Baseball signs 12 for 2016

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas baseball program today signed 12 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, head coach Augie Garrido announced.

Garrido, recruiting coordinator Tommy Nicholson and associate head coach Skip Johnson, who have signed 31 players in the last three years and brought 30 of them to campus, bolstered their roster with the addition of five pitchers and seven positional players.

"We are extremely excited for this class to be a part of the Longhorn family," Garrido said. "Tommy and Skip did an excellent job finding the right kids for our program. This group will play an integral part in helping carry on the winning tradition and prestige of our historical program.

"This group has a great balance of pitching and offensive players that will complement what we currently have on campus. This group has several players who have grown up playing on winning teams together and their bond coming in is already very strong. We look forward to them being Longhorns and representing The University of Texas with class and integrity."

The Longhorns, who are well-stocked for the future with 26 freshmen and sophomores on the current fall roster, looked to add depth and create competition at positions of need with this class.

"We're very pleased with this class, and we're looking forward to getting them on campus next fall," Nicholson said. "We signed a good mix of pitchers and position players that should help get us to Omaha on a consistent basis. This is a group that we feel very confident will excel on and off the field."

Johnson said he is excited about the pitchers signed. "There are some power arms who really know how to pitch," he said. "This class has several potential front-line starters and arms that can finish games. Every one of these pitchers is over six-foot tall and they still have room to put on some good weight once they get on campus and get in the weight room with strength coach Stephen Whalen."

Texas signed 11 players from within the state and one from Louisiana.

The Longhorns added four right-handed pitchers: Blair Henley (Fort Worth/Arlington Heights High School), Kevin Roliard (Spring/Klein High School), Tate Sandford (Austin/Lake Travis High School) and Mason Thompson (Round Rock/Round Rock High School); and one left-hander in Kyle Muller (Dallas/Jesuit High School).

Among the seven position players are two outfielders in Conner Capel (Katy/Seven Lakes High School) and Austin Todd (Round Rock/Round Rock High School); four infielders in David Hamilton (San Marcos/San Marcos High School), Austin McNicholas (Austin/Akins High School), Ryan Reynolds (Monroe, LA/Ouachita Christian High School) and Andres Sosa (San Antonio/Reagan High School), and one catcher in Jaxx Groshans (Magnolia/Magnolia High School).

Two of the signees are sons of former Texas baseball lettermen. Capel's father, Mike, was a Texas baseball letterman from 1982-83, and posted a 13-1 record for the 1983 National Championship team. Reynolds's dad, Shane, played at Texas for one year (1989), after transferring in from Faulkner University and was a starting pitcher in the major leagues for the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks from 1992 to 2004.

"Though there are always specific needs in every class, I've always felt it's imperative that teams have a good balance in their recruiting classes, and that's what Texas really has with this class," said Kendall Rogers, national writer for D1Baseball. "They emphasized the middle infield with some talented prospects and snagged an impressive crop of pitchers, including local products such as Mason Thompson. Once again, Tommy Nicholson and Skip Johnson put together a talented group, and most important, a group that should see most, if not all, show up on campus."

2016 University of Texas Baseball Signing Class (as of Nov. 11, 2015)

Conner Capel | OF | L/L | 6-1 | 185 | Katy, TX (Seven Lakes High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Mike and Liz. His father was a Texas baseball letterman from 1982-83, and posted a 13-1 record for the 1983 National Championship team.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…of their long tradition of playing in the College World Series, which is very important to me. Also, earning a degree from UT will set me up for success after baseball."

NICHOLSON ON CAPEL: "Conner is a hard-nosed, throwback-type player. He has all the physical tools—he runs well, he has a great outfield arm, and he's a plus offensive player that drives the ball to all fields."

Jaxx Groshans | C | R/R | 6-1 | 195 | Magnolia, TX (Magnolia High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Thomas and Jodi. Father played football at the University of Colorado in 1992 and mother was a cheerleader at Tarleton State in 1989.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…it is my dream school."

NICHOLSON ON GROSHANS: "A good receiver with a strong and accurate throwing arm, Jaxx has a good swing with a chance to hit for power. Can get stronger with work in the weight room, once he gets here."

David Hamilton | INF | L/R | 5-11 | 165 | San Marcos, TX (San Marcos High School)

PERSONAL: Son of David and Bessie. Father played second base for Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) from 1986-87.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…it has been my childhood dream to play a sport and attend school at Texas."

NICHOLSON ON HAMILTON: " David is one of the most athletic players in the state. He's a plus runner, elite defender, and has an advanced baseball IQ. He has a short, quick swing that has produced at the highest level of competition."

Blair Henley | RHP | R/R | 6-3 | 195 | Fort Worth, TX (Arlington Heights High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Robert and Stacey. Brother Bobby is an outfielder at Weatherford College.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…I want to be part of the Longhorns winning tradition. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to play for Coach Garrido and learn from Coach Johnson."

