Ray Birmingham is back to his same old shenanigans.
Looking to make it back-to-back NCAA tournament trips, the UNM baseball team opens the season at No. 11 Arizona State, a team that will test the Lobos and give them valuable experience for the rest of the season.
The Lobos are looking to pull off the same shocker they did against No. 1 Texas last year. To open up last season, UNM took two of three games from the Longhorns, and the Lobos’ head coach said his squad looks to do the same against ASU.
“I like to call it baptism by fire,” Birmingham said. “Our team is excited about playing ASU, and we plan on beating them. And it’s just an opening series, just a step in a season long deal. But the thing I want is these guys to grow and get experience, and the only way to do that is to play the best.”
The Lobos, coming off their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1962, have a plethora of underclassmen mixed with one senior. UNM also has the services of new pitching coach, Dave Martinez, who takes over for Chad Tidwell.
Behind the plate, catcher Mitchell Garver replaces All-American candidate Rafael Neda, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 10th round last June.
Birmingham said Garver will come into his own.
“He is a kid who I think will play in the big leagues someday,” he said. “He catches and throws really well. He has a great swing, and as he matures and gets experience, he is going to be special.”
What will be especially tough: the Lobos’ non-conference schedule.
Before taking on MWC foes, the Lobos will face Oklahoma State, Arizona, Gonzaga, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. All are established college baseball powerhouses and will prepare the Lobos if they are to make a postseason run.
UNM will also have its final duel with five-time defending Mountain West Conference champion, TCU. The MWC preseason poll has the Horned Frogs as unanimous favorites to win their sixth consecutive MWC regular-season title, and various baseball polls have them ranked in the top 3 nationally.
In order to get back to the postseason, Birmingham said pitching will factor into how successful the Lobos are this season.
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“I think the Achilles heel for this program has always been pitching. Always. We have six drafted pitchers, and we spent our money on pitching.” he said. “We went out and recruited some of the better pitchers around the country that we could acquire.”
Junior pitcher Rudy Jaramillo said this year’s team has the best pitching rotation and depth since he’s been at UNM.
“It was kind of weird going out this fall and having a 3-1 game or a 2-0 game,” he said. “It was different. We have a lot of young pitchers this year, and hopefully I can guide them the right way.”
Despite having a young team, Birmingham said the team doesn’t lack talent — and that’s why he isn’t apprehensive starting his club off against the best of the best.
“I want them to play the best — anybody, whoever we have to get through to get to Omaha someday,” Birmingham said. “I want them to experience that, taste it, and as they get older, they’re going to be special. I promise you.”
