OMAHA, Neb. – Texas A&M is on the hunt for its first college baseball championship. The undefeated Aggies are set to face off against Tennessee in the College World Series championship series at Charles Schwab Field, with the first game starting at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday.
“I think it would mean a lot because everybody comes and joins this program because you want to win a championship,” Texas A&M left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager said. “You want to be the best. You want to beat the best. You want to play against the best. That’s why you come to a place like this.”
Prager will start for the Aggies on Saturday after throwing a gem in a 5-1 victory over Kentucky in the College World Series. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Aggies missing their top player
The Aggies will be without star outfielder Braden Montgomery, a likely top-five pick in July’s MLB draft. Montgomery, a key player in the heart of the Aggies’ lineup, suffered a season-ending injury in the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals.
Despite his injury, Montgomery has remained an integral part of the Aggies’ run in Omaha, maintaining a team-first mindset and serving as a vocal supporter in the dugout.
Following their victory over Florida to secure a spot in the championship series, the entire team celebrated with Montgomery, highlighting his continued importance to their success.
Kent stepping up in Montgomery’s absence
Second baseman Kaeden Kent, son of former MLB player Jeff Kent, has significantly impacted the Aggies’ lineup since Montgomery’s injury. Over the last four games, Kent is 8-for-16 with eight RBIs.
He has been pivotal for the Aggies in Omaha, including hitting a double and driving in one run in their victory over Florida on Wednesday.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
