The transfer portal is finally closed. The MLB Draft is complete and the deadline for teams to sign the draftees is behind us. The freshman signees are on campus and getting acclimated to Austin. The beginning of school is just around the corner and that means one thing…Fall Baseball!
While all the attention is on the Texas Football team as they began fall camp this week and rightfully so, the Texas Baseball team has already begun their preparations for the 2026 season. Under the tutelage of Matt Couch, one of the best strength and condition coaches in the nation, individuals are going through their personalized plans to get their bodies ready for another season.
The freshman signees as mentioned above have been on campus now for just under a month for workouts and to learn from the returning players what it means to play for Texas Baseball and what is expected of them. In addition, the returning players will introduce the new players, both freshman and transfers to the Texas Baseball culture to help create a cohesive brotherly bond amongst the team. To give you a hint at how important that is in the coaches’ opinions, look back at how many times Jim Schlossnagle referenced how proud he was of the way the team came together last offseason. Team chemistry and identity change from year to year as personalities change and dynamics shift, but the one constant required is a desperation to win.
Before getting into lineup projections, position battles, and breaking down the newcomers, here is a recap of all the roster action that has occurred this offseason.
MLB DRAFT
The Longhorns had twelve players who had their name called during the 2025 MLB Draft. Five of the twelve were players on the 2025 roster, plus a sixth who signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA). Four players drafted were Texas signees and the remaining three players drafted were transfer portal commits.
INF Gavin Fien – Round 1, Pick 12 – Texas Rangers
INF Kayson Cunningham – Round 1, Pick 18 – Arizona Diamondbacks
OF Max Belyeu – Round 3, Pick 74 – Colorado Rockies
OF Jack Moroknek – Round 11, Pick 321 – Washington Nationals
LHP Jared Spencer – Round 11, Pick 322 – Toronto Blue Jays
INF Jalin Flores – Round 11, Pick 330 – St. Louis Cardinals
LHP Luke Dotson – Round 11, Pick 333 – Arizona Diamondbacks
C Rylan Galvan – Round 13, Pick 376 – Chicago White Sox
LHP Xavier Mitchell – Round 13, Pick 379 – Los Angeles Angels
UTIL Kaleb Freeman – Round 16, Pick 466 – Chicago White Sox
RHP Grayson Saunier – Round 17, Pick 516 – Houston Astros
RHP Grayson Boles – Round 18, Pick 548 – Kansas City Royals
RHP Aiden Moffett – UDFA – Chicago Cubs
TRANSFER PORTAL – OUT
This off season saw fifteen players from the roster enter the transfer portal, all of whom have committed to new schools. While the number may look alarming or jump out, this is not completely unexpected for a number of reasons. The NCAA is mandating that teams must be at 34 player rosters by December 1st as part of the Houst Settlement, meaning a minimum of eight fewer roster spots available and the Texas staff had their first full offseason to begin true roster building. If 15 still seems like a gigantic number, take a look at Missouri and Tennessee who both had 24 players enter the portal, while South Carolina had 20, national runner-up Coastal Carolina had 17, and Kentucky and Mississippi State had 16. The national average is nearly double from last year at this same time due to the roster limits.
If you take off the burnt orange tinted glasses for a moment and look at the biggest loss or losses from the transfer portal, there are only two names that jump out. RHP Drew Rerick and Catcher Cole Chamberlain. Of course it is tough to lose fan favorite Ace Whitehead, but he has a much better opportunity to pitch meaningful innings in 2026. The other players who transferred out are not bad players by any stretch, but most were recruited by the prior staff and even the starters like Will Gasparino and Tommy Farmer were going to have a hard time retaining their starting spots in the lineup.
OF Will Gasparino (UCLA)
OF Easton Winfield (Houston)
Tommy Farmer (UC Irvine)
LHP Ace Whitehead (USC)
C Cole Chamberlain (Coastal Carolina)
RHP Drew Rerick (Oklahoma)
1B Jaquae Stewart (Texas State)
RHP Easton Tumis (Kent State)
LHP Bryce Navarre (South Carolina)
C Oliver Service (Marshall)
OF Matt Scott (Oregon)
OF Sam Richardson (Jacksonville State)
INF Carson Luna (Michigan)
OF Donovan Jordan (Missouri)
LHP Chance Covert (Utah)
TRANSFER PORTAL – INCOMING
Texas did not just see players leave this offseason, the staff also worked hard to bring in new talent that can help replace departing players that are not just talented but play the brand of baseball the staff wants to see. The Horns prior to the draft had the #5 ranked transfer class in the nation. Unfortunately, the MLB Draft took Kaleb Freeman, Jack Moroknek, and Luke Dotson from the Horns. When chasing analytical darlings and talented players in the portal, that is going to happen. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
I would like to point out that this would not even be an issue if the MLB were to do the right thing and move the MLB Draft back up to align with the College World Series, as it was in the past. Having the MLB Draft after the transfer portal is closed puts every coaching staff around the nation in awful positions that do not benefit the kids. Teams are forced to have existing roster players commit on the spot that they are returning or announce that they will head to the MLB Draft, while also looking for players to target that meet all the criteria analytically, culture, and academically. Due to graduation rules and requirements for Texas, sophomores and juniors are often very tough to sign out of the portal because of the number of hours required at Texas.
