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Diagnosing the Disch: Max Belyeu, the catalyst of the Longhorn offense

by:EvanVieth•02/13/25
Max Belyeu
Max Belyeu (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK)

With Texas baseball’s season one day away, the Diagnosing the Disch series is missing just one position from its dive into the starting lineup of the Longhorn roster.

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That position is of course right field, the No. 9, fittingly a spot with the least amount of question marks heading into the year.

That wasn’t the case in 2024, when veteran Dylan Campbell was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers after multiple seasons in the outfield. A new face would have to step into Campbell’s shadow, a tough task no matter the pedigree of prospect or transfer next in line.

Even when Max Belyeu was announced as the starting right fielder in 2024, head coach David Pierce still seemed hesitant about the level of impact Belyeu could have. In the season opener, Belyeu hit seventh in the lineup, behind hitters like Jack O’Dowd and Nik Sanders (remember that name?). Belyeu struggled in the first series, failing to register a hit, but by the time the second weekend of the year rolled around he began to ascend. From the start of the Cal Poly series till the end of the one versus Texas Tech, Belyeu had 15 hits and 12 RBI in 10 games.

Though it took a while to move him up, Belyeu ended up in the No. 4 spot in the lineup by the end of the late April TCU series. From that point forward, Belyeu went on a tear. He had 26 hits and 17 RBI in his final 18 games, with his best performances coming against the Oklahoma schools where he batted .434 with three bombs and 8 RBI in just six games. Belyeu would end the season with a team high 1.090 OPS and 18 home runs, winning the Big 12 Player of the Year award.

Now with Belyeu, the question is no longer about how he will replace Campbell, it’s about how high is his ceiling. There are no question marks surrounding this position, he will start every game he is healthy for, and with a top spot in the order secured from day one, just how good can he be?

“He’s kind of our catalyst,” Texas baseball assistant coach Nolan Cain said about Belyeu in a recent interview. “He’s the guy who makes us go.”

That’s high praise from a man who spent his last season coaching players like Braden Montgomery and Jace Laviolette to a CWS runner up spot. Belyeu is a Golden Spikes Award preseason player to watch, and is the only Longhorn on the Preseason All-SEC team, joining Laviolette in the outfield. Texas’ season will rely on many things working out, but if Belyeu isn’t as good, or better than in 2024, Texas won’t have the ceiling of a national champion.

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There’s a chance Belyeu isn’t in the starting lineup come Friday, as the slugger has been dealing with the flu for the last few weeks. Head coach Jim Schlossnagle hasn’t confirmed anything regarding his situation, so for now, he is questionable to start. If he isn’t good to go, expect Tommy Farmer the IV inthe right field, a player we touched on in the left field addition of Diagnosing.

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