Texas high school baseball top 50 pitchers rankings

Breakout junior takes top honors, sophomore and freshman also crack top 25 of state's top 50 pitcher rankings

Texas high school baseball top 50 pitchers. / JON RATHBUN / TIMES TELEGRAM / USA TODAY NETWORK

Well into district play already, Texas is seemingly flying through the high school baseball season.

With more than half of the season in the books, we decided to take a look at the top 50 pitching prospects from across the state.

A surprise junior, one of the top two-way players in the nation, takes the top spot after seeing a big spike in velocity that’s had him up to 98 mph with his fastball this season.

Two of the state’s top seniors take the next two spots, both of whom are expected to be drafted in the early rounds of this year’s MLB Amateur Draft. Overall, we have five juniors in the top 25, one sophomore and one standout freshman.

While many of these players are two-way standouts, they were ranked based solely off their ability on the mound. All classes were considered for these rankings. We’ve provided captions on the top 25.   

Texas high school baseball top 50 pitchers rankings

1. Cole Koeninger, RHP, jr., Keller

College commitment: Tennessee

A big spike in velocity has Koeninger opening eyes for more than just his offense this season. One of the best two-way prospects in the nation, Koeninger is also a dynamic shortstop with a high-level bat. His arm has had people buzzing this season, however, as he consistently works his fastball between 94-96 mph, hitting 97 multiple times and topping out at 98. He also mixes in a power curve and a nasty slider. He harnesses the heat enough to throw plenty of strikes when he’s not busy punishing opposing pitchers at the plate.

2. Johnny Slawinski III, LHP, sr., Johnson City

College commitment: Texas A&M

Johnson City is off to a 17-2 start this season in large part to the southpaw’s dominance on the mound. Armed with three above-average pitches (fastball, slider, changeup) that he can command – including a fastball that’s been up to 94 mph this year – Slawinski is our top 2025 arm in Texas and will be one of the most coveted high school arms in this year’s MLB Amateur Draft.

3. Nicholas “Nico” Partida, RHP, sr., Pearland

College commitment: Texas A&M

Like Koeninger, Partida is one of the top two-way players in the country. A member of Team USA’s 18U National Team last summer, the 6-foot, 185-pound righty is armed with three quality pitches and a fastball that has touched 98 mph this year.

Partida has made five starts for the Oilers so far and is 1-0 with a 0.44 ERA. In 16 innings across five appearances, he has allowed just one earned run on nine hits with 18 strikeouts and five walks.

4. Trey Rangel, RHP, jr., The Colony

College commitment: Texas

Wiry and athletic, Rangel looks like a shortstop on the mound. That’s because he is a shortstop when he’s not on the mound. Standing at 6-foot, 172 pounds, the Longhorns commit has a dynamic arm that plays well at either position. His athleticism shows in his smooth delivery, and his fastball has been up to 96 mph this year. He’ll take about 10 mph off his changeup; a secondary pitch he compliments that with a power curveball and tight slider. He’s widely considered one of the top junior pitchers in the nation.  

5. Cooper Rummel, RHP, sr., Dripping Springs

College commitment: Texas

An imposing figure at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Rummel makes 94 look easy with a smooth and easy delivery. The Team USA 18U National Team performer also spins a power curve and a wipeout slider to keep hitters off balance, which helped him rack up nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings during his last outing on April 1 for Dripping Springs.

6. Ethan Baiotto, RHP, sr., Southlake Carroll

College commitment: Tennessee

The ace of one of our top high school baseball teams in the country, Baiotto has been dominant again this season. At 6-3, 205 the right hander runs his fastball up to 96 mph with sink while mixing in two quality secondary pitches – a big curveball and a low-80s changeup.

7. Robert “Xavier” Mitchell, LHP, sr., Prestonwood Christian

College commitment: Texas

Our No. 2 southpaw in Texas, Mitchell (6-3, 165) makes velocity look easy. With a slow and deliberate windup, he cranks it up to 94 mph with a seeming flick of the wrist. It’s easy to see how there might be more velocity in Mitchell’s future, but he hasn’t needed it at the high school level, where the Team USA 18U National Team member routinely overmatches hitters.

8. Brody Walls, RHP, sr., McKinney Boyd

College commitment: Texas

Athletic and with a quick arm, Walls (6-foot, 190) has an overpowering three-pitch mix that makes each at-bat against him an uncomfortable experience for the opponent. Pitching from a near three-quarters arm slot, Walls uses his fastball between 92-95 mph to set up a sharp slider and good change. He’s a problem for opposing batters. They haven’t had much success against the future Longhorn.

