Kansas State University Athletics
SE: Five Things to Know Before Opening Day for K-State Baseball
Feb 18, 2021 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
There's only one Power 5 baseball team in the country closer to Omaha than Kansas State.
In terms of drive time, the "Omahattan" sign that Pete Hughes hung up as part of the new Tointon Family Stadium last year seems doable enough.
But facts are facts: the Wildcats have never made the trip across the border to the College World Series. K-State will look to take another step towards changing that in 2021.
The Wildcats will begin the 2021 season with a Friday afternoon matchup against Oregon State, before weekend games against Gonzaga and New Mexico at the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in Surprise, Arizona.
"Thankful to have our indoor facility, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing like being outside," senior Cameron Thompson said. "Just going back outside and playing on a field."
Before any of that, here are a few questions asked and answered about a team with plenty of unknowns following a missed 2020 season, a projected MLB first-round draft pick at the top of the rotation and eyes on making a little bit of history this spring.
Q: Is Kansas State going to the NCAA Tournament?
A: Wow, just going to start out with a heater? Fair enough. Getting to the tournament isn't easy and the College World Series is - obviously - even more difficult.
The NCAA Baseball Tournament has the same 64-team field as March Madness, but in college basketball the Elite Eight is just the round between the Sweet 16 and Final Four. This summer, it's when eight teams get a ticket to Omaha and the College World Series.
So where does K-State stand this season? The Wildcats are unranked but received votes in several major preseason polls. In a loaded Big 12, the 'Cats are getting written about as both a postseason sleeper team and a squad that could finish near the bottom half of the conference.
Crazy as it sounds, both those things could be true this season. Since the Big 12 welcomed new teams prior to the 2013 season, anywhere from three to seven teams from the conference have made the tournament each season.
Q: Got it, any big games early in the season?
A: It's a little strange to say with snow on the ground in Manhattan, but K-State plays some of its most important non-conference games of the season this weekend.
Oregon State, Gonzaga and New Mexico have all been to the NCAA Tournament since K-State made their last appearance in 2013.
Oregon State, who the Wildcats play in the first game of the season on Friday afternoon, won the College World Series in 2018 and are one of the winningest programs in the sport.
Other marquee games in the non-conference schedule include a trip to Houston to play Rice, who have missed the NCAA Tournament just twice since 1995, and a rivalry road game against Wichita State.
Q: You guys keep tweeting about Jordan Wicks. He's the real deal, huh?
A: He might be one of the best players in program history. The Arkansas southpaw has swept preseason All-America honors at every college baseball publication that hands them out and was named the preseason Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year.
"Loves to compete. Loves the big stage," Hughes said. "We didn't hide him from anybody as a freshman."
If Wicks is selected as a first-round pick – and that's where just about every mock draft has him going this summer – he would become the highest MLB draft pick in K-State history.
So, what's the secret? Well, it starts with what Baseball America called "the best changeup in college baseball."
"The changeup is the pitch that gave him some immediate success in the Big 12 as a freshman," Hughes said. "That was the difference maker."
Wicks is a top-end lefty who can change speeds, and that combo has MLB scouts excited about the sophomore at the top of the K-State rotation.
Q: What about the rest of the pitching staff?
A: Most college teams need a strong weekend rotation to have a shot at the postseason, since the majority of conference series are played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 'Cats could have one of the best in 2021.
With Wicks as the ace of the staff, Carson Seymour is penciled in as the Saturday starter, giving the Wildcats a pair of Top-100 college prospect to roll out every weekend on the mound.
Connor McCullough should get the nod on Sunday – and in addition to Little League glory in Arkansas with Wicks – the right-hander was a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2019 and came into 2020 as a Top-10 freshman pitcher according to D1Baseball.
Pete Hughes called this an "Omaha staff" last season and the Wildcats will finally have a chance to prove it.
"It begins and ends with pitching and defense," he said. "We're really deep right now. You don't want to jinx yourself, but our experience and talent level on the mound is really exciting."
Q: Let's talk hitters - Who are the guys you want with a bat in their hands and the game on the line?
A: K-State didn't get much of a chance to heat up at the plate in 2020, as COVID-19 wiped out the season after 17 games, but the Wildcats return every statistical leader from a season ago.
One of those guys, Zach Kokoska, began 2020 on a tear.
He reached base safely in 16 straight games last spring and slashed .349/.446/.540 – while also becoming one of just three players in the Big 12 to post a 4.0 GPA in the classroom.
Speaking of streaks, Dylan Phillips enters the season on an 11-game hitting streak and with the team lead in home runs (5) from a season ago. Thompson shared the K-State lead in hits in 2020 while also leading the team in doubles.
"You got to put in the time, that's what's going to take us places," Thompson said. "Coach Hughes talked about that when he first got here: changing the culture. It really has changed with people coming in for early work, getting those voluntary lifts in…Now, it's set in stone."
There's only one Power 5 baseball team in the country closer to Omaha than Kansas State.
In terms of drive time, the "Omahattan" sign that Pete Hughes hung up as part of the new Tointon Family Stadium last year seems doable enough.
