The coach said he would focus on retaining his players, and he’s done exactly that. So far, outfielder Jaquae Stewart, left-handed pitcher Jesus Tovar, catcher Clayton Namken and utility player Ethan Farris have announced their return to San Marcos. Although some transfers were inevitable — losing right-handed pitcher Wade Cooper and designated hitter Manny Salas were particularly tough — Texas State has limited the loss of core players.
Here is what you should know about Texas State baseball heading into its debut season as a Pac-12 team:
Convincing Namken to come back was critical to the Bobcats’ future. The catcher had a spectacular freshman campaign, recording a .983 on-base plus slugging percentage and 11 home runs while playing solid defense behind the plate. Stewart is entering his final season of eligibility after leading the team in homers and putting up a .925 OPS.
Before a season-ending injury in late April, Farris had broken out as Texas State’s resident power hitter. He had eight home runs despite playing in fewer than half of the Bobcats’ games and proved himself as one of their most versatile defenders. Freshman infielder Tanner Carson flashed potential in limited opportunities and seems intent on returning.
Although Tovar’s year was a mixed bag, he showed improvement overall. He increased his innings pitched from 66â…” to 71â…“, struck out 69 batters (up from 58), allowed 15 fewer hits and lowered his ERA from 6.21 to 5.43. His issues stemmed from a dip in command that began during conference play; Tovar hit 17 batters and threw seven wild pitches, the former being the third-highest mark in the Sun Belt.
The Bobcats suffered from a lack of pitching depth in 2026, and Trout has made a few moves to bolster it. Midland College right-hander Luke Hayhow and Sam Houston left-hander Jonathan Anders are their lone portal commits. Texas State also landed a late high school commitment from 6-foot-7 right-hander Jayden Stewart.
The departures of seniors Rashawn Galloway and Chase Mora leave additional spots in the lineup to fill. But with the portal closing July 1, there’s still time for Texas State to bolster its roster — or suffer some more losses. Jackson Cotton, who belted 13 bombs as a freshman, hasn’t announced his plans yet. The same goes for veteran infielder Justin Vossos, who earned a spot in the starting lineup in the back half of the season.