Written By: Austin Farmer
Follow him on X: @AustinF0421
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The College Baseball season is almost here and I am excited to get out and cover some draft prospects around my state of Texas. This year I will be more focused on Texas than ever. Below is my top 20 draft prospects in the state of Texas, which is heavily filled by Texas A&M and TCU. The Aggies are favorites for the College World Series and Jace LaViolette leads the way with his monstrous power and very good athleticism. Dallas Baptist also has a number of prospects who should get picked this season and should be contenders for Omaha as well. It will be an incredibly fun season of college baseball, and I’ve also included five prospects who I think will sneak their way into draft boards or sign as NDFA by the time the signing deadline has passed.
| Rank | Name | Position | School |
| 1 | Jace LaViolette | OF | Texas A&M |
| 2 | James Ellwanger | RHP | Dallas Baptist |
| 3 | Max Belyeu | OF | Texas |
| 4 | Ryan Prager | LHP | Texas A&M |
| 5 | Jalin Flores | SS | Texas |
| 6 | Anthony Silva | SS | TCU |
| 7 | Justin Lamkin | LHP | Texas A&M |
| 8 | Michael Dattalo | 3B | Dallas Baptist |
| 9 | Shane Sdao | LHP | Texas A&M |
| 10 | Ben Abeldt | LHP | TCU |
| 11 | Chase Mora | SS | Texas State |
| 12 | Grant Jay | C | Dallas Baptist |
| 13 | Karson Bowen | C | TCU |
| 14 | Cade Climie | 3B | Houston |
| 15 | Davion Hickson | RHP | Rice |
| 16 | Tracer Lopez | SS/2B | Texas Tech |
| 17 | Caedmon Parker | RHP | TCU |
| 18 | Grant Cunningham | RHP | Texas A&M |
| 19 | Damian Bravo | OF | Texas Tech |
| 20 | Kole Klecker | RHP | TCU |
| Watchers | |||
| 1 | Addison Smith | SS | Sam Houston |
| 2 | Kaeden Kent | UTL | Texas A&M |
| 3 | Hayden Morris | RHP | Blinn College |
| 4 | Jax Traeger | RHP | TCU |
| 5 | Jake Tatom | OF | Houston |
Top 10
1. Jace LaViolette | OF | Texas A&M
HT: 6’6 | WT: 230 | B/T: L/L
LaViolette displayed monstrous power as a prep prospect and has continued to do damage against SEC pitching. With max EVs around 115 mph and solid launch angles, he enters the 2025 season with perhaps the best power in the country. He will however, need to improve his contact rate that fell below 75% in 2024. If he can do that, Jace is easily the 1:1 favorite mixed with his ability to man center effectively and plus athleticism.
2. James Ellwanger | RHP | Dallas Baptist
HT: 6’4 | WT: 205 | B/T: R/R
Already having been drafted out of Magnolia West High School in the 19th round of the 2023 draft, Ellwanger will be a draft eligible sophomore this season. He saw limited action as a freshman, but will fill Ryan Johnson’s big shoes this season and we got a glimpse of what he can bring to the table when he threw 5 shut out innings against Central Michigan. He had a successful Cape posting a high K rate while showcasing his mid-90s fastball that’s reached triple digits in the past. Ellwanger sports the kind of stuff that should get him picked very early in this year’s draft.
3. Max Belyeu | OF | Texas
HT: 6’2 | WT: 200 | B/T: R/R
After hardly playing in 2023, it seemed as though Belyeu did not have any hype prior to his sophomore campaign. He now enters the 2025 as the second best collegiate bat prospect out of Texas. Belyeu shows good pull-side pop and has a chance to develop a better hit tool than what I project it to be right now with a solid approach at the plate and an ability to already hit good velo. He’s capable of making web gems as well in the OF and Belyeu should see himself get taken possibly late day one or early day two of the draft.
4. Ryan Prager | LHP | Texas A&M
HT: 6’3 | WT: 200 | B/T: L/L
Despite being taken in the third round of the 2024 draft by the Angels, Ryan Prager returns to Texas A&M after declining to sign with them. He posted strong strikeout numbers last season but didn’t overpower hitters. He’s incredibly crafty and does a very good job of throwing hitters off balance. His mechanics, changeup, and ability to command his pitches are all very impressive that could help him potentially sneak up a round higher in this year’s draft, or possibly be compensation pick.
5. Julian Flores | SS | Texas
HT: 6’2 | WT: 210 | B/T: R/R
Flores had a strong sophomore campaign with the Texas Longhorns and was a draft eligible sophomore in 2024, but wanted to return to UT and went unpicked. Flores’ data is impressive but the power will need to develop more at the next level. He did showcase over the fence power in 2024, but it’s still uncertain how it will translate in pro development.
