Texas baseball has its aces. Now it needs the rest of the hand
Who will replace Sam Cozart on the back end as he moves into the rotation?
Texas has its stars but needs to round out the team for the next season. Pitcher Dylan Volantis and Sam Cozart were the top relievers last year, striking out 12.95 and 13.16 hitters per nine innings, respectively. However, they threw fewer innings (147.3) compared to their starters. The program needs to see how Volantis and Cozart perform in the rotation, as they carry a heavier load in that role.
Jim Schlossnagle has two top pitchers, but the difficult decision lies in deciding who gets Sunday's start and who remains available for early weekend starts. The team last went to Omaha 39 times in 2026, and Volantis, Ruger Riojas, and Luke Harrison formed the first trio of 100-strikeout pitchers since 1988. Riojas and Harrison are no longer with the team.
Cozart can take one of the starting spots, but not his old relief innings. The pitchers contributed to 46.6% of Texas' 531.1 innings and 331 of its 698 strikeouts last season. The weekend rotation includes departures like Ruger Riojas and Luke Harrison, and additions such as Gavin King, freshmen Trey Rangel, James Jorgensen, and Cooper Webb.
Dealing with injuries and offseason workload will impact the rotation, but the freshmen bring strong potential to the table.
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