<\/p>\n
Grapevine pitcher Luke Esquivel (1) asks for a timeout to hand his batting gloves and gear to a coach during a UIL baseball game at Grapevine Mustang Field in Grapevine, Texas, Thursday, Apr. 17, 2025.<\/p>\n
Bob Booth<\/p>\n
Special to the Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
Fort Worth area baseball phenom Luke Esquivel has returned to Grapevine High School, his father Lale Esquivel told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday, Oct. 28.<\/p>\n
The family\u2019s appeal for athletic eligibility<\/a> at Southlake Carroll was denied by the University Interscholastic League State Executive Committee in a 4-2 vote Thursday, Oct. 22. In these cases, athletic eligibility remains at the previous school, which is Grapevine.<\/p>\n Esquivel is one of Perfect Game\u2019s top recruits<\/a> nationwide, an LSU pledge and the 2025 Star-Telegram Player of the Year.<\/a> He led Grapevine to a Class 5A Division II state championship<\/a> in 2025 as a freshman, hitting .434 with 31 RBIs and posting a 1.459 ERA with 122 strikeouts on the mound.<\/p>\n The 4-6A District Executive Committee originally ruled Luke Esquivel\u2019s move to Southlake Carroll to be for athletic purposes in a 6-1 vote. His prior athletic participation form was marked for a change of schools for athletic purposes by Grapevine-Colleyville athletics.<\/p>\n Lale Esquivel told the Star-Telegram he scheduled a meeting with Grapevine baseball coach Jimmy Webster, GCISD executive director of athletics Billy Skinner and principal Alex Fingers to discuss Luke\u2019s transition back into the school district.<\/p>\n In the DEC and UIL SEC hearings, Lale Esquivel alleged his son dealt with bullying from students.<\/p>\n \u201cMy concern was whether my son could safely and comfortably return in that environment,\u201d Lale Esquivel said at Sept. 16\u2019s DEC hearing.<\/p>\n Esquivel, who is on track to possibly be considered in the 2028 MLB draft, will continue to take online class through iUniversity Prep, the same GCISD online program he was in before enrolling at Southlake Carroll.<\/p>\n This story was originally published October 28, 2026 at 1:34 PM.<\/p>\n