Plenty of new faces on ENMU baseball team

PORTALES — It’s a pretty safe bet you’ll need a program to recognize most of the Eastern New Mexico University baseball team the next time it takes the field.

That’s because the team that anticipates joining Greyhound coach Riley Price for his second season, and hopefully first full season, will be comprised of 20 newcomers and 20 veterans.

“This is not a typical ratio from year-to-year, but I think we have the right mixture of the two and should make for a pretty special group when we unite toward a common goal,” Price said in a school release. “I think we are going to see our young returners develop at a much faster rate because of the new competition that surrounds them and I’m so excited to get after it this fall and witness our guys come together as one.”

The signing class includes 14 transfers, and the 20 come from six different states and Canada.

The 10 pitchers and 10 hitters will certainly have opportunities to get playing time, as the team struggled to a 3-19 season shortened by the pandemic and only has two seniors returning for the 2021 season.

“I think the newcomers will really help to push and develop our talented young returners while adding some valuable experience to the mix,” Price said. “I’m anxious to see how this group of returners will respond, especially our talented freshmen group from last year and those six freshmen that will be arriving this fall.”