The transfer portal was thrown even more into chaos this season due to the House Settlement which restricts rosters to 34 players by December 1st. Then the NCAA threw another wrench into the spanner…an additional portal for players designated as DSA or designated student-athletes. This was part of a broader initiative of the Houst Settlement that allowed players who would have been removed from their team due to roster limits to transfer to other programs. Schools had to prepare and report a list of DSAs in good faith, but the huge benefit to programs is that the player does not count against roster limits, so they are very valuable as you can imagine. The other aspect is that it provided some players who had run out of eligibility at D1 and played at the DII, DIII, and NAIA level another year to play at a D1 school.
At the end of the day, the Longhorns signed 8 players from the transfer portal and one JUCO player. For reference, this is the same number of players that the Horns took in the portal in 2024. Of the 9 players signed this summer, two are marquee signings (Tinney and Robbins). The rest of the players may not have the lofty ranking, but they are proven winners that can impact the lineup in a significant way during the 2026 season. All the players that the Horns landed were targeted heavily by SEC and ACC foes alike and do represent big wins for the program. In addition, they improved the roster in areas that the staff had identified as needing improvement, such as left-handed hitting and left-handed pitching.
LHP Haiden Leffew (Wake Forest) – Firm fastball that is in the 96th percentile for FB whiff rate. Four pitches, with the changeup being the best off-speed pitch. Had a 72% whiff rate on the changeup this past season. Was used out of the bullpen by Wake Forest, but some in the industry think he could be a starter based on his pitching repertoire.
C Carson Tinney (Notre Dame) – The Buster Posey award finalist started off last season slow after coming off a torn ACL but then caught fire and became a third-team All-American in the process. Tinney led Notre Dame with a .348 average, collecting 13 doubles and 17 home runs, along with 53 RBIs. Tinney is also a plus defender behind the plate and does a great job of framing. After losing Galvan to the MLB Draft, gaining Tinney out of the portal was a massive win for the staff. Tinney is betting favorite to be one of the top hitters on the team for average and power.
INF Josh Livingston (Wichita State) – Strong athlete with a smooth left-handed swing. Josh hit for a .284 average, but had an OPS of .958, collecting 10 doubles and 15 home runs, along with 48 RBIs for the Shockers. Livingston adds another impact bat with power potential to the lineup and is a good enough athlete that he can play multiple positions for the Horns.
OF Aiden Robbins (Seton Hall) – Outstanding athlete who led Seton Hall offensively during the 2025 season, hitting .422 average, 1.189 OPS, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, and 38 RBIs. In addition, he walked 44 times against just 32 strikeouts and stole 20 bases in 21 attempts. After a huge year for Seton Hall, Robbins has been on a tear during his time on the Cape which should have Texas fans excited for his potential impact for the Horns in 2026.
LHP Cal Higgins (Western Kentucky) – An All-CUSA selection in 2025, Higgins is a tall lefty that appeared in 22 games, earning a 3-2 record and 6 saves across 43.1 innings pitched. Opposing batters hit just .190 against Higgins, as he posted a 30.8% strikeout rate against just a 6.5% walk rate. The staff is very high on Wiggins ability to help anchor the back end of the bullpen with a fastball that is in the upper 90s. Higgins also has performed very well against SEC competition which is another huge plus for the Horns.
OF Ashton Larson (LSU) – Once the draft was over, the Horns moved quickly to secure a commitment from Ashton Larson, who was being pursued by a number of SEC teams. After a 2025 season that saw Larson receive fewer at-bats and opportunities due to injury, Larson will look to return to his freshman season form that saw him be named to the Freshman All-SEC team. Larson is an outstanding defender and if Tulo can get him to reach his potential offensively, he has the ability to be a big part of the offensive lineup, as evidenced by his inclusion into the Cape Cod All-Star game this summer.
