SE: Spurlin Taking Advantage of ‘Fresh Start’ in Sophomore Season for K-State Baseball
Mar 12, 2019 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Sometimes a fresh start is all anyone needs. Terrence Spurlin certainly believes this.
As a freshman for K-State baseball, Spurlin played in eight games. He got just eight at-bats. Only one ended in a hit. It did not come until April 27. A month later, his first college season was over.
Fast forward to now, not even a month into his sophomore season under first-year head coach Pete Hughes, and Spurlin is having a lot more fun. He's started all 14 games for K-State, one of five Wildcats to do so. He's even batting .302, third-best on the team.
"It was just a second start for everybody in this program, getting to revamp and getting new energy. I'm having a good time with it," he said. "I'm just thankful God gave me a second start here at Kansas State and kept me here, and Coach (Pete) Hughes and the coaching staff still wanted me here."
Hughes said he thought Spurlin was a good player from "Day One." The only change K-State's head coach implemented with the Cypress, Texas native, was a permanent move to first base. As a freshman, Spurlin played third and first.
The rest, Hughes said, Spurlin has done.
"Sometimes it takes a new set of eyes to rejuvenate a player. I'm not saying my perspective is the right one; it was just new. I think a lot of kids benefitted from that, especially Terry," Hughes said, as K-State (6-8) hosts Northern Illinois for a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday. "He just had to find his niche, find somebody that believed in his skillset."
Spurlin described that first season simply as "frustrating." His opportunities were limited, which was difficult for a two-time all-state selection. It was only amplified by the lack of success when he did play as a freshman.
"But sometimes that's how life is," Spurlin said in reflection. "You can't give up. You have to battle through adversity, and just come out every day and have fun with it."
When the new staff was put together, Spurlin saw it as a chance to start anew. It helped, he said, that he connected well with the energy Hughes and his staff brought to team.
Specifically, Spurlin hit it off with assistant coach Austin Wates. Almost immediately, Wates started videoing Spurlin's swing in the summer. Then, the two dissected film of it, looking for holes to fix.
What did they find?
"A lot," Spurlin laughed.
All summer and fall, he spent extra hours with Wates in the batting cage and in his office, watching more film. The changes started to pay off when Spurlin played for the St. Joseph (Mo.) Mustangs in the MINK League. He became an all-star after posting a slash line of .326/.376/.512.
How much confidence did this give him? You guessed it. A lot.
"The fresh start just gave me new chances, new opportunities," he said. "I was ready to come back out."
So far this spring, Spurlin has recorded 16 hits, 10 runs, two home runs, nine RBI and four doubles. Four of those rank second or better on the team, with his RBI total sitting in third.
"It's been a lot of fun playing, a lot of fun working hard at practice, getting better and better and better," he said. "That's the whole idea."
Spurlin has a base knock in all but two games this season, with a pair of two-hit games in his last four starts. His .847 slugging percentage is second behind only his two-time All-Big 12 teammate, Will Brennan.
"It takes you a little while — and I see it all the time — to get those guys to feel comfortable and think, 'I do belong here,' and then the game slows down and it comes to them. When they start playing relaxed, their skillsets start to play for them," Hughes said. "I think that's where Terry is right now. I've seen it from (our road trip to) California to now. The game's slowed down for him. He's starting to play relaxed."
Even more than Spurlin's "sneaky power" and ability to hit the ball to all fields, Hughes said he's excited for Spurlin's potential as a defender. He pointed to Saturday's win against Old Dominion when Spurlin not only hit an opposite-field home run but also dug out some tough throws at first.
"He's really underrated as a first baseman, defensively," Hughes said. "He's a good teammate. He works his butt off every single day. He's all about consistency within his routine, but he's also all about Kansas State baseball winning. That's my kind of guy."
Sometimes a fresh start is all anyone needs. Terrence Spurlin certainly believes this.
As a freshman for K-State baseball, Spurlin played in eight games. He got just eight at-bats. Only one ended in a hit. It did not come until April 27. A month later, his first college season was over.
Fast forward to now, not even a month into his sophomore season under first-year head coach Pete Hughes, and Spurlin is having a lot more fun. He's started all 14 games for K-State, one of five Wildcats to do so. He's even batting .302, third-best on the team.
"It was just a second start for everybody in this program, getting to revamp and getting new energy. I'm having a good time with it," he said. "I'm just thankful God gave me a second start here at Kansas State and kept me here, and Coach (Pete) Hughes and the coaching staff still wanted me here."
Hughes said he thought Spurlin was a good player from "Day One." The only change K-State's head coach implemented with the Cypress, Texas native, was a permanent move to first base. As a freshman, Spurlin played third and first.
The rest, Hughes said, Spurlin has done.
"Sometimes it takes a new set of eyes to rejuvenate a player. I'm not saying my perspective is the right one; it was just new. I think a lot of kids benefitted from that, especially Terry," Hughes said, as K-State (6-8) hosts Northern Illinois for a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday. "He just had to find his niche, find somebody that believed in his skillset."
Spurlin described that first season simply as "frustrating." His opportunities were limited, which was difficult for a two-time all-state selection. It was only amplified by the lack of success when he did play as a freshman.
"But sometimes that's how life is," Spurlin said in reflection. "You can't give up. You have to battle through adversity, and just come out every day and have fun with it."
When the new staff was put together, Spurlin saw it as a chance to start anew. It helped, he said, that he connected well with the energy Hughes and his staff brought to team.
Specifically, Spurlin hit it off with assistant coach Austin Wates. Almost immediately, Wates started videoing Spurlin's swing in the summer. Then, the two dissected film of it, looking for holes to fix.
What did they find?
"A lot," Spurlin laughed.
All summer and fall, he spent extra hours with Wates in the batting cage and in his office, watching more film. The changes started to pay off when Spurlin played for the St. Joseph (Mo.) Mustangs in the MINK League. He became an all-star after posting a slash line of .326/.376/.512.
How much confidence did this give him? You guessed it. A lot.
"The fresh start just gave me new chances, new opportunities," he said. "I was ready to come back out."
So far this spring, Spurlin has recorded 16 hits, 10 runs, two home runs, nine RBI and four doubles. Four of those rank second or better on the team, with his RBI total sitting in third.
"It's been a lot of fun playing, a lot of fun working hard at practice, getting better and better and better," he said. "That's the whole idea."
Spurlin has a base knock in all but two games this season, with a pair of two-hit games in his last four starts. His .847 slugging percentage is second behind only his two-time All-Big 12 teammate, Will Brennan.
"It takes you a little while — and I see it all the time — to get those guys to feel comfortable and think, 'I do belong here,' and then the game slows down and it comes to them. When they start playing relaxed, their skillsets start to play for them," Hughes said. "I think that's where Terry is right now. I've seen it from (our road trip to) California to now. The game's slowed down for him. He's starting to play relaxed."
Even more than Spurlin's "sneaky power" and ability to hit the ball to all fields, Hughes said he's excited for Spurlin's potential as a defender. He pointed to Saturday's win against Old Dominion when Spurlin not only hit an opposite-field home run but also dug out some tough throws at first.
"He's really underrated as a first baseman, defensively," Hughes said. "He's a good teammate. He works his butt off every single day. He's all about consistency within his routine, but he's also all about Kansas State baseball winning. That's my kind of guy."
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballK-State Baseball | Highlights vs Michigan - Feb. 22, 2026
Monday, February 23
K-State Baseball | Batcat Bash Recap
Tuesday, February 10
K-State Baseball | First Look - New Bats
Thursday, February 05
K-State Baseball | Media Day Press Conference - February 4, 2026
Wednesday, February 04
