Ty Thames is Rice’s clutch rookie finisher on the bump
In the 2026 season, freshman right-hander Ty Thames emerged as Rice’s go-to late-inning arm, collecting 5 saves and earning American Conference Pitcher of the Week honors after back-to-back save performances in a road sweep at Charlotte. He’s a good fit if you want a composed, strike-throwing reliever with real leverage-game polish: he’s already shown he can handle pressure, protect leads, and miss enough bats to close innings. At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, he brings a sturdy build and the kind of competitive edge that tends to play up in close games.
