Grapevine pitcher Luke Esquivel points to his dugout in celebration after a base hit in the Class 5A Division II state championship game against Kingwood Park on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
Miles Meador
Special to the Star-Telegram
Introducing the 2026 Star-Telegram Players to watch. See top prospects, promising recruits, hidden gems, team leaders are more to keep an eye on during the rest of the Texas high school baseball season.
Editor’s note: The majority of players to watch are nominated by Fort Worth-area coaches.
Aledo
Lucas Nawrocki, senior LHP — Nawrocki led the Bearcats to a Class 5A Division I state championship win in 2025, batting .515 with 39 RBIs. He was named the District 5-5A Offensive Player of the Year and the Star-Telegram All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.
Aledo’s Lucas Nawrocki runs to first base while yelling in celebration toward the dugout in the Class 5A Division I playoffs state championship game at Dell Diamond Stadium on June 6, 2025. Aledo defeated Smithson Valley 8-1. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
Caleb Turner, senior LHP — Turner, a DBU pledge, is ranked as Perfect Game’s No. 35 class of 2026 recruit in Texas. His fastball reaches the mid-90s.
Luke Gladchuck, junior OF — Gladchuck, a key member in Aledo’s run to a state title, is the No. 10-ranked class of 2027 recruit in Texas. He is committed to Texas.
Azle
Garin Bissonnette, sophomore INF — Bissonnette, the 2025 District Newcomer of the Year, hit .315 in his first varsity season and holds an offer from Seminole State College.
Mason Holleman, senior 3B — Holleman, a 2025 First Team All-District DH, hit .325 this season and has signed to continue his career at East Central University.
Boswell
Xander Thacker, senior SS/P — Thacker is leading Boswell with a .500-plus average while ranking as the No. 2 powerlifter in the state at the 181-pound weight class. He has signed with Navarro College.
Boyd
Colton Patton, senior OF — Patton, a UT Tyler commit, slashed .443 with 54 hits, 9 home runs, 41 RBI, 52 runs scored and 24 stolen bases in 2025.
Elijah Webber, senior RHP — Webber, a Richmond commit, went 10-3 with 87 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA in 2025, working with a fastball that sits in the low 90s.
Will McIntire, junior RHP/SS — McIntire, a Texas A&M commit, was virtually unhittable in 2025, going 10-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 94 strikeouts and just 8 walks in 38 innings, while also hitting .411 with 2 home runs, 31 RBI and a perfect 16-for-16 mark in stolen bases. He throws five pitches for strikes with a fastball in the low 90s and is Perfect Game’s No. 39-ranked class of 2027 recruit in Texas.
Brewer
David Ellington, junior LHP/1B — Ellington, a Houston pledge, is a solid left-handed arm.
Khyler Farris, senior SS — Farris has signed with Coffeyville JC after anchoring the Brewer infield.
Brock
Evan O’Connor, senior LHP — O’Connor, an Arizona State pledge, was terrific for Brock as a junior, posting a 0.55 ERA en route to Star-Telegram All-Area honors. He struck out a school record 142 batters. At the plate, he posted a .420 average with 29 RBIs. He is rated as Perfect Game’s No. 37 class of 2026 recruit.
Brock pitcher Evan O’Connor (12) tosses the final pitch of the evening to end the game during a UIL Area Round 4A D2 baseball playoff game at Ranger Field in Saginaw, Texas, Friday, May 9, 2025. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram Burleson
Ty Freeman, senior 1B/P — Freeman, a 2025 First Team All-District pitcher in 8-5A, slashed .280 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI at the plate while going 1.42 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 39.1 innings on the mound. He is committed to Kansas Wesleyan.
Gavin Lustgarten, senior 3B — Lustgarten, a Second Team All-District selection in 8-5A, hit .312 with 25 hits, 6 doubles, 22 RBI and 8 stolen bases in 2025. He is committed to the College of the Ozarks.
Landon Smith, senior SS/P — Smith, the 8-5A First Team All-District shortstop, hit .348 with 31 hits, 7 triples, 41 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 2025. He is committed to Grayson College.
Joe Villavicencio, senior CF/P — Villavicencio, the 8-5A Co-Offensive MVP, hit .361 with 30 hits, 11 doubles and 24 runs scored in 2025. He is committed to Vernon College.
Byron Nelson
Sebastian Castillo, junior SS — Castillo, the top-ranked Fort Worth-area junior in the class of 2027, has been a standout for Byron Nelson. The LSU commit earned Star-Telegram All-Area Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore.
Chisholm Trail
Colton Gallardo, junior RHP — Gallardo is Perfect Game’s No. 44-rated class of 2027 recruit in Texas.
Colleyville Heritage
Jobe Reed, senior P/OF — Reed, a Second Team All-State selection and one of the top five strikeout pitchers in 5A in Texas, went 7-4 with a 1.41 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 2025 en route to First Team All-District honors. He has signed with Blinn Junior College.
Crowley
Alexander Johnson, sophomore LF/RHP — Johnson, a 2027 prospect, earned All-District honors as a freshman while also showing ability as a two-way player.
Hendrix Pope, freshman — Pope, a 2029 prospect, has already drawn attention as a New Balance Fresh 50 selection and appears on both PBR and VTool prospect watch lists.
