Four things to watch in the Texas baseball alumni game

A UFCU Disch-Falk Field tradition, the annual Texas Longhorns baseball alumni game takes place Saturday at noon as part of the program’s fan appreciation day.

[Get Inside Texas Plus until the start of the 2023 season for $29.99!]

Admission to Disch-Falk Field and parking in the East Campus Garage are both free, with gates opening at 8:30 a.m. More details about the day’s events can be found here on the official UT athletics website.

This event is a public, Longhorn Network televised tune-up for members of the 2023 Longhorn baseball program and alumni preparing to report for spring training (or just trying to relive some fond memories on the east side of IH-35).

While there’s always a good amount of fun to be had, this is still a data-collecting opportunity for head coach David Pierce ahead of the start of the season.

Here are four things Inside Texas is looking for during the family-friendly scrimmage

Who looks at home in the middle infield?

Trey Faltine’s defense, power, and team-leading charisma will be difficult to replicate now that the sure-handed shortstop is in the Cincinnati farm system. Fortunately for Texas, this is one of the areas on the diamond where UT boasts experienced candidates as potential replacements.

Back for his junior year, Mitchell Daly could make the move from second base to shortstop, but he’ll have stout competition in doing so. Long Beach State transfer Tanner Carlson, who posted a .345 batting average and a .985 fielding percentage for the Dirtbags in 2022, could contend with Daly for the job. So could Jack O’Dowd, who played in 21 games for the Horns last year. O’Dowd could also end up at second if Daly holds down short.

Don’t count out the first-year players, specifically Cade O’Hara and Jayden Duplantier. Both will have a chance to earn a spot.

[Sign up NOW for the Inside Texas newsletter for Texas Longhorns daily updates and breaking news in your inbox!]

Who will replace Silas Ardoin?

Silas Ardoin was one of the most important players on an inning-by-inning basis for the Longhorns over the past few seasons. 2022 was his best campaign, with Ardoin slashing .271/.391/.513 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 65 hits in 69 games. He hit 12 homers, drove in 50, and scored 48 runs.

Behind the plate, he was tough to run on and a tremendous receiver for a pitching staff that often needed every inch of the strike zone it could get.

Ardoin’s presence will be tough to replace, but like with the middle infield, there are good choices available to Pierce.

Freshman Rylan Galvan is contending with college veterans Kimble Schuessler, Peyton Powell, and USC transfer Garret Guillemette for the starting role. Galvan has created a good amount of buzz during his first year on campus. Guillemette arrives following a .286 season with the Trojans.

Schuessler was Ardoin’s backup last season, appearing in 17 games, starting four, and going 7-for-20 with a homer and four RBI in limited opportunities.

Powell, listed as a utilityman on the roster, can catch but has only played as a designated hitter at Texas.

Galvan, who according to Texas was the No. 6 prospect in the state, played for Adrian Alaniz at Sinton High School and is contending for the job already.

All will need to be a steady presence for a pitching staff whose only proven commodity is Lucas Gordon.

How will the outfield shake out?

There may not be a ton of depth in the outfield, but the top 3-4 players are likely to be leaders for the Longhorns in multiple senses.

Returning to the Forty Acres are Eric Kennedy and Dylan Campbell, two dynamite athletes who were critical in Texas’ postseason run to Omaha. Kennedy will need to stay healthy and adjust to centerfield, but that should be doable this season. Campbell will be tasked with one of the corner outfield spots.

The other corner outfield spot likely comes down to a battle between sophomore Ace Whitehead and TCU transfer Porter Brown. Brown, who hit .276 last year for TCU, recorded a .342 season for the Horned Frogs in 2021 with 23 RBI and eight steals. Whitehead, a local product from Lampasas, was the fourth outfielder last year and often served as the Longhorns’ primary pinch-runner.

Keep an eye on Max Beyleu. If the Aledo product doesn’t crack the lineup in the outfield, there’s a chance he could do so as the designated hitter.

Who joins Lucas Gordon as a top-line arm?

Last season Texas had a top three of Pete Hansen, Tristan Stevens, and Tanner Witt. Early in the season, Witt was lost to Tommy John surgery. Not too long after, Stevens saw his role altered.

In stepped Lucas Gordon, who eventually rose to No. 2 starter status after an effective campaign. He enters the 2023 season as the Friday night guy.

And after him? Well, that’s something Pierce is looking to solve before opening day.

Witt won’t be an option, at least as a starter. Pierce said last Friday the earliest he could see the mound for games is mid-April. Those innings would not be as a starter, but as a reliever.

So who could Texas turn to on Saturdays and Sundays?

Zane Morehouse is one option. A 6-foot-4 junior from Dawson, Morehouse pitched 39 innings in 20 appearances.

It gets a bit murky after that. There are returners like Lebarron Johnson, Andre Duplantier, and Luke Harrison, plus transfer options like Heston Tole, Chris Stuart, DJ Burke, Charlie Hurley, and David Shaw. Freshmen could jump into the fray as well.

While one game, the alumni game at that, won’t determine spots No. 2 and 3, it’ll function as more data for Pierce to use when making his decision.