2025 Baseball thread

[BWilk55]

Max Belyeu drafted #74 overall by the Rockies.

This isn't a great spot for Max. He was ranked #35 and slide to the bottom of the 2nd round. The draft slot is just over 1 million. He loses leverage by coming back next year but could also bet on himself to be sure fire 1st round pick. It'll all depend on how much the Rockies offer - they could certainly go over slotted value and ensure they sign Max.

 

[BWilk55]

Brett Crossland was out next highest ranked recruit, #96 for draft eligible players. He did not get picked in the top 3 rounds. 105 picks.

Good news at this juncture for Texas for getting him to campus.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Brett Crossland was out next highest ranked recruit, #96 for draft eligible playIs

Is he a pitcher?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

This isn't a great spot for Max. He was ranked #35 and slide to the bottom of the 2nd round. The draft slot is just over 1 million. He loses leverage by coming back next year but could also bet on himself to be sure fire 1st round pick. It'll all depend on how much the Rockies offer - they could certainly go over slotted value and ensure they sign Max.

What are the odds he comes back to UT?

 

[BWilk55]

Is he a pitcher?

Yep. Here is his profile summary from Perfect Game

Brett Crossland is a 2025 RHP/1B with a 6-5 241 lb. frame from Phoenix, AZ who attends Mountain Pointe. Extra big and strong build with broad shoulders. Has a compact arm action that hides the ball well, has made big steps in improving his mechanics and his ability to repeat. Has a whole arsenal of pitches. Fastball sat in the mid-90's and topped out at 97 mph, gets up to 18" of IVB to go along with some horizontal life. Threw a high spin slider with big sweeper shape, cut one slider with shorter break. Curveball has plenty of depth. Change has a chance to be an easy plus pitch. Almost too many weapons at this level. Threw strikes and dominated. Good student, verbal commitment to Texas. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

 

[BWilk55]

What are the odds he comes back to UT?

Like most baseball draft decisions it likely depends on how much the Rockies offer him to sign. If they offer at or above slot value, I bet he signs.

He would be out of eligibility after next season if he returns (losing leverage in signing bonus negotiations) and he has to ask himself the honest question of how much more can he improve his draft stock?

 

[UT1983]

Can’t fault an athlete to leverage any opportunity to the fullest. A career is only good for a short time in sports

 

[BWilk55]

 

[BWilk55]

And now into round 8 and still no selections.

Drafted value now 250k and less. That's not a bad chunk of change of course but it is certainly getting in the range that Texas can offset via education, housing, nutrition, training, rev share and NIL vs grinding in the minor leagues.

 

[BWilk55]

After 10 rounds, the status remains the same. No additional drafted signees, transfers or current players.

Guys expected to be drafted and go pro like Jalin Flores and Rylan Galvan have not been selected. Do they have a place at Texas if they were to want to return to school? Texas brought in transfers at SS and Catcher as replacements for these two and the transfer portal is closed so they wouldn't have options to go elsewhere.

Jared Spencer is out of eligibility and has also not been selected yet.

In rounds 11-20 there is no slotted value. Teams can sign players for up to 150k with any amount above 150k being taken out of their bonus pool for their first 10 round picks.

 

[BWilk55]

Texas also adds a portal flip who had signed with Dartmouth in RHP Michael Winter. He was ranked as the 200th best draftable prospect but has not yet been selected.

 

[BWilk55]

Round 11 with some Texas activity:
Transfer OF Jack Moroknek selected - will need to monitor this to see if he does sign or not
Jared Spencer selected - a big slide for him unfortunately but he gets to chase his MLB dream
Jalin Flores selected - its probable that he'll sign. As mentioned above, he may not have many other options
Transfer P Luke Dotson selected - another one to monitor to see if he signs or not

Round 13
Rylan Galvan selected - like Flores, probable that he signs and moves on. Especially with Carson Tinney already brought in to replace him
Xavier Mitchell - HS P - It's a pretty low selection for a very highly rated prospect. Likely we get him on campus

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Man, Moroknek, Freeman and Dotson are gone

 

[BWilk55]

To summarize:
Round 1:
3B Gavin Fien - 10th ranked HS player - signs for 4.8 million, 1 mill below slot value
SS Kayson Cunningham - 6th ranked HS player - Signs for full slot value 4.5 mil

Round 2:
OF Max Belyeu - at 74th pick overall, likely to sign but could consider a return signed for full slot value 1.1 million

Round 11 :
Transfer OF Jack Moroknek selected -signed, 200k
P Jared Spencer - out of eligibility
SS Jalin Flores - likely to sign (or transfer?) Signed for 175K
Transfer P Luke Dotson - Signs for 500k, 350k over 150k value

Round 13
C Rylan Galvan - likely to sign. Signed for 150k
P Xavier Mitchell - 57th ranked HS player - Signed for 875K

Round 16
Transfer Util Kaleb Freeman - likely to make it to campus Signed for 150k

Round 17
P Grayson Saunier - 4th yr Jr. A return wouldn't hurt as he is more likely to help than hurt his draft prospects. Has posted a likely goodbye to Texas but no signed yet. Signed for 150k with Astros

Round 18
P Grayson Boles - 145th ranked HS player - likely to make it to campus

Players must sign by August 1st so we will have clarity in about 2 weeks.

