Can’t wait to watch Carson Tinney at the Disch

[Jeff Howe]

 

[Cozer]

Jeff, hard to not think WS for this roster. Thoughts? Seems to be a roster of talent like that 2022 team (but hopefully a MUCH better ending). 

[mmdaytontexas]

Is he the kid from ND? A catcher? 

[mmdaytontexas]

Exit Velocity of nearly 120 mph? If that's true, then that's insane. 

[Hookem1012]

He hits the ball hard

[Threepacballer]

What position does he play? 

[CJ Vogel]

23 minutes ago, Cozer said:

Jeff, hard to not think WS for this roster. Thoughts? Seems to be a roster of talent like that 2022 team (but hopefully a MUCH better ending). 

Yes. Definitely the goal coming in. Very very talented team

[CJ Vogel]

12 minutes ago, Threepacballer said:

What position does he play? 

Catcher. 
transferred from notre dame 

[Jeff Howe]

16 hours ago, mmdaytontexas said:

Is he the kid from ND? A catcher? 

Yep. One of, if not the top power bat in the portal last summer.

[Jeff Howe]

16 hours ago, Cozer said:

Jeff, hard to not think WS for this roster. Thoughts? Seems to be a roster of talent like that 2022 team (but hopefully a MUCH better ending). 

Texas has the tools to get to Omaha, no question. You need some good fortune to be the last team standing, but the tools are there for Texas to be that kind of team in '26.

[TrouperG]

This is definitely one of those seasons that is taking it's sweet time getting here.

[Btown22]

What’s the rotation shaping up to be?

[marathon]

On 1/3/2026 at 2:21 PM, Btown22 said:

What’s the rotation shaping up to be?

Not @Jeff Howe but here is my rough preseason overview. Maybe Jeff @Blake Munroe or @CJ Vogel can correct omissions. I’m sure they are quite busy with portal news.

Really getting excited about the Texas baseball team.

Overall strengths are the number of outstanding arms assembled, though many are freshmen. Transfers Carson Tinney (C) and Aiden Robbins (OF) are exciting transfer additions. Temo Bacerra (Stanford transfer) adds much needed infield experience after hitting 330 last season and  averaged 314 in his 3 seasons at Stanford. Mendoza, Rodriguez, Borba and Jonah Williams should all be front line returning starters. 

Weaknesses: Lack of depth at position players. 

POSITION PLAYERS:

Third OF is a question mark unless Ashton Larson (LSU transfer) can become a consistent everyday player. Jonah Williams and Aiden Robbins are the other 2 OF starters. 

Robbins has a chance to be a star. Last season at Seton Hall in 53 games he hit 422, with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, 44 BB, 32 SO in 255 plate appearances. This summer Robbins won the Cape Cod summer league batting title with a 307 average.

True freshman Anthony Pack is a speedster but needs to develop power but can help this team.  Robbins, Williams and Ashton Larson “should” start. Anthony Pack and true freshman William Hill also plays OF along with true freshman Maddox Monsour who can play also play OF/INF.

Rodriguez is currently the starting SS but let’s see if can keep the position. Becerra was moved from SS to third with Mendoza at 2nd and Borba moving to from third to first. 

Josh Livingston (Wichita State transfer) has power and is versatile. He can play 1st, 3rd, DH and maybe more. In 2025 with Wichita State he had 10 doubles, 15 HR and 48 RBIs in 56 games while hitting over .280. 

Texas also added Callum Early (Liberty transfer) who can play middle infield and some OF if needed. As a freshman at Liberty he made 28 starts. He hit .295, with 23 runs scored, six doubles, two HR and 15 RBIs.

PITCHING 

Volantis moving to the starting rotation, Starting pitcher Luke Harrison returns. The other starter will probably come from a group that includes Jason Flores, Ruger Riojas or one of the freshman. I’m guessing they would like to keep Riojas in the long relief/swing starter role. Hopefully Flores can seize the opportunity.

Not sure who the closer will be.

They added a couple of relievers from the portal in Cal Higgins (Western Kentucky) and Haiden Leffew (Wake Forest). 

Relievers Max Grubbs, Thomas Burns, Ethan Walker, Kade Bing, Connor McCreery, Cody Howard and Hudson Hamilton return from last season.

The freshman class of pitchers has a chance to be special. Hopefully a couple of them can make a big impact this season. Brett Crossland, Sam Cozart and Michael Winters are my favorite pitchers to have an instant impact but there is a ton of young talent so it will be fun to see who emerges.

Our freshman class rankings per Perfect Game:

Sam Cozart (RHP) 47 nationally overall, (9 ranked RHP)

Brett Crossland (RHP), 62 overall, (11 ranked RHP)

Cooper Rummel (RHP), 81

Jack McKernan (LHP), 135

Brody Walls (RHP), 162

Kaleb Rogers (RHP), 169

Grady Westphal (RHP), 194

Michael Winter (RHP), 274

Jack Paris (RHP), 500

Anthony Pack (OF), 32 overall nationally 

Maddox Monsour (OF/INF),  228

William Hill (OF),  241

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 09:07 PM by marathon

[AZ Longhorn]

30 minutes ago, marathon said:

Not @Jeff Howe but here is my rough preseason overview. Maybe Jeff @Blake Munroe or @CJ Vogel can correct omissions. I’m sure they are quite busy with portal news.

Really getting excited about the Texas baseball team.

