5 February 2024
MANHATTAN (KSNT) – K-State baseball heard the NCAA baseball committee’s message loud and clear.
“Last year, we left it into the hands of other people,” pitcher Owen Boerema said. “This year, our goal is to close that gap.”
The Wildcats are working to make sure there’s no doubt they deserve to play in the postseason.
“Let’s be undeniable,” closer Tyson Neighbors said. “Go out there and win 45 games.”
The committee argued K-State didn’t have a strong enough non-conference schedule to get a playoff bid. So, K-State changed its schedule for 2024.
“We’ve decided to get on a plane midweek and play the best in the country,” head coach Pete Hughes said. “I know that’s going to put a lot of pressure on us academically and financially, but we have an administration that supports us financially and wants us to win as bad as our program. We have students that are tough enough and mature enough, and disciplined enough, to handle the stresses of the academics.”
The schedule isn’t the only thing that’s elevated. Kaelen Culpepper spent the summer playing for USA Baseball. He enters the season as a top-30 draft prospect.
“I learned a lot playing with some of the best guys in the country and things like that,” Culpepper said. “I played against a lot of different playing styles.”
He’s also moving from third base to shortstop to fill the hole Nick Goodwin left when he got drafted.
“I don’t think it’s a big transition for me,” Culpepper said. “I’m just happy to be there.”
The Bat ‘Cats bookend a solid roster with Friday starter, Boerema, and their All-American closer, Neighbors, both returning.
“Owen deciding to come back and turn down professional baseball was our best offseason acquisition,” Hughes said.
Boerema’s a graduate student now, so his online classes allow for more time at the field.
“[I’ve been working on] becoming a more mature pitcher,” Boerema said. “I’ve worked really hard with our strength staff, our training staff, as well as our pitching coach. I think we’ve done a really good job of preparing me and the rest of the guys for the season.”
Neighbors is on multiple preseason all-conference lists.
“Just trying to refine what I’ve already kind of worked on last year,” he said. “A little bit sharper breaking stuff. A little more ride and command with the fast balls.”
It’s not just these three leading the team.
“You have to have serious depth in your program, and you have to have a program where the kids are mature enough to each know their role and how they’re going to help us win championships,” Hughes said. “I think we have that in our roster.”
K-State opens its season Feb. 16 at the MLB Desert Invitational.