EDINBURG — UTRGV athletics announced an investment of $30 million to upgrade existing athletic facilities for current sports over the next three years in April 2022.
Those upgrades hit the UTRGV Baseball Stadium with a newly renovated clubhouse, featuring new lockers with padded seating, tile flooring with a UTRGV logo painted in the middle and a fueling area for baseball players.
The UTRGV baseball team got its first look at the clubhouse Friday then hit the field for the first official team practice of the 2023 season.
“Facilities are about recruiting,” UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said. “This is a home … so that’s huge for a kid and it’s exciting to take the family here. With what (UTRGV vice president and director of athletics) Chasse Conque and the administration did take it to a whole new level. To compete in the WAC, you got to beat them in facilities, which lets you beat them in recruiting.”
The Vaqueros are scheduled to open the regular season with a three-game home series against Houston Christian on Feb. 17.
“You guys have a great coach that is constantly changing for you and constantly fighting for you,” Conque said. “This is truly about people and facilities, and today we have provided both. We have an unbelievable coaching staff and a phenomenal group of student-athletes. Thank you all for what you do and making this so special for us.”