2025 Updates, Transfers & Recruits

[Chop]

This is from late Summer:

Thomas Burns
RHP

Rose as high as the #1 starter for Arizona State as a Freshman last year. Then he suffered a bicep injury. Hopefully he's fully recovered, as he could see a lot of time on the mound.

Arizona State transfer RHP Thomas Burns commits to Texas

The Longhorns land another arm from the NCAA transfer portal.

www.burntorangenation.com

Thomas Burns
RHP
6'4" tall
Ariz State Transfer (#1 pitcher in their rotation, pre-bicep injury)

As a freshman, Burns started 6 games and finished the season with a 4.75 ERA, striking out 39 in 30.1 innings with opponents only hitting .213.
Fastball is now up to the upper 90s.

Threw post-injury in Summer Ball for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters against good college competition (same Summer league that Peyton Powell played in). Got shelled a few games early in the Summer, but progressed as the Summer went along. Closed out the Summer with a 4 inning scoreless outing with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk against Green Bay. His next to last game was 3 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk against Madison.

We're probably looking at a pretty solid middle reliever, or maybe even a #3, or #4 starter for next year. At one point he was the Ace of the Ariz State staff.

 

[aUTfan]

 

[Chop]

Artificial Intelligence write-up on Ruger Riojas:

Ruger Riojas is a right-handed pitcher for the University of Texas Longhorns baseball team. Here is some information about his scouting report:

• Height and weight: Riojas is 6'1" and weighs 180 pounds.
  
  
  
• Bats and throws: Riojas bats and throws right-handed.
  
  
  
• 2022 recruiting class: In 2022, Perfect Game ranked Riojas outside the top 200 prospects in Texas.
  
  
  
• 2023 season: Riojas was named to the Conference USA All-Conference Freshman Team after making 20 appearances with one start. He had a 5-0 record, 4.11 ERA, and struck out 57 batters in 46 innings.
  
  
  
• Sophomore season: Riojas led the Roadrunners with seven saves in 26 appearances. He had a 10-3 record, 3.25 ERA, and struck out 75 batters in 69.1 innings.
  
  
  
• 2025 projections: Riojas is expected to be a key bullpen piece for the Longhorns in 2025.

 

[aUTfan]

Still too early to make a 2026 thread but putting here because it’s pertinent to future baseball here. I know these top guys may not make it to campus but what if 10% of them do?? Gotta get them in the class first, just one of these guys can propel a team into a championship.

 

[Texadelphia]

Still too early to make a 2026 thread but putting here because it’s pertinent to future baseball here. I know these top guys may not make it to campus but what if 10% of them do?? Gotta get them in the class first, just one of these guys can propel a team into a championship.

The Schloss-inator is working some magic. Me likey.

 

[aUTfan]

Good grief, not sure I’ve seen anything like this before….i know some may not make it but dang, what if most wanted to come to campus if they thought the chances were high they would win a title with this much talent together?

 

[aUTfan]

 

[SabreHorn]

When will he be fully recovered?

 

[aUTfan]

When will he be fully recovered?

Schloss said he’ll be ready by spring semester.

 

[RS]

Just checked and the baseball roster number is still be pretty high. When will the roster be trimmed? It must happen pretty soon to allow cut guys to leave.

 

[aUTfan]

Good question RS and not one we’ve seen an answer to yet for Texas but just saw this post with a little discussion.

 

[RS]

Good question RS and not one we’ve seen an answer to yet for Texas but just saw this post with a little discussion.

Thank for that. Some seemingly pretty good players were cut about this time last year; however, they probably did not quite make the grade in Fall ball- at least according to Pierce's expectations. Schlossnagle brought in a lot of new guys and will have to make some tough decisions. It is almost like free agency in the NFL where guys show up for training camp and then get cut before the season starts. I do feel sorry for the guys at all schools that get cut right at the end of the semester and then have to hustle if they want to find and enroll in a new school. I think it often winds up being JUCO.

 

[Chop]

MLB scouts are slobbering all over themselves talking about Belyeu -- top 2-3 hitting prospect in the next draft, etc.

Baseball may turn out to be a lucrative venture for this young man.

 

[RS]

MLB scouts are slobbering all over themselves talking about Belyeu -- top 2-3 hitting prospect in the next draft, etc.

Baseball may turn out to be a lucrative venture for this young man.

Interesting. I hope he meets that expectation this season. Do you have any links to references about what MLB scouts are saying?

 

[Chop]

Interesting. I hope he meets that expectation this season. Do you have any links to references about what MLB scouts are saying?

Here's just a small sampling of what people are saying; Max is getting the notice he deserves:

"Belyeu is now bidding to become the Longhorns' first first-round hitter since Drew Stubbs in 2006..."

"One of the best all-around offensive players in the college crop, Belyeu hits for average and power while controlling the strike zone and making consistent hard contact."

