Way too early look: What will Tech baseball look like in 2017?

The greatest run in school history.

That's what this 2016 Texas Tech baseball team just went on, winning the Big 12 conference regular season title by leading the race wire-to-wire before making it to the College World Series, eliminating top seeded Florida before being eliminated by Coastal Carolina as one of the final five standing.

It was a season for the ages, and it was a team lead by a group of seasoned veterans on the field. That group includes six seniors, and up to six more additional juniors are likely to head for Major League Baseball after being drafted. In fact, Ryan Moseley, Stephen Smith, and Robert Dugger have already declared their intentions to leave school early.

For a better picture, here's a chart breakdown of seniors and expected juniors that will no longer be wearing a red and black uniform in 2017:

There's no denying it: Tech will lose the big majority of the heart of this batting lineup with Gutierrez, Smith, Neslony, and Raley. That foursome might be the best in school history from a production standpoint, and they've been the core of this Red Raider offense for the last few seasons.

On the mound, Dugger and Howard were the one-two punch in the bullpen for Tech in almost every big game this season. Other than a small, small handful of outings, both were absolute nails for the Red Raiders on the dish, shutting down a large number of opposing offenses from the fifth or sixth inning on.

Damron, Moseley, Floyd, and Davis had some shining moments for Tech as well, specifically Floyd who was wildly underrated at catcher as the everyday man behind the plate this spring.

It's a lot to replace, but there are absolutely certain players you point to as the key returners...

Junior CF Tanner Gardner: Gardner was the breakout star offensively for Tech this spring, and you can make the argument that he was the best player at the plate not named Eric Gutierrez. He finished the year with a .379 average, and he hit the ball better than anyone else in the postseason. You wonder if he remains in the three-hole or moves up to leadoff due to his speed and OBP, but he's on track to lead the way offensively for Tech either way.

Senior 3B/1B Hunter Hargrove: While didn't become an every day starter for the Red Raiders in 2016 until roughly the last third of the year, but once he did, he grabbed hold of that role at third base and never let go, adding another great bat to the lineup, finishing the year with a .305 average and coming up with some really big hits for Tech in the postseason. He'll move up from 7th in the lineup to the meat of the order, and I would expect him to start at first base.

Junior 2B Michael Davis: He unfortunately ended the year with a few uncharacteristic errors at 2nd, but Davis was a defensive stalwart for Tech on the infield this spring. He's not going to be a big bat for the Red Raiders, but his defense more than makes up for that. Davis has shown potential at times offensively, but he's also gone on a number of cold streaks as he did in the postseason. Regardless, he's got a great glove at 2nd.

Junior SS Orlando Garcia: Garcia could be the one player for Tech you point to that has the potential to explode onto the scene, both in the Big 12 and nationally. He's a power hitter that really found his groove to end the year, slapping the ball around really well, finishing with a five game hitting streak to end the postseason against the best consistent pitching Tech saw all year. Garcia moved up to the two-hole to finish the year, and I would expect to see him remain there.

Sophomore RHP Davis Martin: To call Martin dominant this year would be an understatement. He pitched like a salty vet most of the year and finished with only one loss despite being a true freshman, He delivered some of the biggest performances on the mound for the Red Raiders on the season, earning numerous freshman All-Big 12 and All-American honors. He's the ace of the staff, and there will be lofty expectations for him moving forward.

Sophomore LHP Steven Gingery: Often, and unfairly, Gingery was overlooked because of Martin's otherworldy year. Just like Martin, he was incredible as a true freshman, only having a handful of not-great outings due to some arm fatigue late in the year, but that's to be expected with most youngsters. The Cali native will hold down the Saturday spot in the rotation once again, and he'll be expected to be a great one for the Red Raiders as well.

Sophomore LHP Erikson Lanning: Lanning flashed in his opening performance of the year against Milwuakee, but he had some freshman struggles at times throughout the year. However, his Sunday start against East Carolina in the super regionals was phenomenal, and you saw the potential materialize against the Pirates. Should he evolve and blossom with consistency heading into his sophomore season, Tech could have one of the best weekend three man rotations in the country on the mound.

