Arizona baseball announced its 2003 schedule, and it includes three high-profile Texas teams along with the always-tough Pacific 10 Conference.

The Wildcats play all three prominent Texas teams , including NCAA defending champion Texas along with Texas A&M and Baylor, all perennially ranked teams.

"It's really exciting because I know a lot of guys on those teams since I played against them in high school and this summer," said freshman John Meloan, a Houston native.

Meloan considered Texas A&M but fell in love when he toured the UA campus and met with head coach Andy Lopez.

The Wildcats will play host to Baylor Feb. 7 - Feb. 9 in the second series of the season. Arizona continues the Lone Star State swing against Texas A&M at home from Feb. 28 - March 2 and will end the tour against UT in Austin March 7-9.

"I can't wait to get home, play those guys, see my old friends and show them where we really play baseball at," Meloan said.

Another notable weekend in the in the pre-conference schedule for the Wildcats is the Spring Training Classic in Surprise, Feb. 21-23. Arizona will play against Oklahoma State, Minnesota and Loyola.

The Wildcats will also play New Mexico in Nogales on March 18.

Lopez suffered a herniated disk while throwing batting practice four weeks ago that has limited him to a wheelchair.

He has since recovered, thanks in part to his daily morning rehabilitation in an effort to avoid surgery.

"I guess after 26 years of throwing batting practice, it just blew out. Right now, I'm throwing every day for only about five minutes, but I'm feeling better," he said.

As a part of his rehabilitation, Lopez has worked with assistant strength coaches Rosalin Hanna and Preston Greene.

The injury caused Lopez to push back the fall ball schedule one week. Since then, the Wildcats have held intra-squad scrimmages every day as the result of a bigger roster than last offseason.

"We have enough people to do it this year and it's real nice because it's been real competitive," Lopez said.

Jeff Van Houten sophomore outfielder

Sophomore outfielder Jeff Van Houten has struggled at the plate during the offseason.

Last year, Van Houten strained his wrist during a swing on March 22 against Arizona State. The injury caused him to miss four weeks and he played sporadically throughout the rest of the season.

Van Houten wore a cast for four and a half weeks over the summer and was in rehab all of July and August, so he missed the entire summer baseball season.

In October, Van Houten had trouble adjusting in the scrimmage games during his first action in three months.

"When you don't see pitching for a while, it's hard because of the way pitchers throw to you and the different counts," Van Houten said.

Last season, Van Houten was the starting right fielder before the injury. This offseason he has only played left field, but was scheduled to start yesterday's scrimmage in right.

In his time at the different position Van Houten has had the opportunity to see the incoming freshman in the outfield.

"It's been fun to see the other guys show their stuff and see how good they are," he said. "I'm really impressed with the guys that came in this year; we've got a good bunch of ballplayers."