The last time Texas Tech opened fall baseball workouts with Larry Hays at the helm, Dire Straits wanted its MTV, a gallon of gas cost $1.09 and the country was introduced to Marty McFly.

Dan Spencer was a part of that team in 1985, and 23 years later he takes over for Hays as the Red Raiders coach when the team opens fall workouts today at 2:30 p.m. at Dan Law Field.

“It’s exciting,” said Spencer, who takes over the program after the retirement of Hays in July after 22 seasons at Tech. “I’m a little out of my element doing a lot of different stuff and I’ve had to get my arm in shape throwing batting practice every day and working with hitters. I was very impressed with the way the older guys … all came back noticeably stronger and in better shape. Then the younger guys outside of two came in in good shape, so we’ve been able to get a lot done in the small groups. ”

Tech goes into the fall with 39 players on the roster – 21 returning lettermen, 14 freshmen, three junior college transfers and one senior transfer.

Spencer’s task is to try to bring the Red Raiders out of a downturn that has seen them hit the cellar of the Big 12 Conference the past two years and not finish higher than eighth since 2004. This fall, though, will be the first with recruits brought in by Spencer and assistant coach Trent Petrie, who arrived last summer.

Spencer said one of the biggest goals for this fall and the spring was to become a more athletic team.

“Have we gotten as athletic as we want to be? No,” Spencer said. “But we did get more athletic (last season). If you come out and see us … the two things that will be most noticeable are … we’re a lot faster, and … we’ll have the ability to run more left-handed hitters up there.

“This group of kids that are in our freshman class are a tough, hardnosed group and they will be the foundation for the guys that follow them. The leadership of the older guys is also showing up and those guys have been a good group to work with.”

Going into the fall, only a couple of positions have distinct frontrunners. Sophomore Monk Kreder returns behind the plate but Spencer said catching will be a distinct strength with improvement shown by sophomore Jeremy Mayo and talented freshman Kevin Whitehead. Willie Rueda is back in the infield after leading the team in hitting last season, and senior Chris Richburg has moved to first base and made the transition look smooth so far, according to Spencer.

Outside of those spots, everything else is up for grabs.

On the mound, sophomore Chad Bettis and junior Nate Karns have been held back until this week after a heavy load through last spring and in the Cape Cod League, and senior Brian Cloud is recovering from injury but will begin throwing in a couple of weeks. The only returner not expected to participate in the spring is senior right-hander AJ Ramos, who is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery in April, although Spencer said with the progress the Estacado product has made in his rehab that he expects Ramos to be ready when the spring season starts.