Off week blues. While @AaronLittleOB is off having fun in NOLA, I sat down and did some analysis on the 2022 signees to see what Texas baseball fans will potentially see on campus in the fall. Note, it is still very early in the process for some of these guys and a lot of things can change between now and the time the MLB draft rolls around (July 17-19). I was able to wrangle up a couple of guys that spend their time scouring the state for top prospects, sleepers and guys who are looking for any opportunity to stay in the game of baseball. I am of course talking about a certain former mod Dustin McComas who may or may not have banning privileges still and former Texas baseball player and Director of Operations Drew Bishop. The gents from Five Tool joined me for an hour and half special episode of Around the HORNS. Link to the video here - Around the HORNS
Since there are a good number of folks who may not want to watch the episode on youtube or have an hour and a half to kill, here is the writeup on 2022 class. With the week off, Coach Pierce and Coach Allen will definitely be getting some face time in with local prospects and catch some outstanding Texas High School playoffs as the 2nd round is currently going on this weekend. As things change with the 2022 class, whether an addition or subtraction, I will make sure the list is updated and Dustin, Drew and I plan on doing another episode in July before the draft as things become more solidified.
Common theme in the class is athleticism and projectability. There are some really talented kids committed to Texas and a few of them are guys that have the potential to be instant impact players for the Horns. The other thing to note about this class is there are a lot of "top step" guys who are going to come in and grind, be excellent teammates and continue building outstanding culture.
MLB Draft Prospects Top 150 (Current Roster):
For you MLB fans, especially Rangers fans, keep an eye out for Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Fla. He very likely could be the 1st Round pick by the Rangers.
Since there are a good number of folks who may not want to watch the episode on youtube or have an hour and a half to kill, here is the writeup on 2022 class. With the week off, Coach Pierce and Coach Allen will definitely be getting some face time in with local prospects and catch some outstanding Texas High School playoffs as the 2nd round is currently going on this weekend. As things change with the 2022 class, whether an addition or subtraction, I will make sure the list is updated and Dustin, Drew and I plan on doing another episode in July before the draft as things become more solidified.
Common theme in the class is athleticism and projectability. There are some really talented kids committed to Texas and a few of them are guys that have the potential to be instant impact players for the Horns. The other thing to note about this class is there are a lot of "top step" guys who are going to come in and grind, be excellent teammates and continue building outstanding culture.
- C - Rylan Galvan (Sinton HS)
- Athletic, Physical, outstanding bat speed with great torque. Rylan has good power to the right side and while he is not the most polished catcher defensively, he is very very good and will challenge for innings behind the plate immediately upon stepping on campus. He is coached by none other than former Horn ace pitcher Adrian Alaniz.
- C - Grant Fahrlander (St Michaels Academy) - walk on
- Former Oregon commit. He is a bat first guy with good power and physicality. You can never have enough solid guys behind the plate as Texas learned a few years ago.
- 1B - Jared Thomas (Waxahacie HS)
- One of my personal favorites in the class. Jared is a baseball player pure and simple. He is a leader, knows the game really well, plays hard and gives it his all every time out. He missed some time this season with a bone bruise in his wrist, but that might be beneficial for Texas as he has garnered some MLB interest. Jared is a left handed batter that has excellent footwork, great bat speed and steady hands through the zone. Jared is a guy that Coach Allen might try to snag though as he did throw back to back no hitters and has a solid arm, but his future is definitely as a batter long term.
- SS - Cutter Coffey (Bakersfield, CA)
- Cutter is a guy that kind of exploded onto the scene with his hitting this past season. He has always had a plus glove and is very smooth, but his bat has come a long way and as a result, he is definitely a guy that Texas will be sweating on draft day. In fact, I would say there is a better than 60% change he does not make it to campus and I think Coach Allen would echo that sentiment. He is another guy that plays both ways in HS with a solid arm but his future is definitely in the field though there could be some concern about growing out of the SS position as he is already 6'2". Of course he loves Tulo and Tulo broke the mold as a big SS so that does bode well for Texas, but he did come in at #98 the most recent MLB Top Draft Prospects.