And while those players now become the veterans you hope to lean on, you also will have a few returning contributors and incoming newcomers that must fill roles if this team is going to compete for the Big 12 yet again in 2017...

Junior LHP Dylan Dusek - After missing this last season due to Tommy Johns surgery, Dusek returns as a big piece for Tech's pitching staff. You wonder how long it takes him to return to form, which will likely determine whether he comes out of the bullpen or is a bonafide starter once again. He only allowed more than two runs in a start once as a sophomore in 2015, and if he can be his old self again, Tech's starting rotation will be absolutely filthy.

Sophomore RHP Ryan Shetter - Shetter really showed some good stuff down the stretch during his freshman campaign this spring, and the coaching staff believes he can turn into a legit MLB prospect if he continues to add some velocity. A guy that can be a key reliever out of the pen if he continues to grow.

Senior DH Anthony Lyons - At 6-5, 240, Lyons is one of the most physically intimidating presences in college baseball at the plate, and he's been one of the go-to pinch hitters for Tim Tadlock over the last three seasons. His percentage stats have taken a healthy jump each year, too. Now is his chance to really shine, as he'll likely get first dibs at DH. He seems to always make good contact with the ball when he connects, and now it's about taking the next step.

Sophomore IF Trey Ochoa - I think some believed Ochoa would push for a job as an everyday starter heading into the season, but Orlando Garcia, Michael Davis, and Hunter Hargrove pushed back with great years. Ochoa will likely have to fight for the job at third base, and I think you'll see this staff expect him to take a big leap as a sophomore both at the plate and defensively.

Sophomore OF Cody Farhat - Farhat didn't see much playing time this season, and he's still seemingly trying to find his groove after he missed his senior year of high school due to injury. However, he's the first candidate at the top of the list to have a crack at one of the two open outfield positions, and when he's been fully healthy in the past, Farhat has shown speed and great hitting ability at the plate. Should really blossom heading into next year.

Sophomore C Matt Bernstein - Bernstein only played in 11 games this last season, but I think you really saw some things you liked from him behind the plate at times, including the way he conducted his pitchers and the defense. He'll be one of a big group of catchers that will look to try and replace Tyler Floyd behind the plate.

Freshman OF/RHP John McMillon - Word on the street is that McMillon has turned down some noteworthy money in the MLB draft and will likely end up at Tech instead. Should that be the case, the Red Raiders will have picked up a great player. He has a cannon for an arm, and he has some pop in his bat. He'll likely be an immediate candidate to start in either left or right field for the Red Raiders.

Freshman IF/RHP Josh Jung - A versatile player that can hit and pitch both, Jung could be a utility man for the Red Raiders on the infield or at DH. He was a first team Louisville Slugger All-American as a junior and batted an incredible .563 that year. A potential big bat for the Red Raiders.

Freshman C/INF Michael Berglund - The competition at catcher will be wide open, and Berglund certainly could be a guy that tries to come in and win it as a freshman. He can play third base, too, which makes him a very valuable player should Tadlock and Co. decide to move Hargrove over to 1st base.

Freshman C Clay Koelzer - A local product from Amarillo, Koelzer is a competitor and a switch hitter, something Tech hasn't really legitimately had in the last few years. Again, like the other youngsters, he'll come in and have a chance to win the job at catcher.

JUCO transfer LHP Quinton Forrester - Forrester, a 6-9 lefty, comes in from Cowley College as a JUCO prospect that Tadlock and the Tech staff believe just keeps growing and growing, was a late bloomer in high school that was actually a more highly sought after basketball prospect originally. His velocity keeps going up, and there's a lot of potential here if he keeps getting better.

JUCO transfer 1B Zach Rheams - After spending last season at Cisco, Rheams heads to Lubbock as a potential starter at 1st base from day one. He slugged .626 while batting .385, including 59 RBIs, seven home runs and a NJCAA 10th best 23 doubles on the year. He could come in and compete for a wide open job at DH, too.