Catching up with Head Baseball Coach Todd Butler

Monday was been the day Todd Butler had waited for since he took the Head Wichita State Baseball coaching job three months ago: the first practice. It was a chance to get on the field and work with his players.

Butler said he’s excited about working with a veteran team. All but two players from last year’s Missouri Valley Championship team are returning.

The Shockers officially began to practice as a team on Monday, Sept. 9 and will continue through Thursday, Oct. 17.

The Shockers host their annual best-out-of-five Shocker World Series from Friday, Oct. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 23.

With 18 Shockers playing summer baseball across the country, Butler has not seen every player in action yet.

He hopes to learn more about the players he has not seen soon.

“The players I have seen I been pleased with the guys work ethic, attitude, the effort,” he said. Cale Elam was the Friday starter and A.J. Ladwig was the Tuesday starter.

“The staff is still looking for the Sunday starter, but with their experience, those two really have a chance to be good this season for us,” Butler said.

Butler’s first opportunity to watch many of his players is during the intra-squad scrimmages Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Butler is excited to see his pitching staff work.

“We got some new guys and freshman that look good in the bullpen. But until we can get them in a game setting against some competition and older players, we don’t know what to expect from them,” Butler said. “Our practices around here will be long and tedious.”

Butler said he thinks that practices are for the benefit of coaches and games are for players.

“We will try to put players in the best position to succeed covering any possible situation that may arise in a baseball game,” Butler said. “That comes from practice. The main thing I continue to tell the team we must be able to play the game three days in a row.”

He said the team will “build consistency” through practice three days in a row or intra squad.

Over the summer, Butler and his staff recruited aggressively and received 10 verbal commitments from players who want to be future Shocker baseball players.

Butler cannot comment on the recruits until they sign their national letter of intent binding a player to come to WSU in November.

He said players will mainly come from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

“We will try and get as many local area kids in Kansas as we can, but we are going for any kid that can play the game of baseball,” Butler said. “Staying in the central states areas is where the coaching staff will recruit.”

As for expectations for the upcoming season, Butler said he just wants the team to play hard, have a positive attitude and give effort every time they step on the field.

Butler realizes that expectations for him are high.

“I hear daily that I have big shoes to fill,” he said. “I know we’re talking about the second winning coach in college baseball history. Me and my staff will do our best to add to the program. The community and fan base has accepted us. I’m happy to be here and get to work and make an impact.”