Second-year head coach Michael Earley added depth behind the plate on Friday afternoon, as a former Lone Star Conference All-Team catcher announced his commitment to the Texas A&M baseball program.
Blake Labuda will finish his collegiate baseball career with the Aggies after spending three years catching for Colby Community College (2019-2022) and UT Tyler (2023-2025). The Broomfield, Colorado, native posted a .321 batting average with seven home runs and a .997 OPS last season.
His experience behind the plate will add depth to the position for Earley and company. Labuda has displayed steady improvement in his plate approaches, as he hit under .300 in just one game in 2025. Now, he is bringing his talent to Bryan-College Station, Texas, where he will gear up in the Maroon and White for the first time in 2026.
Labuda started his college baseball journey at Colby Community College in 2019. In his freshman year, he hit .350 with seven hits (including two doubles) in 20 at-bats. After recording 15 RBI in his sophomore season, Labuba capped off his time at Colby by blasting eight homers and 23 RBI.
From there, he transferred to UT Tyler, where he immediately made a splash in the Patriots’ starting lineup. The new Aggie commit secured two four-game hitting streaks during his 2023 campaign, while finishing with a .371 batting average and 16 RBI on 13 hits.
His second year in Tyler, Texas, featured Labuda hitting seven home runs and finishing the year with a career-high 34 RBI. Labuda continued his impressive trend at the plate for the Patriots in 2025, where his swing and gritty performances at catcher contributed to their first-ever appearance in the Division II World Series. He helped lead the program to a program-best 49-13 record, as UT Tyler also set a new record for wins in a single season.
Labuda will look to translate that success at the Division I level, as his commitment marks another offseason addition to the 2026 Aggie baseball roster. When facing the powerhouse baseball programs in the Southeastern Conference, additions like Labuda are integral in adding depth and experience to the clubhouse.
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