2025 Baseball thread

[david ficken]

Are you disappointed in any of the selections so far? Whats your feeling here?

Not disappointed in any of the guys we have picked up. We have 1 outfielder, 1 infielder and 1 that can play either infielder or outfielder. Would like to see them get a catcher and at least 2-3 pitchers from the portal. After looking at both the '25 incoming class and the current commits for the '26 class we really need 1-2 yr players/rentals (like in MLB, sorry not sorry for the remark).

I might need to list the incoming freshmen for the '25 and the commits for the '26 class. Would need to make a note of those that are most likely to get drafted in the MLB drafts for each of the next 2 yrs.

The staff did a really good job last yr of getting guys that could be multiple yr players to get the recruits on campus.

There are those that want the biggest names, but at what cost of the NIL money?

 

[BWilk55]

A few notes on the latest portal guy, Kaleb Freeman. This season he had around 220 at-bats. He also, had 61 walks, but did have 50 or so strikeouts.

Sounds like a guy who already has Schloss' approach at the plate. Very patient, sees a lot of pitches. He had an OBP over .500 with good power to boot.

 

[BWilk55]

A new 2026 commit. Has a fastball up to 97.

2026 RHP Hayes Holton commits to Texas

The former Mississippi State pledged reopened his recruitment after the coaching change in Starkville.

www.burntorangenation.com

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[tejasrulz]

Kid for Arkansas had a perfect game going until he hit a batter on the foot in the 8th inning. He still has his no-hitter going with only the 9th inning to go.

 

[david ficken]

We have added a pitcher that probably is a bullpen arm from I believe Miss. State. A LHP Luke Dotson. Believe he is a soph. Looking up some of his numbers. Will also post the 2025 incoming class shortly as well.

 

[david ficken]

A few notes on Luke Dotson. He is 6' 4" 210lbs. lefty. This past season he struck out 34 with 12 walks and 5 WP. He has 4 pitches. His fastball is between 90-93, but a couple of times he hit 96. He also has a cutter, and he 2 main strikeout pitches are his curveball and change-up. He had a ERA of around 3.00.

 

[david ficken]

The 2025 class. It was the No. 1 class, but due to Johan Williams enrolling early it moved the class from 18 to 17 and thus becoming the No. 2 class.

 

[david ficken]

1. Kayson Cunningham -- SS. The 2nd best SS in the state with very little to no holes in his game. Highly unlikely he makes it on campus as he is a highly rated draftable player.

2. Gavin Fien -- SS/3rdbaseman -- highly unlikelly he makes to the campus. It depends upon where a team decides he is whether a SS or a 3rd baseman.

3. Jack McKernan -- LHP. Highly scouted with a low to mid 90s fastball and a slider. MLB likes lefties. Less than 50% for him to make it to the campus

 

[david ficken]

Will go thru each lvl of commits for the 25 incoming freshmen class that may or may not make it in. The 1st 3 are highly unlikely.

 

[david ficken]

For the rest of the '25 class most are 50/50 or less at being drafted.

4. Robert Pack --- OF. Left handed batter/thrower. Uber athleticism. Will be a player as a freshman.

5. Brent Crossland -- 6'5" 240 lb RHP. Fastball in the 94-97 range with a slider and working on improving a change-up. 50/50 on being drafted.

6. Cooper Rummel -- 6'3" 220 lb RHP. Coming off a back injury with a fastball hitting upto 95 and a slider. Probably makes it to campus.

7. Sam Cozart -- 6'8" 240 or so lbs. RHP. 4 pitches. Fastball in the low 90s. Slider, curveball, chsnge-up. Probably needs a putching coach like Weiner to get him to use multiple angles and delivery points to improve speed, velocity, and spin rate for him.

8. Robert X. Mitchell ( aka Xavier Mitchell) -- 6'4" 180 lb LHP. Fastball low 90s. Slider in high 70s. Needs to get multiple pitchers besides these 2 and improve these pitches. Fully expect him on campus.

9. Grady Westphal -- 6'3" 175lb RHP. Top end breaking and curve balls. Fastball is in the low 90s. Will be on campus.

10. Brody Walls -- 6' 190lbs RHP. Fastball in the low to mid 90s. Solid slider, while working on a change-up. 80% of making it on campus, but if he develops his secondary pitches from this past season MLB make take a chance on him.