6. Anthony Silva | SS | TCU
HT: 6’2 | WT: 200 | B/T: R/R
Despite being a draft eligible sophomore in 2024, Silva went unpicked and returns to TCU with hopes to improve his performance at the plate. He had an overall disappointing 2024 calendar year as his struggles at the plate carried into the Cape. While there are question marks about his hit tool, what he can bring to a lineup is a very good approach. He’s selective at the dish and won’t expand much. Both his defense and arm are plus at short as well, and he looks like a long term option there.
7. Justin Lamkin | LHP | Texas A&M
HT: 6’4 | WT: 210 | B/T: L/L
Lamkin is another Texas A&M pitcher who doesn’t overpower hitters but gets outs effectively. While his sophomore numbers don’t look impressive, he does possess good command and will use his secondaries effectively to throw hitters off balance and generate whiff and weak contact. He hides the ball well with short arm action and repeats his mechanics. His fastball will top out at 92 but he spins his changeup well and shows an ability to backdoor his breaking ball against righties. With a strong junior campaign, Lamkin could see himself rise a bit in rankings with the projectability in his arm.
8. Michael Dattalo | 3B | Dallas Baptist
HT: 6’0 | WT: 195 | B/T: R/R
After an impressive freshman campaign at Northwestern, Michael Dattalo transferred to DBU and continued to display his bat-to-ball skills. There’s some power left to be tapped into as well and the defense is steady at third. He put together a strong summer at the Cape Cod League, and he’s the kind of prospect who could sneak his way into the first day of the draft with a strong junior season.
9. Shane Sdao | LHP | Texas A&M
HT: 6’2 | WT: 170 | B/T: L/L
Despite being shut down for the entirety of the 2025 season from TJ, Sdao still boasts enough stuff that should help him get picked fairly high. His fastball has reached mid-90s and he tunnels his slider off of it well and can create a lot of whiff. There is a ton of risk now with him after the injury, but the ceiling is very good. It will be interesting to see if he goes back to Texas A&M after recovering or if he decides to sign with a team this year. If it wasn’t for his injury, Sdao would easily in the top 5 on this list.
10. Ben Abeldt | LHP | TCU
HT: 6’3 | WT: 210 | B/T: L/L
After being a dominant reliever his first two seasons with TCU, Abeldt will get to showcase his talents as a starter in 2025. His slider is his best pitch and he generates plenty of whiff with it and gets hitters to expand their zone. He also does a good job of taking something off his changeup and can jam hitters on both sides of the plate. His fastball has seen an increase in velo, and Abeldt could be another arm who climbs up this list by the time it’s draft day if there’s a continued uptick.
11. Chase Mora | 2B | Texas State
HT: 6’2 | WT: 170 | B/T: R/R
Mora showed some regression at the plate as a sophomore after having a phenomenal freshman campaign, but the defense at short still looks good enough to have him on this list. His swing decisions need to show improvement during his junior season, but the pop is promising despite being on the learner side. There are legit question marks about his bat, but the power projection and potentially strong season will easily have him climb up this list. He’s had plenty of clutch moments at the plate throughout his time as a Bobcat and I expect him to rebound this season and be off the board early in the second day of the draft.
12. Grant Jay | C | Dallas Baptist
HT: 5’11 | WT: 220 | B/T: R/R
Jay has showcased impressive raw power during his time at DBU, and he, Dattalo, and Ellwanger will continue the Patriot’s tradition of getting guys picked high. Jay’s power is what carries him though, and he will need to drastically improve his contact rate and cut back a ton on the swing-and-miss. His defense behind the plate is nothing special, but if he can maintain back there while popping 15+ homers once he’s developed then there’s enough value there to work with.
13. Karson Bowen | C | TCU
HT: 5’11 | WT: 215 | B/T: R/R
After having a disappointing season at the plate as a sophomore, Bowen went to the Cape where he rebounded. There’s concern about his bat playing at the next level and his frame, but Bowen’s defense behind the plate and strong catch and release skills will help him get picked at a decent slot. If he can fix his swing and approach against breakers, he could go higher than he’s projected to go now.
14. Cade Climie | 3B | Houston
HT: 6’2 | WT: 220 | B/T: R/R
Climie is coming to Houston from a National Championship Blinn Junior College team and could be a middle-of-the-order type bat for the Cougars. He’s big and strong with above-average raw power. There are question marks about his hit tool, but if he can show he can hit in the Big 12, then Climie should see him get picked at some point in the draft between rounds 8-12.
