Texas Alumni Game Notes: Cold Temps, Hot Arms

By Jake McKeever

The 2026 Texas alumni game has come and gone and it will not be remembered alongside some of the classics and for good reason. It was a low scoring affair marked by walks, strikeouts, and very little offensive rhythm. On paper, temperatures sat in the low 40s, but with the shade at the Disch and a steady wind, I cannot recall a time I have ever been colder than the first 2 innings, in the shade, in the camera well.

Games like this are always tricky to evaluate. After all, it is your own pitchers throwing to your own hitters. Still, there were plenty of notable takeaways. Let's dive in.

First and foremost, the three headed monster of a coaching staff deserves credit for how this roster has been constructed. It has a good mix of freshman, returning letterman and High impact Transfers. Max Weiner has five to six legitimate options capable of starting on a weekend while most programs are still searching for a dependable Sunday arm. This staff reminds me a ton of 2024 Arkansas. The arms have the ability to shorten the weekend and steal many games.

The freshman arms were the buzz during pregame. One alumnus summed it up perfectly during BP. “It is crazy. These freshmen all seem to throw 95. Nobody in my class could do that.”

This pitching staff is going to be very good, and it is going to be extremely deep. While some may point to the lack of hits as a concern, I view it as a positive. Texas looks like a pitch first club, and that was on full display Saturday.

As we start to dissect this staff only one “spot” is secure. Luke Harrison is the lone arm currently locked into a weekend role, though even his exact spot remains fluid. Kendall Rogers has previously called this staff an embarrassment of riches, and that description fit the bill. Despite Harrison and returning SEC Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis not throwing, the depth showed across all 51 outs, with alumnus Hoby Milner logging three of those against the alums.

To start, Jason Flores worked an inning and flashed a mid 90s fastball. While he looks to lock down a weekend spot, it was two freshmen who pitched right after him who really stole the spotlight.

Sam Cozart and Brett Crossland each tossed three innings and showcased advanced arm talent far beyond their age. Neither looks nor pitches like a freshman in person. Crossland in particular impressed with a three pitch mix consisting of a fastball, curveball, and slider, with the curveball standing out as the pitch of the day. He froze alum Skylar Messinger with it for a strikeout. Having 95-96 with the ability to drop down into the low 70’s for an offspeed is video game stuff.

Crossland’s second inning came with some command hiccups, but given Weiner’s track record of getting pitchers to pound the zone, that is not something I would expect to linger.

Defensively, Casey Borba appears to have made a seamless transition across the diamond to first base. During BP, Jim Schlossnagle loves to fire balls over to first with a fungo, and Borba handled everything with ease. His PFP work with Volantis looked textbook.

Schlossnagle has long prioritized athleticism and versatility in recruiting, and Borba fits that mold perfectly.

On the note of pregame BP, Texas fans who get to the ballpark early will be rewarded. Josh Livingston put on a show in BP, launching nine home runs that cut straight through the wind to right field. The Disch plays deep out there, but it did not matter for Livingston. Excited to see how this translates into SEC play and beyond.

One final thing that stood out was the selflessness within the pitching staff.

Both Harrison and Volantis have made it clear they are willing to accept whatever role Schlossnagle assigns. Harrison put it simply. “I know I can give them outs. To me, it does not matter where or when they come.” Volantis echoed similar sentiments in an earlier press conference.

Those kinds of comments are often brushed off as PR talk, but here, they come across as genuine.

That is all from a frigid alumni game in Austin. Be on the lookout next week for a new show with a new co-host. Stay tuned.

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