SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Tuesday, Texas State baseball head coach Steven Trout announced the panel of speakers for the 2025 Leadoff Dinner sponsored by Werner's Catering that will be a celebration of the Bobcats 40 years of Division I baseball.
 
The panel consists of former players Jeremy Fikac, Jose Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Luke Sherley and Tyler Sibley. Former head coaches Howard Bushong and Ty Harrington will be on the panel as well.
 
About the Panelist:
Jeremy Fikac:

• Played at Texas State from 1997-98
• 2012 TXST Hall of Honor inductee
• Former Bobcat assistant coach (2008-17)
• Pitched four seasons in MLB with Montreal, Oakland and San Diego

 
Jose Gonzalez:

• Played at Texas State from 2021-23
• Second all-time at TXST in home runs (33)
• 2022 Stanford All-Region Team
• Signed minor league deal with Houston Astros in January 2025

 
David Hamilton:

• Played at Texas State from 1986-87
• First-ever Bobcat selected in MLB Draft when he was taken with the 3rd pick of the 60th round by the Cincinnati Reds in 1987
• Sixth most triples in a season with six in 1986

 
Luke Sherley:

• Played at Texas State from 2015-18
• Drafted in 2019 by the Detroit Tigers in the 14th round
• Bobcats' all-time leader in games played (221), assists (661) and double plays turned (143)
• Top 10 in team history in games started, at bats, walks, stolen base attempts and sacrifice bunts

 
Tyler Sibley:

• Played at Texas State from 2009-12
• 2023 TXST Hall of Honor inductee
• Holds Bobcat career records for games started, at bats, hits, runs, total bases, stolen bases, stolen base attempts
• 2011 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American
• 2011 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year

 
Howard Bushong:

• Texas State head coach from 1994-99
• Won 171 career games
• Led the Bobcats to first two NCAA regional appearances (1997 & 1999)
• 1996 Southland Conference Coach of the Year

Ty Harrington:

• Texas State head coach from 2000-2019
• Program's all-time winningest coach with 657 victories
• Three-time conference coach of the year (2009, 2011, 2019)
• Recorded 16 seasons of 30 or more wins
• Had 51 players selected in the MLB Draft

 
Taking place on Feb. 1, the Leadoff Dinner will be held at the LBJ Student Center Ballroom on the campus of Texas State University. Check-in and the cocktail social mixer begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner portion of the event starting at 7 p.m.
 
Individual seats for the dinner are available for $125 and a full table of eight guests for $1,000.
 
Table sponsors are also available for $500 which includes marketing through social media platforms, company name featured on sponsored table, recognition at the dinner and 10 tickets to any home game, excluding the contests against TCU and Texas. A table sponsorship does not include tickets to the event. Contact director of operations Joseph Hill at jah434@txstate.edu or 806-543-0288 for more information or to purchase a sponsorship.
 
The Leadoff Dinner is the apex of alumni weekend. Patrons will have the opportunity to watch SWT/TXST alumni take the field in the annual alumni game earlier during the day on Feb. 1 at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
Leadoff Dinner Tickets: https://txstatebobcats.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:TXST:BCE24:BSLD:&linkID=txstate&dataAccId=850&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_txstate