TCU baseball is waiting on its NCAA Tournament fate after injuries, offensive struggles and a quick Big 12 Tournament exit changed everything.
TCU baseball entered the season with the look of a team built for a postseason run. Now the Horned Frogs are waiting on the NCAA selection committee after a brutal injury wave and a one-and-done Big 12 Tournament exit left their regional hopes hanging.
That’s the cruel part. This didn’t feel like one bad week. It felt like a season slowly getting chipped apart. And TCU on SI has figured out the source of all of it.
The problems started before Opening Day, when Louis Rodriguez and Kade Eudy were lost to surgery. Rodriguez was coming off a strong season with a 3.19 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 48 innings pitched, giving TCU a reliable arm it expected to lean on.
Eudy also looked ready for a bigger role after posting a 3.75 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 24 innings as a freshman.
Losing both before the season even settled in changed the math for coach Kirk Saarloos.
Then came the blow to the rotation. Tommy LaPour made just one start before elbow discomfort shut him down for more than two months.
He eventually returned, but not as the same dominant version TCU fans saw last season. Without him fully right, the Frogs had to scramble for answers until Lance Davis and Zack James helped stabilize things.
The pitching issues were painful. The offensive injuries may have been fatal.
Noah Franco flashed early, including an impressive pitching appearance against Arkansas, but an oblique injury disrupted his season and cost him rhythm at the plate.
Then the timing turned ruthless. Sawyer Strosnider suffered a sprained ankle before the West Virginia series. Chase Brunson tweaked a hamstring and hasn’t been available since. Jack Bell also missed time before returning.
That’s a lot of thunder missing from a lineup right before postseason baseball.
The result showed up fast. TCU struggled to generate enough offense against West Virginia and again in the Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas State. The Frogs’ arms gave them chances, but the lineup didn’t have its usual punch.
Now everything points to Monday.
The NCAA Selection Show is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN2, when the 64-team field and 16 regional hosts will be revealed.
READ MORE: TCU’s Big 12 Exit Leaves NCAA Fate in Doubt
TCU’s resume is complicated. The committee could respect the body of work and consider the injuries. It could also punish the rough finish.
Either way, the truth is obvious: if TCU gets in and gets healthier, it’s dangerous. If Strosnider and Brunson remain unavailable, the climb gets steep fast.
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