The Dallas Morning News’ Ishmael Johnson previews the 2025 UIL baseball season for Dallas-area schools.
Preseason RankingsClass 6AFlower Mound Marcus AllenProsperByron NelsonRockwall-HeathKellerSouthlake CarrollRockwallWaxahachieDallas JesuitClass 5A/othersGrapevineAledoFrisco WakelandColleyville HeritageMidlothian HeritageMcKinney NorthMelissaPrestonwood ChristianFrisco EmersonSunnyvalePlayers to watchLuke Esquivel, Grapevine, P
The LSU commit reclassified in November to the Class of 2027 and will lead Grapevine’s pitching staff as the program looks to win its third consecutive state championship. He recorded a 1.46 ERA last season in 16 starts.
Cole Koeninger, Keller, P
The reigning MVP of District 4-6A is back for his senior season. A Tennessee-commit, Koeninger also played for Team USA in the 18U Baseball World Cup this past fall in which the USA won gold.
Peyton Peoples, Royse City, P
The senior finished 2025 with an 11-1 record and 79 strikeouts helping guide Royse City to a 27-8 record and the regional semifinals. He was also first-team all-area.
High School Sports
Logan Corley, Lovejoy, P/RF
The multi-tooled TCU commit is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in District 9-5A after recording a 2.02 ERA and hitting .393 with 27 RBIs and 12 doubles.
Gianni Corral, Grapevine, C
The first-team all-area catcher committed to Weatherford College returns to help Grapevine go for an historic three-peat after a season where he hit .376 and 34 RBIs. He’s also a two-time District 6-5A Defensive Player of the Year.
Jobe Reed, Colleyville Heritage
Reed was named second-team all-state after a season where he posted a 1.41 ERA and 119 strikeouts as a pitcher and only allowed 17 runs. He’s committed to Blinn College.
Savion Sims, Prestonwood Christian, OF/P
The Oklahoma commit recently reached 100 MPH on his fast ball during a game in February. He stands 6-8 on the mound and is also a preseason MaxPreps All-American.
Trey Rangel, The Colony, P
The Texas Longhorn signee participated in the 18U Baseball World Cup and recorded seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings in two relief appearances. As a junior, he was 6-3 as a starter and had 0.56 ERA.
Jovorskie Lane Jr., Grapevine, 3B
The Arkansas signee joins Grapevine as one of the top prospects in the nation. He had a batting average of .548 and 14 home runs as a junior at OD Wyatt. He’s a preseason All-American according to MaxPreps. He’s the son of former Texas A&M star Jovorskie Lane.
Drake Hawpe, Argyle Liberty Christian, OF
Hawpe is the reigning District 1 TAPPS MVP. The Class of 2027 prospect is an LSU commit and son of 2000 national champion and MLB veteran Brad Hawpe.
Lash Henderson, Prestonwood Christian, OF
The Texas A&M junior commit hit .359 and had 22 RBIs as a sophomore. He’s the number 21 prospect for the Class of 2027 according to Baseball America.
Teams to watchAledo
Aledo captured its first baseball championship in over 10 years last season. According to Texas High School Baseball, they’re returning five starters from its state title roster including Texas-commit outfielder Luke Gladchuk and LSU-commit outfielder Lucas Nawrocki.
Allen
The D-FW has gone two seasons without winning a Class 6A championship in baseball but could a team that only reached the bi-district round last season be one of its best chances to snap the drought? Allen returns eight players from a year ago headlined by Texas A&M signee Chandler Hart on the mound.
Grapevine
Grapevine has the chance to become just the second D-FW program to win four state championships, but more significantly, they have the chance to become just the second program to win three consecutive UIL state titles. According to Texas High School Baseball, the team has five starters returning from the 5A Division II champion roster. They’ve also added Arkansas-commit and top prospect Jovorskie Lane Jr. to this year’s squad.
Prestonwood Christian
If you want one of the more talent-stacked teams in the D-FW, look no further than Prestonwood. The reigning state runner-ups return eight starters including the likes of Lash Henderson and Trent Vilade while the likes of Savion Sims step into the spotlight.
Waxahachie
One of the most experienced rosters looks to build off their area-finals run from 2025. Texas signee Jax Robinson is the headlining talent here amongst the 10 returning starters but sophomore infielder Ben Robinson won District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman last season.
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