Last week, Texas A&M coach Michael Earley made the first significant staff change of his career at the helm, firing second-year pitching coach Jason Kelley, leading to the pursuit and hiring of MLB pitching coach/coordinator Barry Enright, who has spent the last six seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, and, most recently, the Athletics.
While Enright’s lack of college coaching experience, especially recruiting, looked like a major red flag, the Aggies quickly added two of the top arms in the transfer portal, as former UNLV right‑hander Jase Evangelista and Wichita State transfer RHP Johnny Nuanez are headed to College Station, while the Aggies are predicted to land Texas State transfer Wade Cooper this week.
Enright’s background as a developer was the primary reason Earley hired him over several current college coaches, feeling that his pro-level perspective and ability to connect with up-and-coming pitchers who need to tweak small parts of their game to reach their potential. If A&M lands Cooper, it’s clear that Enright won’t have issues landing transfer players.
This week, former MLB manager Bo Porter, who served as the Angels’ first base coach during Bo Enright’s time with the organization, praised Earley’s decision to bring his former coaching partner on board, feeling that the Aggies may have just hired one of the “best pitching coaches in the country” during his interview with TexAgs.
“I commend Texas A&M for the hire,” Porter stated to TexAgs. “When you look at Barry Enright’s career, from the player to coach transitioning from the professional ranks to Texas A&M. I believe Texas A&M just hired one of the best pitching coaches in the country.”
Texas A&M will look to finish out the summer on a strong note, and after landing the No. 1-ranked portal player in former Clemson catcher Nate Savoie, the Aggies are on a roll.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former MLB manager praises Texas A&M hiring PC Barry Enright
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
