News Summary
Cliff Pennington, a former standout player for Texas A&M, is rejoining the Aggie baseball team as an assistant coach. After serving as an assistant at Dallas Baptist University, where he helped elevate the team’s national rankings, Pennington replaces Will Fox and will oversee the infield defense and third-base coaching. His extensive playing and coaching experience are expected to benefit the Aggies as they strive for greater success in upcoming seasons.
College Station, Texas – Cliff Pennington, a former Texas A&M baseball standout, is returning to the Aggies as an assistant coach. His hiring was confirmed recently, marking a significant development in the program’s staff.
Pennignton makes his return after spending four seasons at Dallas Baptist University (DBU), where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Under his guidance, the DBU Patriots achieved impressive statistics, ranking 42nd nationally with a batting average of .301 during the recent season. The team also demonstrated remarkable power at the plate, hitting 100 home runs which placed them 17th in the country, and scoring an average of 8.4 runs per game to secure a 28th place ranking.
In 2024, Pennington’s offensive strategies propelled DBU to even greater heights, achieving national rankings of 12th in home runs with 115, 13th in slugging percentage at .542, 14th in doubles with 134, and 24th in total hits with 625. His contributions to the program have been vital, particularly in developing talent, as he was instrumental in the growth of three All-Americans and multiple Conference Freshman of the Year honorees during his tenure.
Pennington will now replace Will Fox, the previous assistant coach at Texas A&M, and will specifically oversee the infield defense while also taking on the role of third base coach. His coaching philosophy emphasizes speed and aggressive baserunning, evident from DBU’s achievement of stealing 305 bases over the past three seasons, which ranked 18th nationally.
Pennington is no stranger to Texas A&M, having previously served as a graduate assistant for two seasons. His impressive playing career for the Aggies spanned from 2003 to 2005, earning him three All-Big 12 selections along with All-American honors in 2005. During his time at Texas A&M, he ranked in the top 10 all-time in several categories, including hits (246), triples (10), and stolen bases (53), and boasted a career batting average of .346.
Upon completing his collegiate athletic career, Pennington was selected 21st overall in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2008 and enjoyed an 11-year career, retiring in 2019. Throughout his professional journey, he played for five major league franchises – the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, and Cincinnati Reds – while maintaining a career batting average of .242, with 36 home runs and 242 RBIs.
The news of Pennington’s return to Texas A&M has been circulating, with reports confirming that Ryan Brauninger from TexAgs was the first to break the story. His extensive experience both as a player and coach is expected to contribute significantly to the Aggies’ baseball program moving forward.
In summary, Cliff Pennington’s return as an assistant coach at Texas A&M represents a strategic move for the baseball program, leveraging his deep knowledge of the game and proven success in developing young athletes. With his background and expertise, the Aggies look to enhance their competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.
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Additional Resources
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