"Another outfielder who could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick is Max Belyeu. In 2024, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in Texas’ final season in the Big 12."

"At the plate, Belyeu has a great combination of hit and power tools. Coming out of high school, he was more hit over power, but the rising junior has improved the latter during his time in Austin. This past season, Belyeu’s hard-hit percentage was 48%, and his EV95+LA10-30° rate was 25.8%."

"Belyeu is a 6’2”, 210-pound Lone Star State native. He led a stout Texas Longhorns roster that included nine players who were named to the All-Big 12 teams. Belyeu slashed .329/.423/.667 with 69 hits, fifteen doubles, a team-high eighteen home runs, 56 RBIs and a 1.090 OPS."

"He has a quick left-handed swing geared for line drives, showing the ability to pull pitches for home runs or backspin them out of the park to the opposite field."

"The power itself has stood out, too, as his 90th percentile EVs are in the upper echelon of college bats and he'll smash the ball to all fields."

6 early candidates to be 2025 Marlins first-round draft pick

The Miami Marlins did not get the draft position they were hoping for. However, they'll still have a wide variety of talented high school and college prospects to choose from with the seventh overall pick.

fishonfirst.com

2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Collegiate Prospects — Prospects Live

With the overlapping of draft class occurring this summer, it’s only right that we begin to introduce our 2025 lists as the summer circuit is ramping up. Today, we’ll release our initial Top 30 College list and for the readers, it’s open to the public! As the summer progresses and we get more looks,

www.prospectslive.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

 

[Chop]

Here's just a small sampling of what people are saying; Max is getting the notice he deserves:

"Belyeu is now bidding to become the Longhorns' first first-round hitter since Drew Stubbs in 2006..."

"One of the best all-around offensive players in the college crop, Belyeu hits for average and power while controlling the strike zone and making consistent hard contact."

"Another outfielder who could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick is Max Belyeu. In 2024, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in Texas’ final season in the Big 12."

"At the plate, Belyeu has a great combination of hit and power tools. Coming out of high school, he was more hit over power, but the rising junior has improved the latter during his time in Austin. This past season, Belyeu’s hard-hit percentage was 48%, and his EV95+LA10-30° rate was 25.8%."

"Belyeu is a 6’2”, 210-pound Lone Star State native. He led a stout Texas Longhorns roster that included nine players who were named to the All-Big 12 teams. Belyeu slashed .329/.423/.667 with 69 hits, fifteen doubles, a team-high eighteen home runs, 56 RBIs and a 1.090 OPS."

"He has a quick left-handed swing geared for line drives, showing the ability to pull pitches for home runs or backspin them out of the park to the opposite field."

"The power itself has stood out, too, as his 90th percentile EVs are in the upper echelon of college bats and he'll smash the ball to all fields."

6 early candidates to be 2025 Marlins first-round draft pick

The Miami Marlins did not get the draft position they were hoping for. However, they'll still have a wide variety of talented high school and college prospects to choose from with the seventh overall pick.

fishonfirst.com

2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Collegiate Prospects — Prospects Live

With the overlapping of draft class occurring this summer, it’s only right that we begin to introduce our 2025 lists as the summer circuit is ramping up. Today, we’ll release our initial Top 30 College list and for the readers, it’s open to the public! As the summer progresses and we get more looks,

www.prospectslive.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

And some scouts consider J. Flores almost as good of a prospect as M. Belyeu.

Of course, good-gloved Shortstops with good bats don't grow on trees.

 

[Chop]

And it's much too cold to be thinking about baseball this time of year...

 

[RS]

Here's just a small sampling of what people are saying; Max is getting the notice he deserves:

"Belyeu is now bidding to become the Longhorns' first first-round hitter since Drew Stubbs in 2006..."

"One of the best all-around offensive players in the college crop, Belyeu hits for average and power while controlling the strike zone and making consistent hard contact."

"Another outfielder who could be an option for the Marlins with the seventh overall pick is Max Belyeu. In 2024, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in Texas’ final season in the Big 12."

"At the plate, Belyeu has a great combination of hit and power tools. Coming out of high school, he was more hit over power, but the rising junior has improved the latter during his time in Austin. This past season, Belyeu’s hard-hit percentage was 48%, and his EV95+LA10-30° rate was 25.8%."

"Belyeu is a 6’2”, 210-pound Lone Star State native. He led a stout Texas Longhorns roster that included nine players who were named to the All-Big 12 teams. Belyeu slashed .329/.423/.667 with 69 hits, fifteen doubles, a team-high eighteen home runs, 56 RBIs and a 1.090 OPS."

"He has a quick left-handed swing geared for line drives, showing the ability to pull pitches for home runs or backspin them out of the park to the opposite field."

"The power itself has stood out, too, as his 90th percentile EVs are in the upper echelon of college bats and he'll smash the ball to all fields."