JOHNSON ON HENLEY: " Blair is an athletic right-hander who really knows how to pitch. He's a very mature pitcher with room to grow. Has pitched in big games from an early age."

Austin McNicholas | INF | R/R | 5-9 | 175 | Austin, TX (Akins High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Luke and Sylvia. Father was a pitcher/infielder at Alvin Community College in 1994.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…of the 35 College World Series appearances and six national championships."

NICHOLSON ON McNICHOLAS: "Austin is a baseball rat who loves to play the game, and has good instincts. He's an all-around baseball player who can play all of the infield positions at a high level."

Kyle Muller | LHP | L/L | 6-7 | 232 | Dallas, TX (Jesuit College Preparatory)

PERSONAL: Son of Harold and Mary. Brother Chris, a pitcher at Paris Junior College, has committed to play at UTSA for his junior and senior seasons. Grandfather Bob Blevins played football at the University of Houston from 1956-58, and great grandfather Wash Underwood was a two-time team MVP, and all-Southwest Conference football player at Rice. His uncle John Underwood, a Big 12 Conference Associate Commissioner, played basketball at Texas A&M from 1967-68. Another uncle, Frank Blevins, played football at Oklahoma from 1987-91.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…I loved it when I visited."

JOHNSON ON MULLER: "Kyle is an athletic lefty who also played QB in high school and has the ability to be a high round draft pick down the road. He led his Jesuit team far into the playoffs as a junior."

Ryan Reynolds | INF | S/R | 6-2 | 210 | Monroe, LA (Ouachita Christian High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Shane and Pam. Father played at Texas in 1989, and was a starting pitcher in the major leagues for the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks from 1992 to 2004.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…Texas Baseball has always had a winning tradition, great coaches, players and fans."

NICHOLSON ON REYNOLDS: "Ryan is a powerful switch-hitting infielder, who is versatile in the field and comes from a great baseball background. He is ultra-competitive and has played on winning teams his whole life."

Kevin Roliard | RHP| L/R | 6-2 | 175 | Spring, TX (Klein High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Larry and Brenda. Brother Kyle was an outfielder/pitcher at Louisiana Tech from 2008-11, and earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2011. Kyle was drafted in the 13th round of the 2011 MLB Draft as a left-handed pitcher and played 2.5 years in the minors. Sister Kelly played goalkeeper for the University of Arkansas soccer team from 2012-15.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…of its legacy, rich traditions, excellent baseball program and coaches who have helped many student-athletes realize their dreams. As a native Texan, I have always wanted to be a Longhorn."

JOHNSON ON ROLIARD: "Kevin has an electric arm with plus stuff. He really has a chance to become an elite starter or end-of-the-game reliever. He also played QB in high school.

Tate Sandford | RHP | R/R | 6-4 | 190 | Austin, TX (Lake Travis High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Jim and Merrily. Father played basketball at Trinity Valley Junior College from 1978-79, and grandfather played football for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at Texas A&M from 1957-60.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…it is where I wanted to go my whole life, especially having grown up in Austin and having been around the UT culture. Texas is my dream school."

JOHNSON ON SANDFORD: "Tate is a righty who really knows how to pitch and has a chance to be dominant as he fills out. He has 'pitchability' and has been a part of winning organizations from an early age.

Andres Sosa | INF | R/R | 5-11 | 180 | San Antonio, TX (Reagan High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Andres and Lylia. Uncle Mike Sotelo pitched professionally in Mexico in the 1970s.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…it is such a great university to further my career both on and off the field. Ever since I moved to Texas, I wanted to be part of such a prestigious school and baseball program."

NICHOLSON ON SOSA-AGUILAR: "Andres has a high baseball IQ which allows him to play a number of positions at a high level. He is an elite defender with soft hands and a strong arm. He has a good approach at the plate with the ability to hit line drives to all fields."

Mason Thompson | RHP| R/R | 6-7 | 205 | Round Rock, TX (Round Rock High)

PERSONAL: Son of Glenn and Shawn. Father played football at Sam Houston State University from 1984-85. Aunt Karen Thompson played basketball at North Carolina State from 1980-83.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…I am a lifetime Longhorn."

JOHNSON ON THOMPSON: "Mason has the physical tools and makeup to be an elite starter. He has been a winner from an early age, and he really knows how to pitch, to go along with command and plus stuff."

Austin Todd | OF | R/R | 6-1 | 170 | Round Rock, TX (Round Rock High School)

PERSONAL: Son of Eric Todd and Cheryl Baker.

I CHOSE TEXAS BECAUSE: "…Playing D1 baseball has always been my dream, and there isn't a better place to fulfill that dream than at Texas. I love the facilities, the coaching staff and the fact that Texas is in my backyard for all my family and friends to see me play."

NICHOLSON ON TODD: "Austin has very good tools—he runs well, throws well, and has power at the plate that will only improve. He's a smooth runner in the outfield and makes it look easy."

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

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