Roster Assesment and Portal Needs for the 2026 Texas Baseball season

Texas baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s first season at the helm for the Longhorns was filled with some of the highest highs and lowest lows that a coach can experience.

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At one point, the Longhorns were 38-5, sweeping through some of the toughest SEC competition and running away with the SEC regular season title and the No. 1 spot in the nation. Schlossnagle’s club would indeed secure that regular season title, a monumental feat in the team’s first year in the conference.

However, the end of the season was far less kind, as the team lost its only two SEC series, the first game of the SEC Tournament, and its own regional to UTSA. Given how well the season started, it’s hard not to see this as a disappointment.

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— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) June 3, 2025

But as Schlossnagle has said throughout the season, this will be the least “Jim Schlossnagle” team we see during his tenure at Texas. Though he was able to add multiple impact transfers and freshmen, the bulk of the team’s returners were recruits from the David Pierce era. This will now be Schlossnagle’s first full offseason in Austin, meaning he has a full month and more to assess his team’s needs and address them in the transfer portal.

The only players who are 100% gone are 1B Kimble Schuessler, Friday starter Jared Spencer, and RP Andre Duplantier II. Outside of them, the entirety of this team could choose to stay in Austin for at least one more year.

There are a few players with key draft decisions. According to MLB.com, RF Max Belyeu is the 31st-ranked prospect in the upcoming MLB Draft, while C Rylan Galvan and SS Jalin Flores are ranked around the 170s. With that sort of draft capital, it’s hard to imagine Belyeu not betting on a professional career, as his slot has a nearly $3 million value.

There are a few constants Texas can count on in the field. 2B Ethan Mendoza will be the team’s leadoff hitter for at least another year. 3B Casey Borba found his home this season and hit well near the end. UTIL Adrian Rodriguez at points struggled without a true position in 2025 but will have a spot somewhere. And, of course, LF Jonah Williams will remain a mainstay in the lineup with his fantastic bat-to-ball skills, speed, and energy.

There will be big question marks surrounding three players for 2026: Flores, CF Will Gasparino, and OF Tommy Farmer IV. Before the season, Flores seemed like a surefire MLB Draft pick, and Gasparino was projected to become an elite CF by season’s end. Unfortunately, neither played at that level in the final month, and both became nearly automatic outs down the stretch. Farmer fits into this group as well, having lost his starting spot late in the year with the emergence of Williams. It remains to be seen if his bat is good enough to start every day. All three of these players were brought in by Pierce, not Schlossnagle.

The only offensive position that must be addressed in the portal is first base. While Jaquae Stewart had some nice at-bats this year, relying on him as the No. 1 option on opening day is risky. First base is the easiest position to find value in, and Schlossnagle could target a big power bat to bolster the middle of the order. If Galvan doesn’t return, catcher will also need attention, as freshman backup Cole Chamberlain would benefit from another year of development rather than being thrust into a primary role.

If Flores signs in the draft, Rodriguez would likely take over shortstop full-time, as it’s where he played for most of high school. Beyond that, Texas has options in the outfield, but they may not be solutions. If two of Farmer, Belyeu, or Gasparino aren’t around in ’26, they will need to add a bat in the outfield.

Overall, the ceiling for new position players taken in the portal feels like three, at least for true starters. Much will be decided after the draft and subsequent player decisions, but for now, Texas could use more left-handed and power-hitting options in the lineup—two traits Schlossnagle has emphasized since arriving.

On the pitching side, most of this staff can return, so the portal cycle should be less aggressive. It wouldn’t be surprising if Dylan Volantis assumes the Friday starter role to replace Spencer. With another year of development, the starting rotation should look more polished, and the bullpen appears strong even without Volantis. Perhaps one or two additional arms will be added to align with pitching coach Max Weiner’s philosophy, but nothing drastic. Texas boasts the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2026, with many of those top players being in-state pitchers who will need opportunities to develop.

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There are fewer true holes to fill and more luxury additions to anticipate this offseason. Schlossnagle will have the budget to pursue some of the best transfers in the country, and he will be aggressive in doing so. The coach has been candid about the team’s shortcomings in 2025. Texas will need to hit better in 2026 to contend for Omaha. Let’s see what this transfer class brings.