6 early candidates to be 2025 Marlins first-round draft pick

The Miami Marlins did not get the draft position they were hoping for. However, they'll still have a wide variety of talented high school and college prospects to choose from with the seventh overall pick.

fishonfirst.com

2025 MLB Draft: Top 30 Collegiate Prospects — Prospects Live

With the overlapping of draft class occurring this summer, it’s only right that we begin to introduce our 2025 lists as the summer circuit is ramping up. Today, we’ll release our initial Top 30 College list and for the readers, it’s open to the public! As the summer progresses and we get more looks,

www.prospectslive.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Top Baseball Draft Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Thanks a lot.

 

[aUTfan]

Pretty good spot and about where we should be. We have a very formidable team this year, strongest one we’ve had in years, problem is, the top is super strong too. Going to be a fun year where we should be able to compete with anyone and we will surprise teams in the beginning. I don’t see us being lower than 10th if schloss and company are who we think they are. Very talented team.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

Pretty good spot and about where we should be. We have a very formidable team this year, strongest one we’ve had in years, problem is, the top is super strong too. Going to be a fun year where we should be able to compete with anyone and we will surprise teams in the beginning. I don’t see us being lower than 10th if schloss and company are who we think they are. Very talented team.

10 teams in the top 25? That schedule is gonna be brutal.

 

[Chop]

Pretty good spot and about where we should be. We have a very formidable team this year, strongest one we’ve had in years, problem is, the top is super strong too. Going to be a fun year where we should be able to compete with anyone and we will surprise teams in the beginning. I don’t see us being lower than 10th if schloss and company are who we think they are. Very talented team.

Our bats are looking very solid.

If our arms come through on the mound, we're in business to go far, very far.

Think of it like this: our ace last year (Grubbs) may be our #3 pitcher this year--and he didn't get any worse...

 

[Chop]

I'm interested in how our new staff is developing Tumis and Hudson Hamilton. Those 2 have some of the nastiest breaking stuff in college baseball. One or another might start, or might close. The previous coaches seemed to really like Hamilton. I like them both. Both have MLB level spin rates. But I think Tumis had the most dramatic/absurd/unnatural-looking movement to his breaking pitches of anyone on the team. It's kinda cool to watch.

With these 2, it's a matter of maturing and getting the mental part of pitching down.

 

[RS]

I'm interested in how our new staff is developing Tumis and Hudson Hamilton. Those 2 have some of the nastiest breaking stuff in college baseball. One or another might start, or might close. The previous coaches seemed to really like Hamilton. I like them both. Both have MLB level spin rates. But I think Tumis had the most dramatic/absurd/unnatural-looking movement to his breaking pitches of anyone on the team. It's kinda cool to watch.

With these 2, it's a matter of maturing and getting the mental part of pitching down.

I would also like to see how Luke Harrison is doing. He was on a good path before his surgery and was not quite up to par after returning last season. I had high hopes for him before his surgery.

 

[aUTfan]

Another Pre-season ranking. So any where from #7 to 19.

I think we potentially have a better team, barring any injuries to our top pitchers again, than we’ve had in many years, including the year with the Hispanic titanic.

We have a good lineup and defense, question will be just how good is the starting rotation and the bullpen…. on paper it looks deeper than it’s been in a long time. I expect things to settle in around 10 (6-10, my expectations for this team based on the talent I see).

 

[Chop]

Another Pre-season ranking. So any where from #7 to 19.

I think we potentially have a better team, barring any injuries to our top pitchers again, than we’ve had in many years, including the year with the Hispanic titanic.

We have a good lineup and defense, question will be just how good is the starting rotation and the bullpen…. on paper it looks deeper than it’s been in a long time. I expect things to settle in around 10 (6-10, my expectations for this team based on the talent I see).

Yeah, #19 seems a bit low with this lineup.

Key is: who are the other 2 weekend starters to go with Grubbs?

 

[ViperHorn]

Another Pre-season ranking. So any where from #7 to 19.

I think we potentially have a better team, barring any injuries to our top pitchers again, than we’ve had in many years, including the year with the Hispanic titanic.

We have a good lineup and defense, question will be just how good is the starting rotation and the bullpen…. on paper it looks deeper than it’s been in a long time. I expect things to settle in around 10 (6-10, my expectations for this team based on the talent I see).

Schloss is gone so how much of the aggy ranking "consideration" forgot that fact?

 

[nashhorn]

Hate it when aggie is higher than us but positively disgusting when ranked #1.

 

[1sahorn]

Hate it when aggie is higher than us but positively disgusting when ranked #1.

Reality can be a *****...especially for aggy. Here's hoping an April FUUUURRRKKK roller coaster ride for them.

 

[aUTfan]

I hate to say it but they are definitely one of the top teams in the country. Only saving grace is coaching (aggies), does it fail in critical moments?

 

[mmsnake]

Aggy never wins anything. NOTHING.
Just being set up for more despair.