HOUSTON – Rice Owls head coach Jose Cruz, Jr. has used his connections in Puerto Rico to recruit and change the dynamic of the Owls all three seasons he’s been the head coach. Now, Cruz, Jr. and the Owls will travel to the Commonwealth not just for recruiting purposes, but for games.
Rice will play three games as part of an eight-team tournament in Ponce, Puerto Rico February 14-16, facing Villanova, Michigan and Virginia. The first-of-its-kind tournament will bring NCAA baseball to the island, helping connect one of baseball’s best hotbeds with some of the top college programs in the country.
The Owls feature two players from Puerto Rico on their roster - both sons of big leaguers - Javier Vazquez (the son of All-Star pitcher and 14-year pro Javier Vazquez) and Hiram Bocachica, Jr. (the son of 8-year pro Hiram Bocachica).
“It’s going to be so special playing in front of my friends and family,” said Vazquez, a freshman infielder for the Owls.
“That they go out there and play in a different place, pretty much a different country, a different language, different atmosphere, different vibe and energy, that’s pretty cool,” said Rice head coach Jose Cruz, Jr. “At the same time, we’re trying to broaden the horizons.”
The Owls are coming into their second season in the American Athletic conference, and are hoping to make a run after an 8th place finish in 2024. Rice had its most wins (23) and most conference wins (11) under Cruz, Jr., but haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2017.
Cruz says his newcomers will be a big part of the effort.
“We have a nice crop of freshmen, they’re dynamic,” said Cruz, Jr. “This is the best recruiting class we’ve had so far.”
One name to watch is Blaine Brown, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Shadow Creek High School in Pearland. Brown is the son of former Colorado Buffaloes All-American running back Chris Brown, who enjoyed a six-year career in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans. Brown is believed to be Rice’s top recruit, and has a lot of raw talent that could project into an eventual star player and high draft pick.
The Owls open the season February 14th against Villanova in Puerto Rico.