But facts are facts: the Wildcats have never made the trip across the border to the College World Series. K-State will look to take another step towards changing that in 2021.
The Wildcats will begin the 2021 season with a Friday afternoon matchup against Oregon State, before weekend games against Gonzaga and New Mexico at the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in Surprise, Arizona.
New weather. Who dis? ☀️🌴#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/NxpS8SxJAJ
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) February 18, 2021
"Thankful to have our indoor facility, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing like being outside," senior Cameron Thompson said. "Just going back outside and playing on a field."
Before any of that, here are a few questions asked and answered about a team with plenty of unknowns following a missed 2020 season, a projected MLB first-round draft pick at the top of the rotation and eyes on making a little bit of history this spring.
Q: Is Kansas State going to the NCAA Tournament?
A: Wow, just going to start out with a heater? Fair enough. Getting to the tournament isn't easy and the College World Series is - obviously - even more difficult.
The NCAA Baseball Tournament has the same 64-team field as March Madness, but in college basketball the Elite Eight is just the round between the Sweet 16 and Final Four. This summer, it's when eight teams get a ticket to Omaha and the College World Series.
So where does K-State stand this season? The Wildcats are unranked but received votes in several major preseason polls. In a loaded Big 12, the 'Cats are getting written about as both a postseason sleeper team and a squad that could finish near the bottom half of the conference.
Crazy as it sounds, both those things could be true this season. Since the Big 12 welcomed new teams prior to the 2013 season, anywhere from three to seven teams from the conference have made the tournament each season.
Q: Got it, any big games early in the season?
A: It's a little strange to say with snow on the ground in Manhattan, but K-State plays some of its most important non-conference games of the season this weekend.
Oregon State, Gonzaga and New Mexico have all been to the NCAA Tournament since K-State made their last appearance in 2013.
Oregon State, who the Wildcats play in the first game of the season on Friday afternoon, won the College World Series in 2018 and are one of the winningest programs in the sport.
Other marquee games in the non-conference schedule include a trip to Houston to play Rice, who have missed the NCAA Tournament just twice since 1995, and a rivalry road game against Wichita State.
Q: You guys keep tweeting about Jordan Wicks. He's the real deal, huh?
A: He might be one of the best players in program history. The Arkansas southpaw has swept preseason All-America honors at every college baseball publication that hands them out and was named the preseason Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year.
"Loves to compete. Loves the big stage," Hughes said. "We didn't hide him from anybody as a freshman."
If Wicks is selected as a first-round pick – and that's where just about every mock draft has him going this summer – he would become the highest MLB draft pick in K-State history.
So, what's the secret? Well, it starts with what Baseball America called "the best changeup in college baseball."
Jordan Wicks has the best changeup in college baseball, according to MLB scouting departments.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 2, 2021
Check it out below 👀
Find the @KStateBSB lefty in our best tools rankings:https://t.co/sY7FkCTVZf
(🎥 @wicks_jordan)
pic.twitter.com/04UaknsIKR
"The changeup is the pitch that gave him some immediate success in the Big 12 as a freshman," Hughes said. "That was the difference maker."
Wicks is a top-end lefty who can change speeds, and that combo has MLB scouts excited about the sophomore at the top of the K-State rotation.
Q: What about the rest of the pitching staff?
A: Most college teams need a strong weekend rotation to have a shot at the postseason, since the majority of conference series are played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 'Cats could have one of the best in 2021.
With Wicks as the ace of the staff, Carson Seymour is penciled in as the Saturday starter, giving the Wildcats a pair of Top-100 college prospect to roll out every weekend on the mound.
Connor McCullough should get the nod on Sunday – and in addition to Little League glory in Arkansas with Wicks – the right-hander was a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2019 and came into 2020 as a Top-10 freshman pitcher according to D1Baseball.
Pete Hughes called this an "Omaha staff" last season and the Wildcats will finally have a chance to prove it.
"It begins and ends with pitching and defense," he said. "We're really deep right now. You don't want to jinx yourself, but our experience and talent level on the mound is really exciting."
Q: Let's talk hitters - Who are the guys you want with a bat in their hands and the game on the line?
A: K-State didn't get much of a chance to heat up at the plate in 2020, as COVID-19 wiped out the season after 17 games, but the Wildcats return every statistical leader from a season ago.
The wait is over. ⚾️ starts today#KStateBSB pic.twitter.com/rzUvPkMDNJ
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) January 29, 2021
One of those guys, Zach Kokoska, began 2020 on a tear.
He reached base safely in 16 straight games last spring and slashed .349/.446/.540 – while also becoming one of just three players in the Big 12 to post a 4.0 GPA in the classroom.
Speaking of streaks, Dylan Phillips enters the season on an 11-game hitting streak and with the team lead in home runs (5) from a season ago. Thompson shared the K-State lead in hits in 2020 while also leading the team in doubles.
"You got to put in the time, that's what's going to take us places," Thompson said. "Coach Hughes talked about that when he first got here: changing the culture. It really has changed with people coming in for early work, getting those voluntary lifts in…Now, it's set in stone."
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