- 2B/SS - Jalin Flores (Brandeis HS)
- Jalin is similar to Cutter in the fact that his bat has really come on this year and he has begun growing into his body more. Extremely smooth at SS and the game just comes easy to him. Flores could very well be the next great SS for the Horns. Like Cutter, he is also a larger kid but Tulo does love him some larger SS. Outside of being tutored by Tulo, Jalin and his family understand the importance of a college degree and what a couple of years continuing to grow at Texas could do for his draft stock and it will take a good amount of money to sign him away. Jalin is a guy that has been getting some MLB attention this season though and comes in at #102 in the most recent MLB Top Draft Prospects.
- 2B/SS - Jayden Duplantier (Summer Creek HS)
- The definition of a top step guy. Athletic, leader, excellent family and a guy that has continued to get better and better. Jayden has a lot of projectability and is one of those guys that lifts up the entire team. On top of being athletic, Jayden can fly down the line and is a guy that with a year or two working with S&C Coach Crouch, could explode onto the scene.
- INF - Ben Harmon (Seminole State) - walk on
- Grinder, field rat and super athletic. Extremely well known for his exploits on the football field for Pleasant Grove, Ben is a guy that hits the ball well and comes in after a year of JUCO play looking to earn a spot. The best part is that he knows that and is going to fight and claw for what he wants which in turn will continue to keep a culture of grinding and pushing each other to be better.
- OF - Henry Bolte (Palo Alto, CA)
- Monster of a kid. Bolte is extremely physical and can hit the ball a mile. Seen as one of the better hitters in the class, his draft stock has slipped some but Texas will definitely be sweating Henry on draft day. He and his parents do understand that value of a Texas education and he does have a high price tag, but it remains to be seen if Texas can get him on campus. I would put it 50/50 at best right now.
- OF - Max Belyeu (Aledo HS)
- Another physical specimen at the plate, Max looks like he belongs and acts like a big leaguer at the plate. One of the best pure hitters in Texas for the 2022 class, Max has been walked a lot this year which has limited his plate opportunities but a guy that if he makes it to campus could be an immediately contributor. Although he is a big kid, he is has some sneaky athleticism and has even played CF in HS. I personally think he would be an excellent addition to the LF. Liked Jared Thomas he also happens to be a left handed batter which is a welcome addition after Texas has had to go to a completely right handed lineup after the EK injury this year.
- OF - Brenner Cox (Prosper Rockhill HS)
- My other favorite player in the Texas class. Brenner is extremely athletic and has that quick twitch gene. He does everything with speed. His bat speed is plus, he has a big arm and runs very well in the OF. Brenner is a kid who is fun to watch as the ball is so explosive out of his hand and he definitely has a bright future ahead of him.
- LHP - Chris Stuart (San Jac)
- Chris, a native of the Netherlands (yes that low lying country in Europe), is a unique story. He is a physical guy with a very nice arm that wanted to continue playing ball so he ended up going to San Jac and has continued to blossom. Seen as one of the top LHP in JUCO, he has a fastball that touches 94 and a slider that sits around 83. He has been a mainstay for San Jac, which is one of the premier JUCO teams in Texas and the nation and has racked up a lot of strikeouts this season (97 Ks in 72 IP). Chris is absolutely a guy that I can see coming in the fall and taking over a weekend rotation spot right out of the gate.
- LHP - Collin Valentine (Highland Park HS)
- Collin is a guy that has a really nice pitchers frame with plenty of room to grow. He does not has massive velocity yet, but with a year in a college program he is an arm that could absolutely add more juice. He knows how to pitch and pound the zone and his stuff has continued to come along. While he may not be a guy that contributes day one, he could end up being a big time get in a year or two.