Overall strengths are the number of outstanding arms assembled, though many are freshmen. Transfers Carson Tinney (C) and Aiden Robbins (OF) are exciting transfer additions. Temo Bacerra (Stanford transfer) adds much needed infield experience after hitting 330 last season and  averaged 314 in his 3 seasons at Stanford. Mendoza, Rodriguez, Borba and Jonah Williams should all be front line returning starters. 

Weaknesses: Lack of depth at position players. 

POSITION PLAYERS:

Third OF is a question mark unless Ashton Larson (LSU transfer) can become a consistent everyday player. Jonah Williams and Aiden Robbins are the other 2 OF starters. 

Robbins has a chance to be a star. Last season at Seton Hall in 53 games he hit 422, with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, 44 BB, 32 SO in 255 plate appearances. This summer Robbins won the Cape Cod summer league batting title with a 307 average.

True freshman Anthony Pack is a speedster but needs to develop power but can help this team.  Robbins, Williams and Ashton Larson “should” start. Anthony Pack and true freshman William Hill also plays OF along with true freshman Maddox Monsour who can play also play OF/INF.

Rodriguez is currently the starting SS but let’s see if can keep the position. Becerra was moved from SS to third with Mendoza at 2nd and Borba moving to from third to first. 

Josh Livingston (Wichita State transfer) has power and is versatile. He can play 1st, 3rd, DH and maybe more. In 2025 with Wichita State he had 10 doubles, 15 HR and 48 RBIs in 56 games while hitting over .280. 

Texas also added Callum Early (Liberty transfer) who can play middle infield and some OF if needed. As a freshman at Liberty he made 28 starts. He hit .295, with 23 runs scored, six doubles, two HR and 15 RBIs.

PITCHING 

Volantis moving to the starting rotation, Starting pitcher Luke Harrison returns. The other starter will probably come from a group that includes Jason Flores, Ruger Riojas or one of the freshman. I’m guessing they would like to keep Riojas in the long relief/swing starter role. Hopefully Flores can seize the opportunity.

Not sure who the closer will be.

They added a couple of relievers from the portal in Cal Higgins (Western Kentucky) and Haiden Leffew (Wake Forest). 

Relievers Max Grubbs, Thomas Burns, Ethan Walker, Kade Bing, Connor McCreery, Cody Howard and Hudson Hamilton return from last season.

The freshman class of pitchers has a chance to be special. Hopefully a couple of them can make a big impact this season.

Brett Crossland, Sam Cozart and Michael Winters are my favorite pitchers to have an instant impact but there is a ton of young talent so it will be fun to see who emerges.

Our freshman class rankings per Perfect Game:

Sam Cozart (RHP) 47 nationally overall, (9 ranked RHP)

Brett Crossland (RHP), 62 overall, (11 ranked RHP)

Cooper Rummel (RHP), 81

Jack McKernan (LHP), 135

Brody Walls (RHP), 162

Kaleb Rogers (RHP), 169

Grady Westphal (RHP), 194

Michael Winter (RHP), 274

Jack Paris (RHP), 500

Anthony Pack (OF), 32 overall nationally 

Maddox Monsour (OF/INF),  228

William Hill (OF),  241

 

 

 

 

 

Love this! New to OTF and hoping there's great "On Texas Baseball" analysis too! Haven't paid to read the D1Baseball previews yet, but four quick thoughts to add:

1. Behind the big name portal additions, I absolutely LOVE the Larson pickup. He's proven he can get on base in SEC conference play, with solid defense and athleticism, and high ceiling pedigree (20th rd pick out of HS); he just got crowded out of an insanely crowded LSU outfield last year and we get him on a discount. The question is just if he can hit LHP enough to be an everyday starter, but I'm bullish! 

2. I'm bearish on Borba as a starter on a CWS-caliber team, unfortunately. His silky smooth RH pop is a beautiful thing to behold... when the pitcher happens to hit his bat. He just has too many holes in his swing; too many Ks and not enough barrels or walks to offset them. Idk what he did over the summer, so hopefully he's improved and proves me wrong! 

3. I expect Pack's role to be a consistent late-inning sub (especially with our bullpen strength). After Robbins or the LF (Larson hopefully!) take their 7th inning AB, Pack comes in. If we're up, improving run prevention in the outfield. If we're down 1 or 2 late, as a pinch runner on the bases. 

4. Some really intriguing storylines this year. For as good a team as we are, there is a lot of unknown. Robbins won the Cape batting title, can he do it for a full season in the SEC and announce himself to the nation and not just scouts? Shortstop among our three 2b/3bmen? What can Jonah do with a full season?! Volantis' follow-up campaign with a lot of promise but a lot to prove! Talented young arms from the Max Weiner recruiting effect—aside from Volantis who already popped—starting to "turn over" the pitching roster, what can they do this year?!

Can't wait!! Hook em

Edited Sunday at 09:38 PM by AZ Longhorn

[Jeff Howe]

@AZ Longhorn, thanks for giving us a shot and, yes, we take hardball seriously around here!

I try to be at as many games and press conferences as possible during the season. Plus, when the season starts, Blake, CJ and I will restart our “On Texas Baseball” weekly show.

[marathon]

Another player that Texas added late was Deriyan Pendigrass (OF), a graduate transfer from the College of Charleston. He has outstanding speed and will add much needed experienced depth to the OF.

In 2025 he started 59 games for Charleston and hit 296, with 4 HR, 12 doubles, 3 triples and 37 RBIs. He also stole 43 bases in 47 attempts.