Former Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle is currently public enemy No. 1 in College Station after taking the same job at Texas less than 24 hours after losing the College World Series and vowing never to leave the Aggies. Travis Chestnut, one of his now-former players, seems to think that it is actually for the best.
He absolutely loathes Schlossnagle and ripped his former coach to shreds following the mishandled departure.
Chestnut just wrapped up his senior year with Texas A&M and hit .262 with 13 RBIs and 41 runs scored in 107 at-bats over 49 games. It was a good year, but not necessarily a great year. Especially toward the end. The 5-foot-7 utility infielder struggled down the stretch and into the postseason.
And then he ended up playing a crucial role on the biggest stage.
Chestnut struck out 11 times in 18 at-bats before laying down a key bunt with two strikes in the CWS championship for a base hit. He ended up at second after the bunt, stole third and scored on a single.
Two strike BHB for a hit in tonight’s CWS finale by Texas A&M’s Travis Chestnut. It was not a perfect bunt, but it didn’t have to be with the 3B back with two strikes & Chestnut’s speed. The show was on the early side, the speed was good enough with the 3B back to force the pic.twitter.com/egZzNmnZqo
— Jerry Weinstein (@JWonCATCHING) June 25, 2024
Schlossnagle was rather unkind…
Not surprising considering Schloss buried Chestnut after the biggest moment of his career. https://t.co/nHWVMyiSIw pic.twitter.com/aIu8UvT3s6
— Decent Bull (@DecentBullPhD) June 27, 2024
Texas A&M’s head coach left for Texas less than 48 hours later.
Travis Chestnut got revenge on Jim Schlossnagle!
When asked about his experience with his now-former coach, the now-former Aggie unloaded. Chestnut told The Eagle that his experience with Schlossnagle was a disaster.
I’m blown away by the disrespect of Schlossnagle. Not once in my career was he a respectable man to me.
— Travis Chestnut
One might ask why someone who was so unhappy chose to stay with the program instead of seeking another opportunity at another program. He stayed in spite of his coach, not for his coach.
I stuck with him because I wanted to be an Aggie and in the SEC. But quite frankly, I didn’t stick to him. I stuck to [assistant coaches] Mike Earley and Nolan Cain.
— Travis Chestnut
That is a rather strong quote to put on the record. It sounds like there were quite a few players and staffers at Texas A&M who hated Jim Schlossnagle. And if they didn’t before, they certainly do now.
Especially after his uncalled for attack on a reporter and blatant lie.
Travis Chestnut might be the most vocal. He was mocked by his coach on national television and turned it right back around!