15. Davion Hickson | RHP | Rice
HT: 6’2 | WT: 210 | B/T: R/R
Hickson has made noise during preseason scrimmages at Rice posting good data. He’s reportedly been sitting in the mid-90s and has touched 97 with solid induced vertical break. There’s some funkiness to his mechanics, but he does a good job of getting hitters to expand their zone with his slider. Even if he ends up as a reliever moving forward, there’s a lot to like in this arm.
16. Damian Bravo | OF | Texas Tech
HT: 6’2 | 195 | B/T: R/R
Bravo has earned a spot on the preseason Big-12 All Conference team with big expectations ahead for the season. He’s capable of making highlight reel plays in center with good range and timing. There’s also good opposite field power in his bat, so another strong season with the Red Raiders should see him picked at some point in the draft.
17. Tracer Lopez | 2B/SS | Texas Tech
HT: 5’10 | WT: 155 | B/T: L/R
The second Red Raider on this list, Lopez is on the smaller side but shows some upside with his hit tool. He’s built for contact and lacks power, but the bat-to-ball skills can impress. If there’s any way he could develop power, he could climb, but it’s doubtful with his swing path and size. Defensively, he won’t wow you with the glove, but can play both MIF positions effectively.
18. Caedmon Parker | RHP | TCU
HT: 6’4 | WT: 190 | B/T: R/R
Parker has been a bit of a swingman during his time with the Horned Frogs starting as a freshman but then pitched mostly out of the pen as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. The Brewers saw enough in his arm to take him in the 11th round last year, but he opted to come back to TCU. His fastball touches 94, and he’s got both an effective curveball and slider to pair with it.
19. Grant Cunningham | RHP | Texas A&M
HT: 6’3 | WT: 225 | B/T: R/R
Cunningham is another Texas A&M prospect who cracks this list after transferring from the University of Washington. His fastball shows arm side run and he’s topped out around 96 mph and he also possesses a bender that can generate outs. A strong season against SEC bats could see him move up rankings by draft day.
20. Kole Klecker | RHP | TCU
HT: 6’2 | WT: 205 | B/T: R/R
Klecker enters his third season with the Horned Frogs hoping to have his best season yet. He’ll only be 20 come draft time, and he pairs a decent slider with his low-90s fastball. While he wasn’t as sharp as a sophomore, he did show that he can be a reliable arm in the 2023 College World Series.
WATCHERS
Addison Smith | SS | Sam Houston
HT: 6’0 | WT: 185 | B/T: S/R
Smith is entering his first season with Sam Houston as a touted transfer from Oklahoma State. Despite hardly playing as a freshman last season, Smith had a successful summer in the Appalachian League and the bat has come off the ball hard during scrimmages. If Smith puts up a strong 2025 and can impact the ball, then there’s some potential for the sophomore to be picked at some point in the draft.
Kaeden Kent | 2B | Texas A&M
HT: 6’2 | WT: 205 | B/T: L/R
Kent was legendary for Texas A&M during their run through the College World Series. He’s shown that he can be as good a clutch hitter as there can be at the college level, and if he has a big junior campaign with more starting time, Kent could see himself get picked at some point in the draft. He’s got the blood lines as his father Jeff played 17 seasons in the bigs and was a five time All-Star.
Hayden Morris | RHP | Blinn College
HT: 6’8 | WT: 265 | B/T: R/R
Morris is the lone JUCO prospect on this entire list but boasts loud stuff. The big bodied righty sits low-90s with life on his fastball and has very good spin rates on both his slider and curve. Whether he’s picked this year, or takes his stuff to a D1 program in 2026, Morris looks like one of the best JUCO arms in the entire country.
Jax Traeger | RHP | TCU
HT: 6’1 | WT: 215 | B/T: R/R
Traeger has hardly pitched since stepping foot onto TCU’s campus, but he’s been up to 97 when he’s actually pitched. He’s shown a lack of command however, but with his mid-90s fastball, if he’s finally healthy in 2025, then the gamble could pay off having him on this list.
Jake Tatom | OF | Houston
HT: 6’1 | WT: 185 | B/T: R/R
Despite a down season at the plate during his sophomore campaign in 2024, Tatom took his talents from Sam Houston to Houston after entering the portal. He’s shown the ability to be clutch in big moments in the past, and his defense improved a great deal after being moved from short to center. He times the ball well out there and has good range. His bat did start showing signs of improvement towards the end of his sophomore season, so a strong junior campaign against Big 12 arms could help him get more consideration for the draft.
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