Texas baseball started out the year at No. 19 in the preseason polls and has begun its ascent up the rankings. After getting their opening day jitters versus Louisville out of the way, the Longhorns are riding a nine-game win streak leading into the fourth week of play.
Returning for his third year, the 2024 Big 12 Player of the Year, junior outfielder Max Belyeu has certainly been one of, if not the most dominant hitter for the Longhorns this season. Belyeu currently has the team’s best batting average with .477 and leads the team in hits with 21 and doubles with six.
With the massive turnover from last season welcoming 23 new players to the roster, underclassmen have been given more of an opportunity to make an impact and shine in the spotlight.
Sophomore outfielder Will Gasparino has established himself as one of the most potent hitters in the Longhorns’ arsenal. Despite only making contact with the ball nine times this season, Gasparino has netted three home runs and a team-best 11 RBIs along with two doubles and is the only player with two triples this season.
After his performance in the series finale versus Dartmouth, sophomore infielder Ethan Mendoza quickly rose up the batting order from being the ninth to lead off hitter. The Arizona State transfer is just behind Belyeu with a .424 batting average; on his 33 at bats, Mendoza has knocked in three home runs and 14 RBIs.
Although he leads the team in errors when Texas is out on defense, freshman infielder Adrian Rodriguez has made up for it when he steps into the box. As the only freshman to start all 10 games this season, Rodriguez is second in hits with 17 and doubles with five. Through his 43 at bats, he has shot three home runs and seven RBIs.
One of the blaring woes for Texas last year was the inconsistent play on the mound by the pitching rotation. The addition of pitching coach Max Weiner, who followed Jim Schlossnagle from Texas A&M, has made an obvious difference on the mound.
Senior pitcher Jared Spencer is a strike-throwing machine, leading the team with 21 strikeouts. Through a team-high of 16 innings pitched, the Indiana State transfer has only allowed 11 hits and two runs.
Spencer’s fellow pitcher, redshirt junior Luke Harrison, has been formidable on the mound in his own right, holding a 2–0 record and allowing only 11 hits and three runs through 14 innings pitched. Both Spencer and Harrison have proven to be major problems for opposing hitters to make contact off of.
Keeping fans on the edge of their seats, junior pitcher Max Grubbs, in his five appearances, is the lockdown reliever Texas needs, compiling a record of 1–0 along with two saves. In his 11 innings pitched, he has only allowed seven hits and two runs.
Coming as one of the relievers on Sundays, freshman pitcher Dylan Volantis has jumped out as one of the best young pitchers on Texas’ roster. A starting pitcher in high school, Volantis has pitched the second most innings for relievers with nine, and only allowed seven hits and four runs.
Although the starting rotation is solid, the bullpen leaves more to be desired. In four of the 10 games, opposing teams have been able to claw their way back, putting runs on the board after the Longhorns’ starting pitcher is retired.
SEC play is fast approaching. Texas has exhibited the right combination of talent to compete and make a splash in their first season in the most competitive league in college baseball.