Alright that is 13 of the 17 players from the 2025 class. I'll go over the last few tomorrow.

Just to note there are 2 outfielders, a catcher, 3 pitchers still to go over.

 

[david ficken]

Let's get the last few freshmen done.

11. Maddox Monsour -- OF. 5'11" 190lbs. Right handed batter. Probably in a yr or 2 think Right handed Max Belyeu hitter.

12. William Hill -- OF. 6' 180 lbs. Right handed hitter. Will need a yr or 2 to develop.

13. Kaleb Rogers. -- 6' 180 lbs. RHP. While he has an easy over the top delievery of his 3 pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s, although he can hit 96. Witha change-up and slider.

14. Grayson Boles. -- 6'5" 220 lbs. RHP. With a fastball hitting mid 90s is good. Olny has a slider to go with the fastball. He throws from a 3/4 arm slot for both pitches. He could become a player working with Weiner.

15. Presley Courville -- 6' 175 lb. Catcher. One of the nation's best HS catchers. A strong arm. Probably needs a yr or 2. But adding him with a vet. catcher (hopeful) and Chamberlain will keep the catcher depth solid.

16. Jadyn Fergason -- 6'2" 175 lbs. RHP. Fastball in the mid 90s and a slider. Worked out of the bullpen after an injury his junior yr. Needs to add other pitches, which Weiner can help with.

17. Jack Paris -- 6'3" 205 lbs. RHP. In 2 yrs. his fastball may go from low 90s to mid 90s. His slider and change-up may be more consistent.


There are several that can help out right away and some that need a yr or 2 to develop. But for the No. 2 class and if Cunn8ngham, Fien, or McKernan some how make it onto campus this class going with the 2026 class will go a long way to adding depth and top notch players.

BTW, even with Cunningham being the top player as a SS in our class. We have the best SS still committed from the state in the 2026 class from Argyle. Cunningham would move to 2nd. Cunningham being from San Antonio is why some think he won't make it in do to the multiple SS players we have in the 2026 class. The top player this past season and still the top player going into next yr is Grady Emerson from Argyle. He has been Mr. Baseball is HS baseball for the state of Texas the last yr and most likely next yr. Flipped from TCU to us last November.

 

[BWilk55]

A few notes on Luke Dotson. He is 6' 4" 210lbs. lefty. This past season he struck out 34 with 12 walks and 5 WP. He has 4 pitches. His fastball is between 90-93, but a couple of times he hit 96. He also has a cutter, and he 2 main strikeout pitches are his curveball and change-up. He had a ERA of around 3.00.

18 appearances and 21 innings of work. Really good strike rate with 1.6 Ks an inning. Can Weiner help him cut down on the walks? If so, he has the makings of a really good shut down bullpen arm and potential to be a closer.

 

[Baron]

That sure seems to be a lot of pitchers in ''25. Thanks for the info.

 

[Baron]

@david ficken Another question. Can Volantis be a starter next year?

 

[david ficken]

@david ficken Another question. Can Volantis be a starter next year?

Volantis can be a starter if he wants to be. I've heard him say that he really likes the closer role over being a starter as he can be in multiple weekend games. In a couple of press conferences Schloss has also said that he really liked how Volantis took on the closer role as a freshman. Also, it will come down to what the other pitchers look like during the fall and winter workouts.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[david ficken]

It is going to take some time to get the 2026 class info. We just added a right handed pitcher with 4 pitches to the mix. That is now making us up to 25/26 players from the HS ranks for the 2026 class. I won't even try to make a guess of which ones are considered solid draftable players at this time. Just know I'll try to get the names with ht, lbs, and lefties/righties. Thwre are at leadt 12 pitchers with multiple infielders in the class.

 

[UT1983]

It is going to take some time to get the 2026 class info. We just added a right handed pitcher with 4 pitches to the mix. That is now making us up to 25/26 players from the HS ranks for the 2026 class. I won't even try to make a guess of which ones are considered solid draftable players at this time. Just know I'll try to get the names with ht, lbs, and lefties/righties. Thwre are at leadt 12 pitchers

This always seems to be problematic in baseball recruiting. How good of a player do you go after without them turning pro on you and never getting to campus?