LSU transfer OF Ashton Larson commits to Texas

The Longhorns have their replacement to the replacement for Max Belyeu.

A day after the monthlong commitment of Butler Bulldogs transfer outfielder Jack Moroknek to the Texas Longhorns was impacted by his selection in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals, LSU Tigers transfer outfielder Ashton Larson announced his commitment to head coach Jim Schlossnagle and staff.

With Moroknek expected to sign with the Nationals, the Texas staff had to move quickly to secure a replacement for Moroknek, who was recruited to replace Max Belyeu, the No. 74 overall pick by the Colorado Rockies.

A 6’2, 200-pounder from Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas, Larson was the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 13 outfielder in the 2023 recruiting class, according to Perfect Game. Selected in the 20th round of that year’s MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, Larson opted to honor his commitment to the Tigers.

Larson initially appeared on track to fulfilling his potential in Baton Rouge, playing in 53 games (40 starts) and batting .298 (42-for-141) with nine doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI and 25 runs as a freshman, making 33 appearances in right field, four in left field, and three at designated hitter.

In conference play, Larson was particularly good, batting a team-best .337 (28-for-83) in SEC regular-season games with eight doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, and 16 runs.

With the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Code League that summer, Larson hit .316 with nine doubles, one home run, and 18 RBI in 31 games.

Battling for playing time in a crowded outfield in 2025, however, Larson took a step back, struggling to get onto the field and produce at the plate, receiving only five starts and hitting .256 in 39 at bats with a strikeout rate of 35.9 percent.

Despite those struggles, Larson fits the profile that Schlossnagle prefers — he’s a left-handed batter who can work the count with a .406 on-base percentage over his two seasons at LSU with a short swing and quick hands.

So while the pending loss of Moroknek — and Georgia State transfer Kaleb Freeman, as well — illustrates the perils of recruiting productive draft-eligible players from the portal, the Texas staff under Schlossnagle is operating at a high enough level to have a backup plan in place that they quickly executed to land a less-proven player with a better recruiting pedigree.