It is really never too early to start talking baseball around Austin. The Texas Longhorns baseball got off to a good start in their 2020 campaign before the pandemic shut down their season. The Longhorns were 14-3 and in the midst of a four-game winning streak before it was ended.
The Longhorns are now looking forward to what should be a full season in 2021, fingers crossed anyway. National baseball publication Baseball America has released their “never too early” top 25 rankings. Texas currently sitting inside the top 15 teams in American at number 11.
The Longhorns are joined by Texas Tech, Texas Christian and Oklahoma in the rankings.
- Texas Tech (2)
- Texas (11)
- Texas Christian (16)
- Oklahoma (18)
The Longhorns lost two key members from their team a year ago with Duke Ellis and Bryce Elder making the jump to Major League Baseball. However outfielder Austin Todd, first baseman Zach Zubia and catcher D.J. Petrinsky are all back for another season.
Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked their 2020 recruiting class number one in the nation. It will be interesting to see how that group plays for the Longhorns in 2021. One of the top prospects in the MLB Draft went undrafted meaning that Tanner Witt will play for the Longhorns in 2021. His signability being a major concern. MLB teams didn’t want to use a pick on a play they may or may not be able to sign since the draft was only five rounds this year.
Given the players who decided to return in 2021 and the rise of freshman pitcher Pete Hansen, the Longhorns look to rise to the challenge of taking back the Big 12.