Former Texas Tech baseball pitcher Ryan Free, after year away with Angelo State, says he has a new year of Division I eligibility he'll use at Tech.
The Texas Tech baseball team hasn't seen the last of Ryan Free, apparently.
Free announced on Tuesday, July 15, he's been granted another year of Division I eligibility and plans to return to the Red Raiders, for whom he pitched for two years before transferring to Angelo State. He made the announcement on X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The lefthander from Frisco pitched the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Grayson College, the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Texas Tech and the 2025 season at Angelo State. The NCAA gave players on rosters during the 2020-21 school year one extra year of eligibility in Division I and two extra years in Division II, which prompted Free's transfer after the 2024 season. That was in response to the Covid-related disruptions after the onset of the pandemic.
Presumably, Free's extra year for 2026 would stem from the NCAA decision in December to give an extra year to athletes who started their careers at non-NCAA programs and were finishing their eligibility during the 2024-25 school year.
Free led the Red Raiders in 2023 with 27 appearances, all in relief, going 5-4 with a 4.11 earned-run average. He struck out 54 batters in 46 innings. In 2024, nine of Free's 17 appearances were starts and he finished 6-2 with a 6.36 ERA. He struck out 38 batters in 52 1/3 innings. He had one save in each season.
Angelo State went 48-10 this season and won the Lone Star Conference with a 39-7 record. Free was 5-1 with a 3.44 ERA, starting in nine of his 12 appearances. He fanned 50 in 49 2/3 innings.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lefty pitcher Ryan Free announces return to Texas Tech baseball team
Category: General Sports