SS Temo Becerra (Stanford) – When looking at replacing Jalin Flores at SS, the hope was that Texas could lure Eric Becker from Virginia due to his prospect ranking and potential. Becker unfortunately decided to stick with Virginia, but Texas was not left in a bind as they landed an accomplished infielder in Temo Becerra from Stanford. While Becerra certainly won’t wow anyone with power, he is extremely consistent at the plate (career .314 average) and is another guy who can help pass the bat by getting on base and driving guys in. In addition, Becerra has Omaha experience and brings a veteran presence to the lineup which is also needed after losing leaders like Kimble, Galvan, and Flores.
2B Cal Early (Liberty) – Needing to bolster the infield depth and wanting to add another bat for depth, Texas landed Cal Early from Liberty. Cal put up solid numbers for the Flames before having his season end early due to a shoulder injury in 2025. He batted a .295 average with 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 15 RBIs in the lead off spot as a freshman. While he does not project for power, Early is another bat that can come in and give the Horns depth behind Mendoza and help get on base. Early was another win for the staff as they beat a host of other SEC and ACC teams that had identified Early as a target.
C Andrew Ermis (JUCO) – After losing Galvan to the MLB Draft and both Chamberlain and Service to the transfer portal, the staff needed to bolster their catcher depth. The San Antonio native played for Temple Junior College last season and with the Victoria Generals this summer. During the 2025 season at TJC, Ermis hit .338 average, belting 7 doubles, 10 home runs, and 41 RBI. Ermis is a strong player with some juice in the bat that can help generate some pop in the Texas lineup.
SIGNEES
Since taking over as head coach Schlossnagle has regularly stated that his ultimate goal is to get the Texas roster to a place where there is less reliance upon the transfer portal. He wants to truly build with top high school prep talent and then cherry pick the transfer portal to fill in holes and bring in talent to cover gaps created by putting players into the professional ranks. While the staff did not have the ability to completely influence the 2025 signing class, they certainly did stamp their mark on it in a very short time span.
The 2025 signing class begins to build the foundation by putting in place pieces that can then be paired with the 2026 class to drastically increase the talent level of the program and allow it to truly contend for national titles year in and year out.
From an MLB Draft perspective, the draft went about as well as expected. Cunningham and Fien were expected losses, while Mitchell and Boles both got paid well over slot to sign away from their commits. The big bonus was the ability to hold onto guys like Cozart, Courville, and McKernan, while adding a big piece in Winter. From a pitching perspective, Texas added two of the best strike throwers in the 2025 class in Cozart and Winter.
OF Anthony Pack (PG National Rank – 32): Speedy athlete with outstanding defensive instincts. Does not have much power and is more of a gap-to-gap hitter for average, but has good projectability from the left side.
RHP Brett Crossland (PG National Rank – 62): Super impressive physically and with good mobility, Crossland is a guy that loves baseball and loves to compete. In talking to him, you really get the sense that he loves to pitch. Fastball that has been up to 98, but had some issues with control. Backed off the velo to sit more 93-94 and strike rate was up. Has worked on both changeup and breaking ball, but both need refinement. Has big upside under the tutelage of Max Weiner.
RHP Cooper Rummel (PG National Rank – 81): Big muscular guy that is very deliberate. Goal for Rummel is to continue to develop his natural stuff and utilize his power to increase velo and continue to work on command. Has fastball that sits in the mid-90s, but needs to continue working on his secondary stuff.
RHP Sam Cozart (PG National Rank – 47): Another big, bodied pitcher that has been a long-time performer. Big extension with his 6’6” frame that is known for throwing strikes. Great pedigree as both of his older brothers played D1 baseball and his dad was a college coach. Out of all the pitchers in the signing class, the highest expectation is of Cozart as he is a guy that could make an immediate impact, potentially even on the weekend rotation. This summer showed out in a big way in the MLB Draft League. FB up to 97 and solid secondary stuff, but the biggest factor is he pounds the zone with strikes.
LHP Jack McKernan (PG National Rank – 135): Classified as a bulldog on the mound, McKernan has been a consistent performer at all levels. His stuff is solid (low to mid 90’s fastball with a good changeup and slider), but his stuff plays up. Due to his performances and maturity, McKernan is a guy that could see early playing time.
RHP Grady Westphal (PG National Rank – 195): Super athletic kid who excelled in football and baseball. Grady is best known for his big bending breaking ball. A lot of projectability with his athleticism and frame. Goal for Grady is to physically develop him and help further develop the fastball.