Caden Russell, sophomore LHP — Russell, a 2028 prospect, has already touched 90 mph on the mound.
Eli Washington, senior IF/OF/RHP — Washington, a 2026 prospect and three-time All-District selection, brings a rare combination of power and speed as a versatile two-way contributor.
Eagle Mountain
Max Burris, junior INF — Burris had a standout sophomore season for the Knights, hitting .415 en route to all state and all area honors.
Euless Trinity
Rylan Alaniz, senior INF — Alaniz, the 2025 District 4-6A Offensive MVP, hit .450 as a junior with 8 home runs en route to Star-Telegram All-Area honors. He is committed to Texas State. He is Perfect Game’s No. 40 class of 2026 recruit.
Fort Worth All Saints
Hudson Harbuck, junior P — Harbuck, a team captain in his junior year, posted a 2.56 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 43 innings as a sophomore and went 3-3 on the mound in 2025. He has earned Honorable Mention TAPPS District I Division II honors and holds an offer from the Air Force Academy.
Fort Worth Christian
Grady Emerson, senior INF — Emerson, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the nation, is projected by MLB.com to be taken second in the upcoming MLB Draft. He transferred from Argyle to Fort Worth Christian to play under Texas Rangers legend Rusty Greer during his senior season.
Fort Worth Christian short stop Grady Emerson sets up to receive a ground ball during baseball practice at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas, Monday Feb. 23, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram Fort Worth Benbrook
Tanner Madara, junior INF — Madara earned First Team All-District honors in 2024-25 and has been named to both the THSBCA and TSWA All-State teams in 2025.
Sebastian Martinez, senior — Martinez, the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year and 2024 District MVP, has earned back-to-back THSBCA and TSWA All-State recognition. He is committed to Western Oklahoma State College.
Hudson Stockton, senior — Stockton, a three-time First Team All-District selection from 2023 to 2025, holds an offer from Vernon College.
Grapevine
Gianni Corral, senior C — Corral, a two-time District Defensive Player of the Year and THSBCA All-State Honorable Mention, hit .376 with 2 home runs and 34 RBI in 2025. He is a Geico Team Texas selection committed to Weatherford JC who has helped lead the ‘Stangs to consecutive state titles.
Luke Esquivel, junior P/INF — Esquivel, the TSWA 5A Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year, hit .434 with 16 doubles and 31 RBI while going 11-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 86.1 innings in 2025. He has earned THSBCA All-State honors, is committed to LSU and was named the 2025 Star-Telegram Player of the Year as a freshman before reclassifying to the class of 2027.
Lale Esquivel, senior P/INF — Lale Esquivel, a Second Team THSBCA All-State selection and Geico Team Texas pick, hit .418 with 15 doubles and 39 RBI while going 6-1 with a 0.81 ERA and 4 saves in 51.1 innings in 2025. He is committed to Blinn JC.
Grapevine Mustang baseball players (from left) Zack Goldstein, Luke Esquivel, Gianni Corral and Jorvorskie Lane Jr. photographed at practice at Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Jorvorskie Lane Jr., senior OF — Lane represented the United States on the U18 USA Olympic Team, competing internationally in Japan and is committed to Arkansas. As a sophomore, he led Fort Worth Wyatt to end a 52-year playoff drought. He is Perfect Game’s No. 5-ranked recruit in Texas and could be selected in the upcoming MLB Draft.
Connor Ray, junior SS — Ray hit .379 with 29 RBI, 33 runs scored and an impressive .930 fielding percentage at shortstop as a sophomore in 2025. He is committed to Weatherford JC.
Keller
Cole Koeninger, Senior INF — Koeninger, the No. 2-ranked prospect in Texas and a Tennessee pledge, led Keller to a 32-10 season as a junior with standout play as a pitcher and hitter. He hit .419 with 8 HRs, 39 RBIs, 39 runs and 23 walks. As a pitcher, he posted a 0.93 ERA. He was named the District 4-6A MVP and earned Star-Telegram All-Area honors.
Keller pitcher Cole Koeninger winds up for a pitch against Hebron in Game 2 of their Class 6A Division 1 regional semifinal on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the Coppell Baseball/Softball Complex in Coppell, Texas. Keller defeated Hebron 7-1 to sweep the series. Keith Owens Courtesy to the Star-Telegram Mansfield
Karson Beck, senior C — Beck, the 3-6A Newcomer of the Year, hit .333 with 28 RBI as a returning starter and is considered one of Mansfield’s top team leaders heading into 2025.
Travis Sample, senior LHP/1B — Sample, a 2025 First Team All-District pitcher with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, went 6-1 with a 1.06 ERA and 91 strikeouts this season. He has signed with TCU.
Southlake Carroll
Camden Dean, sophomore OF — Dean earned Star-Telegram Newcomer of the Year honors for his work as a freshman. He is a switch-hitter who tallied 31 hits for last year’s Carroll squad. He also has a fastball that tops 90 miles per hour and is rated as Perfect Game’s No. 21-ranked class of 2028 recruit in Texas.
Matthew Heredia, sophomore SS — Heredia is another young player making an impact with the Dragons. He sits right behind Dean on Perfect Game’s rankings at No. 22.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.