9. Luke Billings, RHP, sr., Prosper

College commitment: Texas A&M

A two-way star and multi-sport standout at Prosper, Billings (6-2, 190) is among the most polished high school pitchers in the state. The Aggies commit has impressed scouts with his ability to command the ball to both sides of the plate, where he uses a 90-93 mph fastball to set up his curveball, slider and changeup.

10. Marcos Paz, RHP, sr., Hebron

College commitment: LSU

With good size at 6-2, 220, there’s very little effort in Paz’s delivery, but he gets a lot out of it with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 96. The Louisiana State commit has a four-pitch mix – including a curveball, slider and changeup – and is one of the top arms in the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class.

11. Chandler Hart, LHP, jr. Allen

College commitment: Texas A&M

Our second junior on the list, Hart also among the top-rated juniors nationally. Armed with a fastball that he’ll work in at 88-91 and has touched 92 this season, Hart leans on a fastball-slider combo that he commands well to shut down opposing lineups. A two-way star with power, Hart (6-6, 215) only appears to be scratching the surface on his potential.  

12. Taylor Tracey, LHP, sr., Dripping Springs

College commitment: Tennessee

Dripping Springs is dripping with talent, as Tracey joins teammate Cooper Rummel to arguably form the most talented lefty-righty starting duo in the state. Armed with a fastball he’ll run into the low-90s, a big curve and a changeup, the 6-foot-5 southpaw has a smooth delivery and fills up the strike zone with all three pitches.

13. David Ramirez, LHP, sr., Clear Falls

College commitment: Texas A&M

A name that might fly under the radar a bit due to Clear Falls’ struggles this season, Ramirez is a strikeout machine and one of the state’s top lefties. The 5-foot-11 southpaw made his return to the mound on April 2 and struck out four batters over three scoreless innings. A maestro on the mound, he carved batters up with his high-80s to low-90s fastball and heavy breaking ball to collect well over 100 strikeouts as a junior. This season, he’s brought the same nasty secondary stuff while ramping his fastball up to 90-93 mph.

14. Jack Smejkal, RHP, jr., The Woodlands

College commitment: Texas

An intense competitor and two-way star, Smejkal (6-foot, 165) gives you a little flair and a lot of gas off the mound. With a fastball that clips 94, the future Longhorn goes right at hitters and isn’t afraid to pitch inside. He compliments the fastball with a power breaking ball and a solid change. Another jump this offseason could see his name much higher on this list a year from now.

15. Nolan Moore, LHP, sr., New Braunfels

College commitment: Texas State

This Unicorn is a horse on the mound. Since picking up about five inches in height and 10 mph on his fastball the last two seasons, Moore has become the ace of the Unicorns’ staff with a heavy fastball that tops out at 94 amid his solid four-pitch mix. A two-way star with a powerful bat, he’s helped the Unicorns get out to an 18-4 mark to start the season.

16. Jack McKernan, LHP, sr., Ridge Point

College commitment: Texas

This Texas commit has all the typical traits of a big-game pitcher. At nearly 6-2, 185, McKernan’s athleticism shows up on the mound. He’s been up to 95 mph with his fastball this season, but his secondary pitches are just as impressive. His mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball are rarely squared up, and his mid-80s changeup might be the best of any lefthander in the state.

17. Minjae Seo, RHP, sr., Hebron

College commitment: Florida

Hebron’s starting rotation packs a lot of heat with Marcos Paz (LSU) and Seo – both of whom have mid- to upper-90s fastballs. At 6-foot, 165 pounds, Seo has been dominant using a solid three-pitch mix (fastball, curveball, changeup).

18. Cooper Harris, RHP, jr., Flower Mound

College commitment: Texas

He’s not the hardest thrower on this list, but Harris’ makeup on the mound goes beyond his years. His approach strikes flashbacks of former big league pitcher Brian Bannister, as he uses his 88-92 mph fastball (he’s touched 93 this season) and pinpoint control to stifle opposing lineups. With a curveball and changeup as his secondaries, Harris pounds the zone with all three pitches and displays a great understanding of how to pitch.

19. Aiden Barrientes, RHP, sr., Katy

College commitment: Texas Christian

Polished on the mound with nasty secondary stuff, Barrientes could have a big role on the Horned Frogs’ staff soon. Up to 94 mph with his fastball, the 6-1, 180-pound right hander mixes in a sharp slider with a changeup as his secondary offerings. Katy is off to a good start this season and Barrientes is a big part of that success.

