Max Weiner key to Aggies’ Omaha run
OMAHA, Nebraska (KBTX) - One of the biggest reasons the Texas A&M baseball team is not only in Omaha this year but playing for a national title is pitching coach Max Weiner. There has been a complete turnaround this season with A&M’s pitching staff and they’re continuing to throw strikes on the sport’s biggest stage.
Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle hired Max Weiner away from the Seattle Mariners last summer.
“The day he came on his interview, the night before he was running things in the futures game at the Mariners stadium, so I’m pretty sure he can handle the College World Series,” Schlossnagle laughed. “But he’s handled it all great the whole year. He’s much better than me in terms of enjoying the moment,” Schlossnagle added.
“It’s just super cool,” Weiner exclaimed on being in the College World Series in his first year on the team. “There’s no other way to describe it. It’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to be here. You’re here now. Why not smile? Why not enjoy it? I’m not trying to act a certain way, I’m just trying to take it in with whatever feels authentic. And this is what feels authentic,” Weiner added.
The biggest difference the Aggies said they’ve noticed since Max joined the staff is their confidence.
“What he’s done, I think he’s just instilled confidence in guys,” explained Aggie pitcher Ryan Prager. “Not that guys didn’t have didn’t have it before, but it’s a new level of it. He makes sure that everybody is confident in themselves over confident in their stuff,” Prager added.
“That’s been a difference for Stewie,” Schlossnagle said. “He hasn’t always been the most confident guy leading into this season. We just have a totally different atmosphere and positive environment in the bullpen that allows guys to believe in themselves. Max Is to be credited for that,” added Schlossnagle.
“For us, there’s a difference between skill confidence, which is I’m good because I make a pitch move or I’m good because I throw hard, or self-confidence: I’m good because I’m me, explained Weiner. “We largely try to provide skill evidence meaning your pitch plays at x, y, or, z level, this is how good it is objectively, and that lets us just lean into the self-confidence,” Weiner added.
A&M’s pitching has been clutch all season, but especially now in Omaha. In 27 innings so far in the College World Series, the Aggies have only given up three runs and have a combined 37 strikeouts.
The Maroon and White will need to continue to rely on their bullpen if they want to bring home the program’s first national championship.
Game One of the best-of-three championship series against Tennessee is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Game Two is Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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