Last season, as the Texas Tech baseball team took up its usual positions — among the contenders in the Big 12, ranked among the top 25 teams nationally — one of the Red Raiders' young talents never once got to play.
Not that Kevin Bazzell, in hindsight, regrets sitting out a season.
"Man, it helped me with just being a teammate, getting to be in the dugout and watching those older guys and learning from them," he said. "I'm glad I got that year. It helped me a ton. Watching Jace (Jung), Easton (Murrell), (Cole) Stilwell, all them. It just helped me a bunch."
Bazzell transferred to Tech in January 2022 after spending the first semester of his freshman year at Dallas Baptist, another top baseball program. Tech looked into a waiver that would have allowed Bazzell to play immediately, but it didn't pan out.
A year later, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound redshirt freshman from Rockwall-Heath is an impact newcomer in the Big 12. Bazzell has started at third base in every game this season for Tech (20-9), which hosts North Dakota State (7-20) in a three-game non-conference series this weekend. He's been the Red Raiders' 3-hole hitter in every game except one, batting .353 with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
Bazzell leads the Big 12 with 15 doubles and ranks among the top 10 in the conference in batting average, runs (30), hits (41), RBI and walks (25). Among Tech regulars, he's also the toughest to strike out, fanning only 11 times in 116 at-bats.
Just before the season started last year, Tech coach Tim Tadlock said the possibility of having Hudson White and Bazzell as options behind the plate going into 2023 gave the Red Raiders probably "the two best catchers in the league."
With White solidifying that spot last year, Bazzell was too valuable not to play elsewhere this year.
"Obviously, when I came over here, I knew Hudson was here," Bazzell said. "And then Dylan (Maxcey) came in. He's a good catcher, a good hitter. And I just want to win. I don't care where I play. If the team's winning, that's all I care about."
Winning wasn't an issue with Bazzell's old team at Dallas Baptist. The Patriots were 41-18 and an NCAA super regional team in 2021, the season before Bazzell went to DBU. After he left at mid-year last school year, the Patriots went 34-24-1 and made an NCAA regional again. This season, their record is identical to Tech's at 20-9.
Asked what prompted him to leave DBU, Bazzell said, "Not much. I just ... It didn't feel right for me, and I kind of wanted to see my other options, and I'm really glad I did."
Bazzell said Tech had not recruited him in high school, but former Red Raiders catcher-first baseman Cole Stilwell was another Rockwall-Heath player.
"I just entered the portal, and they reached out," Bazzell said. "I went to high school with Cole Stilwell, and I knew he loved it here, so I was like, 'I'm sure I will too.' "
Though Bazzell sat out the 2022 college season, he was able to knock the rust off last summer playing with the Santa Barbara Foresters in the California Collegiate League. In August, that team won its third consecutive National Baseball Congress World Series championship.
Since coming back to Tech in the fall, Bazzell's had time to get into a groove.
"It's been fun," he said. "This team's really fun. I love being with these guys and we want to win, and it shows every night. I love it so far."
Tech's series against North Dakota State, originally scheduled for single games Thursday, Friday and Saturday, has been pushed back a day because of weather-related travel concerns for the Bison. North Dakota State is located in Fargo, which was experiencing snow, sub-freezing temperatures and wind gusts near 40 miles per hour on Wednesday.
Tech announced late Wednesday that the series will consist of the opener at 2 p.m. Friday at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park and a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Texas Tech announced Wednesday that its home game against Abilene Christian originally scheduled for Tuesday will be played at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park. The game was postponed because of high winds.
Who:North Dakota State at Texas Tech
When:2 p.m. Friday, doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday
Where:Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park
Records:North Dakota State 7-20, Texas Tech 20-9
Ranking by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association:North Dakota State unranked; Texas Tech No. 19
Online stream:All games on ESPN+
Projected starting pitchers:Friday, Texas Tech RHP Brendan Girton (2-0, 4.83 earned-run average) vs. North Dakota State RHP Cade Feeney (2-3, 5.91). Saturday, Texas Tech LHP Mason Molina (2-2, 4.37) and RHP Trendan Parish (1-0, 4.97) vs. North Dakota State LHP Max Loven (1-2, 10.86) and RHP Tristen Roehrich (2-4, 4.82).
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Delayed arrival: Tech's Kevin Bazzell takes off after redshirt year
