TSU and Prairie View to open at Minute Maid

This weekend’s HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park is about more than baseball. A job fair and other activities are planned for the event that aims to bring attention to historically Black colleges and universities.

Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M are joining Grambling State, Southern University, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State in the six-team, three-day competition.

“It’s good for the city of Houston, it’s good for TSU certainly, and definitely good for our ballplayers to have an opportunity to play in Minute Maid and showcase our program, to give it exposure,” Tigers coach Michael Robertson said.

“It’s going to be a great event. You’re going to have good baseball. All the teams are competitive, and there’s not going to be a shortage of good teams.”

After Friday’s game against Mississippi Valley State, TSU plays Prairie View in Saturday’s featured game. The Tigers conclude the event Sunday against Southern.

“Every athlete’s dream scenario is to play in a stadium like that, whether or not you have a chance to make it at that level,” TSU catcher Michael Goudeau said. “You’re always thinking about the big leaguers and playing on the big stage under the lights. I hope the fans are just as excited as we are.”

TSU star outfielder Gabriel Vasquez added, “It’s an amazing way to start the season on a big stage.”

Coming off its first 30-win season in more than 15 years, Prairie View will open the classic Friday morning against Grambling.

“It gives us an opportunity to get some meaningful games in at a big stadium (and) get guaranteed money to help the program,” said Auntwan Riggins, entering his ninth season guiding the Panthers.

TSU finished 28-25 last season, sharing third place in the SWAC Western Division with Prairie View. The Tigers rebuilt their roster, adding 17 junior college players and revamping their pitching staff.

Righthander Jurgen Zwitzer, originally from the Netherlands, gets the nod in Friday’s opener. Others in the rotation are lefthander Cade Fontenot and righthanders Abraham DeLeon (a transfer from UTSA), Mateo Lamas, Josh Fluet, Dade Hensley and Carlos Marquez.

The Tigers lost four players who each had more than 25 steals last year. But the Tigers are still athletic and are expected to hit better, which suits its home field at MacGregor, a hitter’s ballpark.

Gabriel Vasquez drove in 67 runs last season and was second in NCAA Division I with eight triples. Infielder Daalen Adderley is a potential leadoff hitter for the Tigers.

Jeffry Mercado, C.J. Castillo, Alexander Olivo, Jaden Jones and Chase Cromer are good contact hitters. Roderick Coffee adds pop to the lineup.

“You can go down the lineup 1-9, and there won’t be a single hole,” said Vasquez, who led the SWAC with a .709 slugging percentage. “Everyone can hit. If one side of the lineup struggles to hit, the other half will pick us up.”

Prairie View returns most of its starters except two outfielders and one starting pitcher. Freshman shortstop Ahmar Donatto (Summer Creek) is being relied on to contribute immediately. Donatto also pitches.

Needing arms, Riggins brought in eight junior college pitchers. Righthanders Victor Mendoza, Matthew Krall and Elijah Breeden are part of the rotation. Righthander Cody Smith will pitch out of the back end of the bullpen.

Paul Castro has started the past two seasons at catcher, and Zachary Trevino, who batted .337 in 2022, has manned shortstop the past three years for the Panthers, who will ride their pitching and defense.

The Panthers lack elite power but have gap hitters in Jayden Williams and Garrison Weiss, who will occupy the top two spots in the batting order, as well as Sebastian Coria, who hit .311 last season.

First baseman Cameron Upchurch is a power hitter for the Panthers, who totaled only 18 homers last season.