AUSTIN — University of Texas pitcher Gage Boehm is grateful for all of the adversity and misfortune he’s had to overcome.
Boehm, who graduated from Hutto High School in 2020, did not take a straightforward path to become a Division 1 baseball player. A major injury and lost opportunities forced the former Hippo to attend four different schools before arriving at UT-Austin.
The Longhorn believes he is better off as a pitcher on the mound after everything he’s gone through.
“I feel like I am extremely confident out there,” Boehm said. “I feel like I have really nothing to lose anymore, so I go out with that kind of mindset. I’m not really afraid of anything.”
Boehm’s time at Hutto began smoothly. With a combination of size and strength, Boehm — who today stands 6-foot-5 inches and weighs 255 pounds — was offered a scholarship to play for the Longhorns when he was 15 years old.
However, an elbow fracture meant the commitment to Texas was on hold for the entirety of his junior season. Afterwards, the university pulled the scholarship.
“When he lost his opportunity to go to Texas after he had been committed there for so long, I would say (it) was pretty devastating,” mother Jeni Boehm said. “But he didn’t lose faith. He kept working.”
While the player went through rehabilitation to recover from the injury in time for his final year at Hutto High, Gage Boehm’s senior season was canceled with the outbreak of COVID-19. In-person classes transitioned to remote learning and athletic programs were shelved.
Boehm headed to Texas A&M University for baseball after graduating from high school, but the NCAA’s eligibility adjustments from the pandemic meant he entered a roster full of experienced players who otherwise would have graduated.
Jeni Boehm said her son soon left Texas A&M and went to Hill College, which is a junior college in Hillsboro.
He then transferred to Blinn College the following season. While the player found success at Blinn, he left after one season when he learned his coach would no longer manage the team.
Finally, Gage Boehm spent the last season at San Jacinto College, a Houston-area community campus that traditionally sends a lot of players off to NCAA programs.
Then, three years out of high school, Boehm earned another offer to play for the Longhorns.
“I literally could write a book with all the stuff he’s been through,” Jeni Boehm said. “He’s a great kid … He’s focused on being successful in the future in baseball and in life.”
About a month into the 2024 season, Gage Boehm is arguably Texas’ best option coming out of the bullpen.
In his six pitching appearances, the relief pitcher has allowed four runs and 10 total hits for a 3.02 Earned Run Average. Boehm has struck out 15 batters, earned two saves and has not issued a walk.
Head Coach David Pierce chose to let Boehm pitch in one of the biggest spots of the early season.
Against conference rival Texas Tech University, Boehm was tasked with holding on to a slim Longhorn lead in the sixth inning of the series-deciding finale. The pitcher only allowed one run in four innings, which was enough to give Texas the victory.
“To finally play here, it’s pretty special,” Boehm said. “So, I’m extremely grateful that I finally got the opportunity to be a part of it this year.”
Boehm and the Texas Longhorns will play the Washington Huskies this weekend, March 15-17, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin.
