Two Aggies rank Top 10 nationally in home runs through mid-April

Texas A&M baseball’s (33-4, 11-4 SEC) 2024 season has already become a memorable journey with one of the best teams ever to grace Blue Bell Park, as the No. 1-ranked Aggies are currently riding a five-game winning streak after sweeping the then No. 6-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores last weekend, followed by a 15-5 drumming of the visiting Air Force Falcons on Tuesday night.

Winning both at the plate and on the mound, third-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle knows that the current stream of success is somewhat premature before postseason play, but if the bats remain as hot as they’ve been all year, the sky is the limit heading into May.

The Aggies’ three-man wrecking crew at the top of the batting lineup is downright deadly. Freshman Gavin Grahovic has been stellar this season with 13 home runs. At the same time, future Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery have already combined for 38 homers in 37 games, producing nearly 50% of A&M’s 77 total home runs.

Up to every game played after April 16, here are the Top 10 home run leaders in college baseball so far this year.

10

Five tied at No. 10

A kid in the stands has a collection of baseballs in his glove as he watches LSU play Arkansas during the SEC Tournament elimination game Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Hoover Met.

Wright State: Jay Luikart: 16 home runs

South Dakota State: Cael Frost: 16 home runs

UNC Greensboro: Cael Frost: 16 home runs

Georgia Tech: Drew Burress: 16 home runs

Austin Peay: John Bay: 16 home runs

9

Wake Forest — Nick Kurtz

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest record: 24-12 (9-9 ACC)

Batting average: .340

Home runs: 17

8

Morehead State — Roman Kuntz

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Morehead State record: 21-16 (6-6 Ohio Valley)

Batting average: .340

Home runs: 18

7

Texas A&M — Jace LaViolette

Texas A&M right fielder Jace LaViolette loses the ball in the sun and misses a fly ball in foul territory against Arkansas during the second round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Texas A&M record: 33-4 (11-4 SEC)

Batting average: .319

Home runs: 18

6

Oregon State — Travis Bazzana

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Oregon State record: 30-5 (10-4 Pac 12)

Batting average: .452

Home runs: 18

5

Austin Peay — Lyle Miller-Green

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Austin Peay record: 21-15 (9-9 Atlantic Sun)

Batting average: .368

Home runs: 19

4

UNC Wilmington — Tanner Thach

UNCW’s #29 Tanner Thach is out at 2nd base as Coastal’s #7 Blake Barthol makes the double play as UNCW took on Coastal Carolina Tuesday April 2, 2024 at home. UNCW won 6-4. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

UNC Wilmington record: 24-12 (10-2 Coastal Atlantic)

Batting average: .340

Home runs: 18

3

Texas A&M — Braden Montgomery

Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery (6) celebrates a home run with his teammates in the first inning of the Longhorns’ game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Texas A&M record: 33-4 (11-4 SEC)

Batting average: .379

Home runs: 20