Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school’s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school’s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school’s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school’s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Tomball CJ Sampson (34) hits a single during the third inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson delivers during the first inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson delivers during the first inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Tomball’s C.J. Sampson is seen in the dugout alongside a sign that reads “Round Rock Is An Everyday Commitment” during practice ahead of the team’s state title game at the UIL State Baseball Championships in Round Rock, Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Tomball’s C.J. Sampson is seen during practice ahead of the team’s state title game at the UIL State Baseball Championships in Round Rock, Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
C.J. Sampson has a picture on his camera roll that means the world to him. It’s a collage of him and his father, former Astros pitcher Chris Sampson, side by side, pitching from the mound at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. That pile of packed down dirt carries special memories for the Sampson family, and earlier this month, C.J. got a chance to experience it for perhaps one last time.
Sampson delivered a standout performance in the final pitching start of his career for Tomball High School. The senior right-hander struck out eight batters without surrendering a walk or an earned run in a complete-game effort, leading the Cougars to a 9-1 victory against Memorial in the Class 6A Division II state championship. The triumph gave Tomball its second title in three years and third since 2013. The Cougars finished their campaign ranked as the No. 1 team in the country by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association and posted an impeccable 43-1-1 record.
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“Obviously at the beginning of the season, that’s one of our goals,” Sampson said. “We have a sign in our dugout — ‘Round Rock is an everyday commitment.’ So we have that mindset going into the season every single year, and Coach (Doug) Rush has embedded that in our heads, too — getting back to Round Rock. But it’s super special just to be able to get there, especially to win and get two gold medals around our necks. I love it for my teammates, my brothers. Super special season.”
As Sampson fielded a grounder and tossed the ball to first base for the final out of the championship game, the celebratory dogpile commenced as his teammates jumped on his back. Once the postgame trophy presentations were complete — including his own accolade as the game’s Most Valuable Player — he got a chance to embrace his father and the rest of his family on the field.
“I love that moment with him after the game and my whole family, too,” Sampson said. “My mom, my two brothers, my grandma and grandpa. Having them on the field with that moment in my last high school game and going out on top like that, it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson, right, celebrates after the final out, defeating Memorial 9-1 to win the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer
Sampson has been a four-year starter at Tomball and has grown into one of the top high school baseball players in the country. He continued to shine this year, both as the team’s leadoff hitter and the ace of the pitching staff. Sampson capped his senior season with a 13-1 record on the mound. He posted a 1.00 ERA across 83 ⅓ innings and finished with 106 strikeouts and just 10 walks. Sampson was just as dangerous at the plate, batting. .488 with a .610 on-base percentage, a 1.444 OPS, 21 doubles, six home runs, 32 RBIs and 41 runs scored across 173 plate appearances.
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Sampson was selected as one of 12 finalists for the Chronicle’s inaugural Boys Athlete of the Year award and received the most votes from readers over a two-week period to claim the honor. He was named the All-Greater Houston Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and junior and is the Hitter of the Year for his efforts at the plate in 2026, capping what’s been an elite high school career.
“I’ll remember these four years for the rest of my life,” Sampson said. “The support I’ve gotten from my whole support staff — my teammates, coaches, community — it’s helped me along throughout these four years as well, and like I said, I’ll always remember it. Handling pressure makes it so much easier for me, just having those guys that I’m playing alongside with, in between the lines.”
Now that his high school career is complete, Sampson has a decision to make regarding his future. He has signed with Texas A&M and can go the college baseball route, but he will also have the opportunity to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft later this summer. Projected to be taken somewhere in the top five rounds, Sampson is leaning on his faith throughout the process.
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“I’m super excited,” Sampson said. “I just know it’s in God’s plan, whatever happens. Just kind of taking it day by day and being where my feet are is kind of how I’m living. I’m having fun with my guys, and I know (Tomball teammate) Catcher Hopkins is going with me to A&M, and I know a lot of other guys that are going to A&M with me, so we’ll see what the future holds and what God holds.”