Who will ascend as Texas A&M's next closer in 2025?
Texas A&M's pitching rotation is the only question mark among what is considered an elite roster on paper, but with the return of ace Ryan Prager combined with Justin Lamkin and newcomer Myles Patton, all three starting pitchers will fill out this weekend's opening season lineup vs. Elon, starting on Friday night.
Joining Prager, Lamkin, and Patton, former Washington SP Grant Cunningham is another name to watch for the starting lineup once the season begins. Still, in my opinion, the focus will immediately shift to the Aggie bullpen, which features an array of intriguing names and several key returning arms.
Off the bat (no pun intended), senior Josh Stewart returns for a final season as the program's primary reliever, while fellow veterans Brad Rudis and Troy Wansing return to provide experience, especially in the postseason.
However, with star closers Evan Aschenbeck and Chris Cortez off to the MLB, head coach Michael Earley will have to test out several names, including junior RHP Kyrin LeBlanc, who might have the strongest arm on the 2025 roster.
Last July, Earley flipped LeBlanc from rival Texas just weeks after Jim Schlossnagle departed the program for the Longhorns, as the Cisco College product brings a lot to the table this season.
While he is still refining his skills, LeBlanc's ability to throw in the mid-to-high 90s is a testament to his potential. Some reports suggest he may have surpassed 100 a few times in the spring. With LeBlanc's impressive spin rate, first-year pitching coach Jason Kelly will work with a strong foundation.
In 17 appearances last season, LaBlanc recorded 35 strikeouts and his first career save.
No. 1 Texas A&M will face Elon on Friday, February 14th. The game will be available to stream on SEC Network +.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Junior RHP Kyrin LeBlanc is a name to watch as Texas A&M's 2025 closer
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