- RHP - Pierce George (Lake Travis HS)
- Pierce is another physical specimen who is 6'7 and looks like he belongs on the edge for Sark's team rather than on a baseball field. Pierce has played both infield and pitched but having been out most of the year with an injury, it has been really tough to get a good grasp of where he currently sits developmentally. The few times I have been able to catch games at Lake Travis this season he has not pitched. He is an Area Code guy so there is definitely some talent there, but it remains to be seen what that looks like as we project future season productivity.
- RHP - Max Grubbs (Martin HS)
- Max has really good stuff and he is a kid that just knows how to pitch. He understands that location is important and moving the ball in out and hitting your spots. He has some electric stuff, but what is really impressive is that he does not simply rely on it like a lot of guys at the high school level. He hit the scene late, but he is a very athletic guy that is only going to get stronger and add to his arsenal. His primary pitch is a fastball, but he also has an outstanding slider and he is a strike out guy. Max is absolutely a guy that could come in and make an impact on the back of the bullpen.
- RHP - Matthew Porchas (Ladera Ranch, CA)
- Porchas was at one time the #1 arm in the 2022 class. Texas was on him early but he has not quite made the developmental leaps expected. Porchas's FB sits around 90 and he secondary pitch is a slider that does have good spin but it remains to be seen if he can really tap into that potential. The Texas coaches are hoping that a couple of years in a college program allow him to do just that, but right now, it is hard to project just what kind of impact he will have.
- RHP - John Wyatt Cheney (McLennan CC)
- Cheney, a one-time Oklahoma State player, has had a new lease on life at McLennan. Cheney did make 10 appearances for the Pokes, but decided to transfer out as he had limited opportunities. With a record of 9-2 on the season with 103 Ks in 71 IP, Cheney will look to make an immediate impact at Texas who will be looking for pitching difference makers next season. Cheney is a guy that the Texas coaches got to see in the Fall of 2021 as Texas scrimmaged McLennan and he mowed down some Texas hitters, leading Pierce and Allen to immediately offer. Cheney has a FB that sits 93-94 with solid secondary stuff. A local kid from Bertram (Liberty Hill HS), he is another kid who is a grinder and a leader on the field. He is very consistent and under the outstanding tutelage of Coach Tyler Johnson (Skip's son), Cheney has continued to blossom and looks to be an outstanding pickup for the Horns.
- RHP - DJ Burke (San Jac) - walk on
- The newest Texas commit, Burke is a max effort guy that has a FB that sits 8around 93-95 with a solid curveball (77-80) to go along with it. In addition, Burke has added a slider that sits in the 82-85 range. A guy that will look to come in and help out in the bullpen, he has been consistent on the year in pounding the zone with better than a strike an inning and a low ERA.
MLB Draft Prospects Top 150 (Current Roster):
- #123 - Pete Hansen - projected as a 2nd to 4th round pick currently
- #136 - Trey Faltine - projected as a 4-5 round pick currently
- #139 - Silas Ardoin - projected as a 3rd to 5th round pick currently
- Ivan Melendez is projected as a 4th Rounder currently, but he is definitely a guy that scouts are circling back around as he has lowered his K % by 8 points from last year and of course everyone has seen his numbers on the year. Melendez is also going to be a finalist for the Golden Spikes and likely is no worse than the number 2 in betting odds to win it.
- Eric Kennedy - his numbers are way up compared to years past but his hamstring injury has really derailed his season. It remains to be seen what that means for him and the Horns
- Mitch Daly - Based on the year that he has had hitting, he is likely a lock to come back to school next year. He remains an extremely athletic guy with a plus glove at 2B who could play SS but he really needs another year to work on his hitting
- Aaron Nixon - see Daly above except for hitting. After coming off an outstanding year in 2021, Nixon has taken a massive step back and will be back for another year to showcase that outstanding slider and for all Texas fans, hopefully get his fastball command back
- Douglas Hodo - based on everything I have seen and heard, Hodo will be back for another season to prowl CF for the Horns
For you MLB fans, especially Rangers fans, keep an eye out for Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Fla. He very likely could be the 1st Round pick by the Rangers.
