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Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle blasted critics after star player Braden Montgomery suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Super Regionals. He wasn’t happy with “second guessers” blaming third base coach Nolan Cain for the setback.
Montgomery was injured on a play at the plate during Game 1 of the Aggies‘ series with Oregon. Beaten by a relay throw to home, the projected Top 5 pick planted his leg awkwardly in an attempt to avoid the catcher’s tag.
In doing so, he cleanly broke his ankle.
Doesn’t look great for Texas A&M’s Braden Montgomery. He planted his leg awkwardly as he was starting his slide into home pic.twitter.com/XoW44Z82rQ
— Tyler Shaw (@TylerShawSports) June 8, 2024
Montgomery has been one of the SEC’s top players this season following a transfer from Stanford. The outfielder racked up 27 home runs in College Station this year while hitting .322 to lead a potent Aggie offense.
Given his impact on the Texas A&M baseball team thus far, many were immediately critical of third base coach Nolan Cain’s decision to send Montgomery home on the play.
“Why did they send him?”
“Poor coaching.”
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle wasn’t going to let his staff members become the scapegoat.
He ripped critics in his postgame press conference with a fiery response.
Jim Schlossnagle FIERCELY defended associate HC Nolan Cain, who serves as Texas A&M’s 3B coach.
“All the second guessers, don’t even show tomorrow. Don’t even come to the freaking game.” #GigEm pic.twitter.com/CMyNMZyVZu
— Ben Peck – KCEN/KAGS 🦚🐻👍 (@TheBenPeck) June 9, 2024
“It wasn’t even a collision on the slide,” he replied when asked about the decision. “I think he made a step to slide headfirst, so I don’t think the send or no-send had anything to do with it.
“The only person that feels worse than Braden is Nolan. I’m sure he wishes something different would’ve happened, but that has nothing to do with it. All the second guessers – don’t even show tomorrow. Don’t even come to the freaking game.”
Montgomery will now miss the remainder of the season as his Aggie teammates attempt to book their ticket to Omaha. Despite the injury, Texas A&M won Saturday’s baseball game against Oregon. They’re now one win away from the College World Series.