A month and a half after the NCAA transfer portal opened, the Horns are finally approaching some roster clarity for the 2026 season.
The 20-round 2025 MLB Draft begins on Sunday at 5 p.m. Central on ESPN in Atlanta with the first three rounds and concludes on Monday starting at 10:30 a.m. Central as part of All-Star Weekend.
For the Texas Longhorns and head coach Jim Schlossnagle, that means increased roster certainty with returning players and signees with the most drama surrounding how many players in the incoming class get drafted and opt to begin their professional baseball careers instead of heading to the Forty Acres.
With the Longhorns already making numerous additions from the transfer portal that indicative which current players are poised to sign following the draft, whether players are selected at or below their draft projections provide initial insights into their perceived signability.
And among the current players, the recent decisions by left-hander Luke Harrison, right-hander Ruger Riojas, and right-hander Max Grubbs to return for their final season of eligibility creates some important roster assurances for the Texas staff ahead of the draft.
Here’s a look at those current players and signees based on their draft rankings from ESPN.
Temecula Great Oak third baseman Gavin Fien — No. 12 overall
Something of a divisive prospect entering the draft following struggles during the spring, Fien could drop into the later half of the first round or potentially even into the second round. Even if that happens, it’s hard to see any scenario in which Fien doesn’t sign a professional contract following the draft.
San Antonio Johnson shortstop Kayson Cunningham — No. 25 overall
About a year ago, Cunningham made headlines when he flipped from Texas Tech to Texas after Schlossnagle and his staff made their move from College Station to Austin, but the excitement over that pledge was always tempered by Cunningham’s status as a top draft prospect.
That hasn’t changed over the last year with Cunningham projected to become the third shortstop signed by Texas to be drafted in the first round over the last two years, significantly complicating the post-Jalin Flores succession plan.
Right fielder Max Belyeu — No. 57 overall
Like Fien in the first round, there’s a range of second-round projections for Belyeu, perhaps in part because of the fractured thumb that limited him to 45 at bats in conference play in 2025. When Belyeu is healthy, his ability to hit for average and power from the left side in addition to possessing a strong enough arm to continue playing right field professionally makes him a high-level prospect.
Left-hander Jared Spencer — No. 128 overall
Spencer made the move from Indiana State to Texas for his senior season in order to boost his draft stock, exactly what happened after moving into the starting rotation and pitching at a high level before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in late April.
The injury hasn’t had a significant impact on Spencer’s draft stock, a sign of a positive prognosis for a full return to health with the fastball velocity that makes the Michigan product a credible prospect even though he doesn’t have any negotiating leverage as a senior.
Plano Prestonwood Christian left-hander Xavier Mitchell — No. 163 overall
A lean, projectable frame with easy velocity that reaches into the mid-90s paired with a sharp curveball makes Mitchell an intriguing prospect working from the left side. If Mitchell opts to play at Texas, missing the final part of his senior season with shoulder fatigue could play a role, but there are a number of factors in Mitchell’s makeup that could cause an organization to make him a priority addition.
Phoenix (Ariz.) Corona Del Sol right-hander Brett Crossland — No. 176 overall
In something of a recurring theme for the Texas signees in this draft, opinions vary on the 6’5, 240-pound Crossland because his fastball lost some of its shape and spin rate and his secondary pitches weren’t as sharp in recent months.
So there’s a significant difference for Crossland and his future between his No. 96 ranking by MLB.com and his No. 176 ranking by ESPN — the disparity in those rankings translated to slot value goes from close to $800,000 to less than $400,000, which could be the difference between whether Crossland turns pro or plays at Texas.
The other factor for Crossland is that he’ll be draft eligible again after his sophomore season if he decides to play college baseball.
Shortstop Jalin Flores — No. 221 overall
An MLB Draft prospect out of high school in San Antonio, Flores saw his draft stock peak last year at No. 72 overall after a strong sophomore season during which he hit .340 with 18 home runs, but his batting average dropped 100 points and his slugging percentage took an even bigger hit.
Now a year older, Flores does have a plus glove at shortstop, he’s just seen his draft stock drop in tandem with his decreased production in 2025. Since Flores still has leverage as a junior and Texas added a shortstop from the transfer portal, he’ll turn pro even though he won’t make the same amount of money he would have last year.
Catcher Rylan Galvan — Unranked
Slotted at No. 176 by MLB.com, Galvan had a breakout junior season, flashing natural power and improving his plate discipline. While there’s still swing and miss in Galvan’s game, he controls the strike zone at a high level and is an excellent defender in addition to possessing above-average athleticism for his position. After landing Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney from the portal, Texas already has an elite replacement for Galvan.
Long Beach (Calif.) Millikan outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. — Unranked
MLB.com has Pack as the No. 240 player overall because of his athleticism and contact ability. At 5’10, 160 pounds, Pack doesn’t have much power or a particularly strong arm, so while there is some concern that he could get drafted and sign, Texas has a good chance to get him on campus, where he would fit well with Schlossnagle’s approach at the plate.
Right-hander Grayson Saunier — Unranked
Mentioned by Schlossnagle as a possible departure to the professional level, Saunier made a late-season surge and doesn’t project as a draftable player in the current format, but the indication from the Texas head coach is that the Ole Miss transfer could sign a professional contract nonetheless despite having a year of eligibility remaining.