 

[BWilk55]

To summarize:
Round 1:
3B Gavin Fien - 10th ranked HS player - has announced he will sign
SS Kayson Cunningham - 6th ranked HS player - almost definitely will sign

Round 2:
OF Max Belyeu - at 74th pick overall, likely to sign but could consider a return

Round 11 :
Transfer OF Jack Moroknek selected - will need to monitor this to see if he does sign or not
P Jared Spencer - out of eligibility
SS Jalin Flores - likely to sign (or transfer?)
Transfer P Luke Dotson - another one to monitor to see if he signs or not

Round 13
C Rylan Galvan - likely to sign
P Xavier Mitchell - 57th ranked HS player - likely to make it to campus

Round 16
Transfer Util Kaleb Freeman - likely to make it to campus

Round 17
P Grayson Saunier - 4th yr Jr. A return wouldn't hurt as he is more likely to help than hurt his draft prospects

Round 18
P Grayson Boles - 145th ranked HS player - likely to make it to campus

Players must sign by August 1st so we will have clarity in about 2 weeks.

Baseball American calls the Longhorns a Draft day winner

On the other hand, Zachary Symm of Orangebloods thinks that all 12 Texas draftees sign. Though does point out that some really good players weren't drafted and will make it to Austin.

Both outlets agree the Jack Moroknek will sign.

Both outlets agree that Transfers Luke Dotson and Kaleb Freeman will likely sign.

Beyond that, it seems Baseball America thinks some of the drafted players make it to campus while Symm thinks none of them will.

 

[BWilk55]

Texas wastes no time in replacing transfer OF Jack Moroknek as they add LSU transfer OF Ashton Larson.



Lawson saw limited action at LSU this last season but has been named a cape cod league all star this summer.

 

[BWilk55]

Texas wastes no time in replacing transfer OF Jack Moroknek as they add LSU transfer OF Ashton Larson.



Lawson saw limited action at LSU this last season but has been named a cape cod league all star this summer.

Should add that Lawson was a starter his freshmen year, at times the best hitter for LSU. Some injuries and others playing well to pass him up limited his PT last year.

This is a guy with a season plus of SEC experience. Good pick up.

 

[BWilk55]

To summarize:
Round 1:
3B Gavin Fien - 10th ranked HS player - has announced he will sign
SS Kayson Cunningham - 6th ranked HS player - almost definitely will sign

Round 2:
OF Max Belyeu - at 74th pick overall, likely to sign but could consider a return

Round 11 :
Transfer OF Jack Moroknek selected - will need to monitor this to see if he does sign or not
P Jared Spencer - out of eligibility
SS Jalin Flores - likely to sign (or transfer?)
Transfer P Luke Dotson - another one to monitor to see if he signs or not

Round 13
C Rylan Galvan - likely to sign
P Xavier Mitchell - 57th ranked HS player - likely to make it to campus

Round 16
Transfer Util Kaleb Freeman - likely to make it to campus Signed for 150k

Round 17
P Grayson Saunier - 4th yr Jr. A return wouldn't hurt as he is more likely to help than hurt his draft prospects

Round 18
P Grayson Boles - 145th ranked HS player - likely to make it to campus

Players must sign by August 1st so we will have clarity in about 2 weeks.

I'll keep editing the initial post above as updates occurs.

Kaleb Freeman is reported to be signing with the White Sox for 150k.

 

[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.

So, not surprised by Fien and Cunningham signing and going pro. A little surprised by Dotson, Freeman, Boles, and Mitchell being picked in the draft.

Mitchell is already in Austin, so it will be interesting if the Angels give him enough to sign or not. The rest it is what it is.

The new outfielder that the staff got they wete already on before the draft. And got the former All-SEC freshmen outfielder from LSU in Ashton Larson. Not a replacement, but consdiered a depth before the draft. Now, probably a starter.

The awesome news though is that of the top 100 group of prospects: Anthony Packs Jr., Brett Crossland, Zac Cozart, and Cooper Rummel weren't drafted and WILL BE on campus.

The staff is still going through those in the portal to possibly bring in.

A surprised loss is Drew Rerick to blow u. A former top 2 round draft pick that pull out of last yr. draft to play for Schloss and Weiner. Then leaves after 1 yr.

The new pitcher from Kansas, Michael Winter, with 97 stikeouts in 62.2 IP. He has s fadtball that hits 95.
He has 3 other pitches as well.

Once one goes over all the outlets for the 2026 class, it might take me 2 different post to go thru all the pitchers and their pitches, and infielders/outfielders. You can't just go by perfect game as some do. They only put out limited stuff.

 

[david ficken]

Well, Xavier Mitchell has signed with the Angels for just under $875k. Most didn't draft him due to his desire to play at Texas for Schloss and Weiner. But money talks. For someone getting drafted in the 11th rd. or later that is usually around $125--$150k bonus. Will need to see if the Angels don't think some of their draft picks will sign or if they are just willing to WAY overpay for a player that late in the draft.