas Christian

4. Jake Elliott, rhp, Oklahoma

5. Sheldon Neuse, ss/rhp, Oklahoma

6. Chandler Eden , rhp, Texas Tech

7. Tres Barrera, c, Texas

8. Brian Howard, rhp, Texas Christian

9. Ryan Sluder, of, Oklahoma State

10. Michael Mertz, rhp, Oklahoma State

11. Mitch Sewald, rhp, Texas Christian

12. Trey Cobb, rhp, Oklahoma State

13. Morgan Cooper, rhp, Texas

14. Bret Boswell , ss, Texas

15. Ryan Moseley, rhp, Texas Tech

16. Donnie Walton, ss, Oklahoma State

17. Daniel Castano , lhp, Baylor

18. Michael Tinsley , c, Kansas

19. Rex Hill , lhp, Texas Christian

20. Cody Thomas, of, Oklahoma