20. Holden Hering, RHP, sr., College Station Mineral Wells

College commitment: Texas Tech

A hoss at 6-6, 230, Hering is a strikeout machine with a power arm that scouts love. Already a strike thrower, a big spike in velocity this season has seen the right hander consistently sit in the mid-90s with a fastball that has topped out at 96. He hasn’t lost any command with the uptick in velocity, racking up strikeouts in bunches for Mineral Wells.

21. Cooper Fulbright, RHP, sr., Strake Jesuit

College commitment: Texas A&M

With a fastball that he can run up to 95, Fulbright is a power arm destined for College Station. He’s had some command hiccups, but when he’s on there aren’t many pitchers in the state better than the 6-1, 175 Fulbright.

22. Wade Cooper, RHP, sr., Del Rio

College commitment: Texas State

Cooper has been practically unhittable this season. In his last outing on April 3, the 6-2, 215 righty dialed it up to 94 with his fastball and allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts. Texas State appears to have gotten a steal landing one of the state’s top arms.

23. Grant Sperandio, RHP, so., Houston Memorial

College commitment: Texas

Throwing things is what Sperandio does best. A multi-sport star at Houston Memorial, the 6-2, 190-pound sophomore also serves as the quarterback at Memorial. The top sophomore pitcher in Texas’ 2027 class and one of the best sophomore arms in the nation, Sperandio has been up to 95 this season. While he typically sits in the low-90s, it doesn’t affect his results. He’s combined on a no-hitter this season and tossed five hitless innings with eight strikeouts in his last outing. He announced his commitment to Texas on April 25, 2023.

24. Luke Esquivel, LHP, fr., Grapevine

College commitment: LSU

This dynamic freshman is going to be a name you hear a lot about in the next few years. A Team USA National member, Esquivel typically works 86-89 with his fastball and flips in a low-70s curve. Those two pitches have been good enough to dominate some very good teams this season. Grapevine’s opening day starter and leadoff batter, he struck out eight and scattered only three hits in six innings in a 10-2 win against Argyle, one of the top teams in the state. LSU was chasing him before ever seeing him throw a high school pitch.

25. Nick Wesloski, RHP, sr., McKinney Ford

College commitment: Oklahoma

A three-pitch pitcher (fastball, curveball, slider), Wesloski has good size at 6-3, 205 and gets good downhill angle on his low-90s fastball. His curve and slider work well off the fastball, and he gets lots of swings-and-misses with both pitches.

The next 25

26. Connor Jones, RHP, sr., Concordia Lutheran

College commitment: Missouri

27. Kaleb Rogers, RHP, sr., San Antonio Reagan

College commitment: Texas

28. James Jorgensen, RHP, jr., Jesuit College Prep

College commitment: Texas

29. Karson Reeder, RHP, jr., Tomball

College commitment: Texas

30. Davis Perkins, RHP, sr., Southlake Carroll

College commitment: McLennan CC

31. Jacob Evans, RHP, sr., Oak Ridge

College commitment: Texas A&M

32. Titan Targac, LHP, sr. Flatonia

College commitment: Texas State

33. Jack Paris, RHP, sr., Kinkaid

College commitment: Texas

34. Roger Vincent IV, LHP, sr., Prosper

College commitment: Oral Roberts

35. Landon Brown, RHP, jr., Iowa Colony

College commitment: Mississippi State

36. Tye Briscoe, LHP, sr., Abilene Wylie

College commitment: Arkansas

37. Connor Udland, RHP, sr., Katy

College commitment: Houston

38. Bryce Krenek, LHP, jr., Katy Taylor

College commitment: Texas

39. Mason Murphy, RHP, sr., Ridge Point

College commitment: Sam Houston State

40. Graeson Register, RHP, jr., Greenwood

College commitment: Texas A&M

41. Trent Vilade, RHP, jr., Prestonwood Christian Academy

College commitment: Texas A&M

42. Isaiah Salas, LHP, sr., The Woodlands

College commitment: San Diego State

43. Ryan Bevington, RHP, sr., Strake Jesuit

College commitment: San Jacinto JC

44. Josh Horvath, RHP, jr., Round Rock

College commitment: Undecided

45. Matthew Manis III, LHP, jr., Houston Memorial

College commitment: Texas

46. Cooper Webb, RHP, jr., Lake Travis

College commitment: Texas

47. Cade Nelson, RHP, sr., Katy

College commitment: TCU

48. Braxton Beaty, LHP, jr., Angleton

College commitment: LSU

49. Aiden Shreve, RHP, jr., Pieper

College commitment: Baylor

50. Cash Scarborough, RHP, jr., Houston Memorial

College commitment: Oklahoma State

---

More Texas high school sports links:

feed

High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app:

Download iPhone App | Download Android App