Diagnosing the Disch: Left field belongs to top transfer Easton Winfield

The left field spot for Texas baseball has been a talented one in the 2020s. It started with Longhorn legend Eric Kennedy, a speedster with a knack for getting on base who now plays in the Royals organization. When Kennedy was moved to the centerfield spot ahead of the 2023 season, Texas had a big spot to fill in the order with Douglas Hodo entering the draft, so head coach David Pierce called on the talents of TCU transfer Porter Brown.

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Brown quickly became a fan favorite in his two years in Austin. His catchy walk-up song and bright smile made him popular among the Disch regulars, and his smooth lefty swing helped Texas make the postseason in both of his years as a Longhorn. His eight-RBI game against West Virginia helped kickstart one of the most electric series in Longhorn history, completing the sweep against the Mountaineers to secure a last-minute Big 12 championship in 2023.

Unfortunately, 2024 didn’t fully go Brown’s way in terms of offensive success, ending the season as arguably the worst hitting starter on the team. While Brown was a great piece of the last two Longhorn teams, fans should be excited about what’s in store for the future of the position.

Head coach Jim Schlossnagle, like many spots in this order, approached the offseason wanting to find a young solution to the open left field spot. After all, the outfield was already loaded heading into the year with Big 12 Player of the Year Max Belyeu in right and budding superstar Will Gasparino in center.

Schlossnagle struck quickly to find a potential star at the position, earning the signature of ULM transfer Easton Winfield just five days after Schloss became the head coach at UT.

There’s a ton to like about Winfield, and one could argue he is the best overall transfer Schlossnagle got in the offseason. Winfield was a Perfect Game freshman second-team All-American in 2024 with the Warhawks, starting 53 games and earning 24 more total bases than the next highest batter on the team. He was already the best player on the struggling Sun Belt team the second he got on campus.

Winfield flashed the potential to be a five-tool guy in college baseball, making him a potential first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. For now, Winfield is the expected starter in left after his inspiring first season and is already earning the respect of players like Belyeu, who told the media recently that Winfield’s got a lot of power in his bat.

While Winfield seems to be a great candidate to start, he’s also standing in the only outfield spot that hasn’t been ‘claimed’ yet. That means that there will be plenty of competition. Tommy Farmer IV is the first name off the bench that will jump out as a contender to earn the spot throughout the year. Farmer showed out in the alumni game in late January, and the potential to have him as a plus fielder in left with Winfield DH-ing are likely enticing for Schlossnagle who values athletes and strong defense.

Farmer is 6-foot-3, matching the giants of Gasparino and Belyeu in the outfield, and ran a 6.3 60-yard dash in high school. If you’re familiar with the Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, you would know how absurd it is that Farmer in high school matched that time. Farmer did start three games last season and is one of the few young batters from the Pierce era to stick with Schlossnagle, a testament to his potential.

Outside of Farmer and Winfield, expect to see some action from Matthew Scott II, a 6-foot-4 freshman outfielder who was ranked in the top five at his position in the state of Texas. Scott got some innings in the alumni game and has been mentioned around the baseball sphere as a freshman batter to look out for.

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Most other candidates, including football five-star Jonah Williams, will likely redshirt this season or look on from the bench, but that doesn’t mean players like Donovan Jordan or Blake Peterson aren’t potential starters in the future. For now, however, a lot of eyes will be on Winfield’s potential ceiling and Farmer’s push to earn a starting spot.