Big 12 baseball power rankings | Marquee players on the mend after rough month
One of the unfortunate storylines to the first five weeks of the Big 12 baseball season: Many of the conference's marquee players having to spend more time in the training room than on the field.
West Virginia second baseman J.J. Wetherholt (hamstring), Kansas State pitcher Tyson Neighbors (oblique), Oklahoma State left fielder Nolan Schubart (undisclosed), Texas Tech catcher Kevin Bazzell (illness) and Oklahoma center fielder John Spikerman (hamate) haven't had the start to the season they or their teams envisioned. You're talking about all-conference, in some cases all-America, caliber players.
Wetherholt, the coaches' preseason pick for Big 12 player of the year, has been out since Feb. 19, and Spikerman underwent hamate surgery March 19 that is expected to sideline him four to six weeks.
On the bright side, Schubart returned last week with a pair of two-hit games, and Bazzell drove in four runs Saturday in Texas Tech's series-clinching victory over Brigham Young. Both missed most of March. Neighbors, back in games for the first time since Feb. 20, struck out the first two Houston batters he faced and worked three scoreless innings over two appearances.
Kansas State must be ecstatic. The Wildcats finished the week on a nine-game win streak, and now they have back one of college baseball's best high-leverage relievers.
The Wildcats are among the teams climbing in this week's Big 12 power rankings. Records and statistics are as of Monday.
1. Texas (15-9, 4-2)
Last week: 3
What to know: Ace Whitehead (2-0, 2.05 ERA) and Max Grubbs (3-0, 2.28) could be the tonic the Texas rotation needs. They've delivered a whopping 29 innings with a 1.33 ERA the past two weekends.
Related: Texas baseball takes Big 12 series over Baylor behind Max Belyeu's three home runs
Related: Whitehead looks like an Ace as Texas baseball team bounces back against Baylor
2. Oklahoma (14-9, 7-2)
What to know: Braden Davis and Reid Hensley combined for a no-hitter in the series opener against West Virginia, Davis striking out 12 in seven innings. Then the Mountaineers swept a doubleheader the next day.
3. Oklahoma State (15-9, 3-3)
Last week: 5
What to know: Seems like a team with enough pitching and offense to make a run. The next two weekends against West Virginia and Oklahoma should be telling.
4. Texas Tech (17-7, 4-5)
Last week: 4
What to know: By beating BYU, Red Raiders avoided losing their first three conference series for the first time since 2012. Kyle Robinson (no earned runs in his past 13 innings) is a bright spot.
Related: Landon Stripling's walk-off single helps Texas Tech baseball even Big 12 series with BYU
Related: Kevin Bazzell regaining his stroke as Texas Tech baseball wins series
5. Kansas State (17-6, 5-1)
Last week: 7
What to know: Pete Hughes got his 800th career coaching victory in a series sweep of Houston. This weekend, a showdown at home with Texas.
6. Central Florida (15-6, 4-5)
Last week: 10
What to know: The Knights are holding their own in the Big 12. A reason why: Five pitchers with ERAs under 3.70, including Big 12 saves co-leader Chase Centala, who has five.
7. Kansas (12-10, 4-5)
Last week: 6
What to know: Kansas's quality starting rotation can do only so much. The Jayhawks have scored two runs or fewer in their past four conference losses.
8. West Virginia (14-10, 4-2)
Last week: 8
What to know: How did No. 1 starter Aidan Major get rocked in a Big 12 series opener and the Mountaineers still take two from OU? With Derek Clark throwing a complete game and David Hagaman racking up 10 strikeouts in a 6 2/3-innings relief appearance, that's how.
9. TCU (17-7, 2-7)
Last week: 2
What to know: Big lefty Payton Tolle fanned 15 in a 1-0 shutout at Oklahoma State. Still, the most disappointing team in the conference, maybe the country.
10. Houston (14-9, 4-5)
Last week: 9
What to know: Two teams going in the wrong direction meet this weekend when UH visits TCU. Cougars have lost five conference games in a row — the last two at BYU and three at home against Kansas State.
11. Cincinnati (15-10, 3-3)
Last week: 11
What to know: Cincinnati is second in the Big 12 in runs scored and has a newcomer of the year candidate in catcher-first baseman Josh Kross, a freshman all-American last year at Eastern Michigan. He's second in the Big 12 in home runs (nine) and first in RBI (37).
12. Baylor (8-15, 3-6)
Last week: 12
What to know: Righty Patrick Hail (1.69) and lefty Ethan Calder (0.96 ERA) are a dandy relief duo who nailed down a 4-3 win at Texas. Too bad the Bears can't give them more leads to protect.
13. Brigham Young (11-10, 4-5)
Last week: 13
What to know: The bullpen's a strong suit for BYU with Mason Olson (1.59 ERA), Jake Porter (0.82) and Stone Cushing (five saves). The Cougars have scored the fewest runs in the conference, though.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 baseball power rankings | Marquee players on the mend
