Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and other family members, senior catcher Troy Stein has always held A&M close to heart.
Growing up in Castroville, Texas, as a four-year letter-winner at Medina Valley High School, Stein compiled various awards during his high school career, including first-team all-state his senior season.
Stein said he was sure of his future at Texas A&M after watching family members join the Aggie family.
“I knew I wanted to play baseball and this seemed like a good fit,” said Stein. “With the coaching staff that they had – Coach Childress, Coach Seely and Coach Sawyers – it just seemed like a place I just wanted to be.”
Joining the team in as a recruited freshman walk-on, Stein considered himself fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from his older teammates.
“I’ve been lucky enough to come in as a freshman and learn a lot of good things from a few seniors, and after that being able to step up and play the role,” Stein said.
Teammates and coaches rave about Stein’s leadership and work ethic. Senior relief pitcher Jason Jester said Stein’s work ethic has propelled him into a leadership role on the squad.
“He’s the quarterback of the team behind the plate,” Jester said. “He’s the first guy here and the last one to leave. We have a lot of confidence in him, and at the end of the day, no matter what, he’s going to leave it all out there.”
A&M head coach Rob Childress said Stein’s leadership skills shine not just on the baseball field, but off as well.
“He’s just an incredible worker, incredible leader, he’s got a strong walk with Christ and he’s a leader in a lot of different areas – not just on the field and in the clubhouse – but also through SCA and discipleship,” Childress said.
Stein said the team’s ultimate goal would be to return to Omaha for the College World Series as Stein did his freshman year, but in order to accomplish that goal each player has a part to play.
“If it’s not your spot, it’s your job to be selfless and root for your teammates and cheer on whoever is playing,” Stein said. “That just comes with it. Being a good teammate and being able to stick with it and you’re going to get your shot. And when you get your shot, you take advantage of it.”
Stein said his plans for the future are still blurry, and due to his determination to stay dedicated to his team, taking the professional step in his baseball career has not been his major focus.
“Obviously, [the draft] comes up when you’re a junior and senior, but to me this is far more important than professional baseball,” Stein said. “Putting yourself on the line for your guys that you get to know and get to play with for four years is more special than that.”
Stein said he hopes to carry on his tradition of work ethic and leadership beyond his baseball career. With a major in sports management, he hopes to retain a close proximity with college sports.
“I think there’s a lot to be said about developing kids this age that can be dictated by who they hang out with and what kind of life they live,” Stein said. “Whether it be in the front office or in the weight room or coaching, I would like to stay around college athletes.”