RHP Brody Walls (PG National Rank – 162): Two-way athlete who is a competitor on the mound. Fastball that has been up to 95 with some sink, pairs it with a power slider, but still learning what it means to truly pitch. Huge upside and athleticism, Walls reminds of a lot of Ruger with more upside.
OF Maddox Monsour (PG National Rank – 229): Another two-way athlete that brings outstanding athleticism to the diamond. At the plate, Maddox has a really nice right handed swing with ability to drive the ball to all gaps, but also lift the ball and use his strong hands for some pop. Maddox has outstanding bat speed and is a plus runner. A former coach suggested that Maddox could end up being a steal of the class with his athleticism and hit tool.
OF William Hill (PG National Rank – 242): Hill has been a long time commit and brings outstanding athleticism to the diamond. He has great instincts and speed defensively in the outfield and has pop at the plate. A baseball rat that grinds and leads by example, Hill will have to adjust to SEC pitching but was a prolific high school hitter.
RHP Kaleb Rogers (PG National Rank – 169): Outstanding competitor who is in attack mode every time he is on the mound. Lives mostly on his fastball which has been up to 95. His fastball has a lot of ride which is unique. Must be more consistent with his velo and command and will need to develop additional secondary stuff, but has good athleticism and upside.
C Presley Courville (PG National Rank – 278): Again, another extremely athletic player that is a well rounded player at and behind the plate. A strong leader who does a good job receiving and framing pitches, Courville is the future of the catcher position at Texas. At the plate, Presley has a fantastic record hitting during high school and with the Canes national team. He has fast hands and upside to develop more pop as he fills out his frame physically.
RHP Jadyn Furgason (PG National Rank – 359): Jadyn missed his senior year due to injury, but flashed as a junior, with a fastball that sat 92-94 and was up to 96. Mixes in a sweeper and a changeup as well. Solid upside and projection on the 6’2 frame for Furgason who projects as a bullpen option down the road.
RHP Jack Paris (PG National Rank – 500): Father played at Texas. Proven winner at the high school level, who profiles similar to Max Grubbs. Pitches from a higher slot with good sink and pairs it with a nice slider. Fastball sits in the low 90s, slider sits mid-80s, and mixes in a low 80’s changeup.
RHP Michael Winter (PG National Rank – 275): A very late addition to the Texas class, Winter missed quite a bit of time after a back injury during his sophomore season but absolutely blew up during his senior year. Went from mostly unknown kid committed to Dartmouth to being in the conversation for a seven-figure draft bonus. Hammers the zone…as in, one of the elite strike throwers in all of the 2025 class. Four pitch mix that should see Winter as starter at some point in his career. Fastball has been up to 95, but mostly sits in the 90-93 range, but it has great shape. Upper 80’s cutter/slider, big sweeper in the low 80s, and mixes in a solid changeup. Winter manipulates the shape of his pitches really well and mixes in different spin rates.
Way too early thoughts on the lineup and pitching rotation
Somewhat similar to last season, there are a few positions that are completely locked in and there are some positions where it could be a long battle that goes all the way to the start of the season or even possibly into the season. The one variable that won’t be known until January is what the future of Jonah Williams looks like. The coaches expect him back and have every intention of using him, but it remains to be seen when he will be available and how banged up, he is from football. In a perfect world, Texas Football makes a deep run and contends for a national championship, but if so, that means Jonah likely will have to start the year on the bench or at best as a DH.
On the pitching side, Texas fans should feel very confident with the arm farm that Max and the staff have at their disposal. The Horns for the first time in several years have a multitude of guys that could be a starter and have experience in that role. In addition, they have a good variety of arms, both RHP and LHP, that they can lean on in high pressure situations. The other aspect mentioned above is the youth available that Max can develop and bring along at a pace he feels comfortable with.
LINEUP (opening day projection, meaning Jonah is not available):
C – Carson Tinney
1B – Josh Livingston
2B – Ethan Mendoza
SS – Temo Becerra
3B – Casey Borba
LF – Adrian Rodriguez
CF – Aiden Robbins
RF – Ashton Larson
Weekend Rotation:
Fri – Dylan Volantis
Sat – Ruger Riojas
Sun – Luke Harrison
Going to pencil this in to kick off the season, but it would not shock me at all to see a guy like Sam Cozart or Michael Winter be the Sunday starter, allowing the staff to move Ruger to the bullpen to the role he started the 2025 season in.
As far as who will be the closer, there are a number of candidates that could fill that role, but Cal Higgins is the guy that I have penciled in, but there are a number of other pitchers who battle for that role.
