TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos has announced the addition of Thomas Eshelman to the coaching staff. He will serve as the pitching coach for the program.
"We are so thrilled to be adding such an elite pitching coach in Thomas Eshelman," said Saarloos. "He's authentic, incredibly competitive and committed to player development. Thomas is going to have a major impact on our program."
Eshelman's arrival in Fort Worth marks a full circle moment for himself and Saarloos. As the pitching coach Cal State Fullerton for two years from 2011-12, Saarloos was responsible for recruiting the Carlsbad, Calif. native to the Titans.
"Kirk has been with me since the beginning of all this," said Eshelman. "I was his first recruit at Cal State Fullerton. So, when he called, it was like going back in time and doing it all over again. TCU's rich history and success is something I've experienced coming from Cal State Fullerton. I feel like Kirk and I share a lot of similarities. To be able to get an offer like this, to be able coach at TCU is something that I don't take likely. It's a humbling offer. At the same time, I'm hungry to be able to help this program have the success that it deserves."
Eshelman makes is way to TCU from the Baltimore Orioles organization. He joined the Orioles as the upper-level pitching coordinator in February. While with the Orioles he was responsible for working with minor league pitchers at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Chesapeake.
Prior to joining the Orioles, Eshelman spent four seasons in the San Diego Padres organization. He was a pitching coach for Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2023 before moving up to High-A Fort Wayne in 2024 where he spent two seasons.
He joined the Padres after retiring from professional baseball. His eight year career saw him eventually make it the Major League level with the Orioles. He spent parts of three season in the Big Leagues. The right-handed pitcher made his MLB debut on July 1, 2019. He made 14 starts as part of 31 career appearances. In 98 1/3 innings pitched, he tallied 49 strikeouts and posted a 5.77 ERA.
A second-round draft pick in 2015 by the Houston Astros, Eshelman was part of a seven-player deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent his collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton.
In three years with the Titans, Eshelman started 47 games as part of 49 career games. He posted a 27-10 record with 11 complete games and four shutouts. In 352 1/3 innings pitched, he fanned 303 batters and issued just 17 walks while holding opponents to a .210 batting average against. He set the Cal State Fullerton program record with a 1.65 career ERA. His 0.43 walks per nine inning were an NCAA record.
He was a three-time All-American and a three-time All-Big West Conference honoree. Eshelman was tabbed the 2013 Big West Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year and the 2015 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year. Additionally, he was a two-time Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist (2013, 2015).
