Passing the 12 Torch

There was a sense of comfort and familiarity.

When Troy Claunch arrived at Blue Bell Park last August, he was greeted in the locker room by a name plate bearing No. 17. It was a number he donned during his brilliant four-year career at Oregon State.

“Initially it was nice, being at a brand new place, but having something be the same,” Claunch said. 

Before he finished his lone season in the Maroon & White, he was engrained in the lore of Aggieland as No. 12.

There is not another school in the country more invested in a number than Texas A&M, Home of the 12th Man. Although for most teams at the school some thought is put in when giving someone number 12, only the football team had official criteria for bestowing it on a student-athlete.

While some Aggie greats have worn No. 12 in the past, including the likes of Kyle Colligan, John Stilson, Cole Lankford, Corbin Martin and Joseph Menefee in recent years, the aligning of the number with performance was more happenstance. 

In his first season as the Aggies’ head coach, Jim Schlossnagle wanted the No. 12 to hold a special spot on the baseball roster.

“The number 12 is obviously very near and dear to Texas A&M,” Schlossnagle said. “Last fall, I thought it would be appropriate to award No. 12 to someone who truly defines the core values of our university and Aggie baseball – Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service. This will be something we attempt to do each year as we move the program forward.”

From the moment he stepped on campus, Claunch checked all the boxes.

“Troy earned the respect of his teammates, our coaching staff and all of our support staff,” Schlossnagle said. “Although we had several players with tremendous character, Troy stood out as the player who earned the privilege to wear 12.”

For the start of a new tradition, few can argue with the high standard Claunch set. He served as the Aggies’ starting catcher on a team that won the program’s first College World Series games since 1993 and recorded A&M’s best finish ever in Omaha.

“Troy set a huge example,” the newest No. 12 Austin Bost said. “He was sort of the captain of our team last year. He was the one who led us to where we got. Without him, I don’t think we make it to Omaha. It would be a tribute to him, to be able to represent No. 12 as well as he did.”

Claunch had an all-conference worthy season, batting .292 with 46 runs, 15 doubles, three home runs and 49 RBI. But it was the game-winning moments which earned him the Clutch Claunch moniker.

In the Aggies’ series opener against Kentucky in April, he set off a celebration at Olsen Field when he blasted a 2-2 offering 406 feet for an 11th-inning walk off home run.

Two months later Claunch would deliver another after-midnight game winner, but on a bigger stage. In the opening game of their Super Regional against Louisville, he drilled a single past the Cardinals’ first baseman to cap off a 5-4 victory.

“Troy did a great job with it,” Schlossnagle said. “It was kind of an awkward thing because he was a new guy, but he earned the respect of his teammates. And he delivered. More importantly in the locker room, but he was very important on defense as the catcher and being involved in every pitch and he was an asset at the plate.”

On December 12 at 12:12 p.m., the torch was officially passed to Bost.

“Austin is a guy whose entire family is invested in Texas A&M and the traditions,” Schlossnagle said. “His entire family is woven into the fabric of this university. But more importantly, Austin represents the core values of this university and our baseball program at a really high level. He is obviously a really good player. He is a super competitive, gritty, excellence-seeking athlete and that’s what we want to embody out of No. 12.”

Bost’s numbers speak for themselves. Last season, he earned ABCA All-Central Region First Team and All-SEC recognition as he batted .360 with 52 runs, 14 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 45 RBI. In 30 league games, Bost ranked second in the SEC with a .385 batting average and led the conference with 45 hits over 10 weekends of action.

The Groves, Texas native was elated with the news and is ready for the duties that come with wearing 12.

“It gave me goose bumps,” Bost said. “It’s been a dream my whole life to come to Texas A&M. The fact I get to wear No. 12, and what it represents to this university, is an incredible honor. The expectations are to lead this team to the best of my ability, to represent this university with the highest standard possible and to be the light that shines a way through to a national championship for this team.”

With the proper passing of the torch, Claunch is beaming with confidence that Bost is going to live up to the number.

“He is a tremendous leader,” Claunch said. “He loves this school. He loves its traditions. He loves everything about A&M. He is a perfect representation of what it means to be a Fightin’ Texas Aggie. He, just like I was, is going to do everything on and off the field for these guys and this program and he’s going to do it the right way.”

As Bost’s locker name plate with 11 is packed away, he is now greeted with one that offers more comfort and familiarity.