Texas Longhorns: 2026 Season Preview
3,818 wins. 38 College World Series appearances. 6 national championships. 130 years of baseball. After winning the SEC in Year One, Schlossnagle's Longhorns reload for an Omaha run.
The Program
2025 Season Results
Season Highlights
Won the SEC outright in inaugural season (picked 8th preseason)
First team to win the SEC in its inaugural season since 1933
Jim Schlossnagle named SEC Coach of the Year
Dylan Volantis: SEC Freshman of the Year, 11 conference saves (broke 22-year-old freshman record)
Adrian Rodriguez: First Team Freshman All-America
2026 Roster Breakdown
Key returnees and transfer portal additions
Key Returnees
Ethan Mendoza
INF · Jr.Southlake Carroll product. Best contact hitter in the SEC as a sophomore. Returns as the engine of the lineup.
Adrian Rodriguez
INF · So.Switch-hitter from Flower Mound. First Team Freshman All-America. Slashed his way into the lineup and never slowed down.
Casey Borba
INF · Jr.Orange Lutheran product. Power bat in the middle of the order. 12 home runs as a sophomore.
Jonah Williams
OF · So.Galveston native. Electric speed and bat control. Breakout candidate if he gets everyday at-bats.
Luke Harrison
LHP · Gr.Friendswood product. Veteran lefty anchors the rotation. Consistent strike-thrower with big-game experience.
Dylan Volantis
LHP · So.Thousand Oaks, CA. Most dominant reliever in college baseball. Only a sophomore. Could move into the rotation or stay as closer.
Jason Flores
RHP · So.Wylie product. Pitched beyond his years as a freshman. Reliable arm in high-leverage situations.
Max Grubbs
RHP · Sr.Arlington native. Veteran right-hander with a deep pitch mix. Consistent innings-eater.
Transfer Portal Additions
Haiden Leffew
LHP · Jr.Left-handed arm from the CWS runner-up. Adds SEC-tested depth to an already loaded staff.
Ashton Larson
OF · Jr.Outfield depth from the defending national champions. Speed and defensive range.
Thomas Burns
RHP · Jr.Bullpen depth with swing-and-miss stuff.
Temo Becerra
INF · R-Sr.Veteran infielder adds experience and flexibility. Can play multiple positions.
Cody Howard
RHP · R-Sr.In-state transfer strengthens the pen. Knows the Big 12 hitters Texas will face in non-con.
Dariyan Pendergrass
OF · R-Sr.Speed and defense in the outfield. Could be a late-inning weapon on the bases.
Pitching Staff Analysis
The Headline
Dylan Volantis is the most dominant reliever in college baseball. A 1.94 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 12 saves in 51 innings — as a freshman. His 11 SEC saves broke a conference freshman record that had stood for 22 years. Whether he stays as closer or moves into the rotation, he anchors everything.
The Rotation
Luke Harrison leads the way — a veteran lefty from Friendswood with a 3.06 ERA and 72 strikeouts. Jason Flores (2.78 ERA) and Max Grubbs (2.84 ERA, 6-2) round out a rotation that can match up with anyone in the SEC. Portal additions Haiden Leffew (Wake Forest) and Thomas Burns (Arizona State) add arms that have pitched on big stages.
The Depth
This is where Texas separates. Cody Howard (from Baylor) strengthens the pen. The returning arms already have SEC experience. Schlossnagle can mix and match without overextending anyone. When your worst bullpen option has a sub-3.00 ERA, you can compete in any series.
Lineup Analysis
The Engine
Ethan Mendoza (.333/.437/.476) is the best pure contact hitter in the SEC. The Southlake Carroll product rarely chases, works deep counts, and puts the ball in play when it matters. He sets the table for everything that follows.
The Middle
Adrian Rodriguez (.313/.410/.516, 7 HR) and Casey Borba (.278, 12 HR) provide the complementary thunder. Rodriguez is a switch-hitter with rare bat speed for a sophomore. Borba supplies the middle-of-the-order power. Together they give Texas on-base, slugging, and plate discipline that few lineups in the country can match.
The Supporting Cast
Jonah Williams (.327 in limited action) is the breakout candidate — electric speed and bat control from Galveston. Ashton Larson (from LSU) adds outfield depth and defensive range. Dariyan Pendergrass (College of Charleston) provides late-inning speed. This is not a one-line lineup.
2026 Schedule Highlights
Scouting Verdict
20–80 scouting scale
BSI Projection
Texas has the most complete roster in college baseball. Elite pitching depth led by Volantis, a balanced lineup anchored by Mendoza and Rodriguez, portal additions from national contenders, and a coaching staff that won the SEC in Year One. The schedule is relentless, but the Longhorns did not come to the SEC to settle for the regular season. Schlossnagle came to Austin to compete for Omaha — and this roster gives him the tools to get there.