The $9 million goal set for creating a baseball enhancement project for the Longhorns is now one step closer to being fulfilled.
On Tuesday, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte announced that Roger Clemens, former Longhorn pitcher and seven-time MLB Cy Young Award-winner, and his wife, Debbie, pledged a $1 million donation to the Longhorns’ baseball program. Clemens, who was a member of the 1983 national championship team, played two seasons for Texas and compiled a 25–7 record on the mound.
“On my way to a 24-year career in the major leagues, I can say for me, it started right here at the University of Texas,” Clemens said. “When I was at Texas, we had the best facility in the nation. Now with the addition of the indoor complex and training facility, it will once again be the best place to play, work out and take your game to the next level.”
Clemens has had all four of his sons go through Texas in some shape or fashion. His youngest two, Kacy and Kody, played on the 2017 team together. Kacy was the Longhorns’ team and offensive MVP last year. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Kody, meanwhile, is currently the 2018 team’s most lethal player and a midseason All-American.
Texas is currently the only team in the Big 12 without an indoor baseball training facility, but expect that to change with this donation and potentially more to follow.