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Stars at Night: Texas Spring Break

February 23, 2026
Shooter Hunt
Vice President, Scouting

Each year, Texas’ three-week run of Spring Break tournaments provides one of the most valuable early evaluation windows in high school baseball. Across the state, teams pack six games into three days for three straight weeks, creating a demanding stretch that quickly reveals depth, durability and competitiveness. From marquee matchups to heated multi-city rivalries, no state matches the volume and quality of action during this period as coaches balance development with the push toward district play and the road to state.

For scouts and evaluators, this stretch offers a clean look at how prospects handle real game pressure against strong competition. The sample size builds quickly, adjustments are forced in real time and roles begin to solidify. Some players confirm offseason expectations, others elevate their stock, and a few emerge unexpectedly. By the time district play arrives, the first three weeks have already helped clarify which arms, bats and programs are positioned to shape the rest of the Texas spring.

This year, Prep Baseball VP of Scouting, Shooter Hunt, traveled to Austin for the first week of gameplay with prospects from all over the state, and in all classes, making loud statements including Keller High’s dynamic two-way MLB Draft prospect, SS/P Cole Koeninger, who stole the show in asserting himself as a must-know Day 1 talent.



Frontline Feature:


 In a year dominated by a conglomerate of talented two-way prospects, Koeninger is the most polarizing. His electricity as an athlete is undeniable and challenges as the best in the class. At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, he moves with the agility of a panther including quick bursts of the first step and incredible outputs offensively. Each swing that the right-handed hitter takes is a threat to leave the yard, and his flat path, combined with high-end bat speed provides a dangerous look. Scissoring the lower-half with a dynamic look, the barrel covers the plate with ease, and the chance for power to all fields feels inherently likely. There were some minor tracking issues, especially early in counts, which likely aided in some of the swing-and-miss that was present throughout the summer.

 However, the upside seems to outweigh any of the flaws, and given the unteachable that the Tennessee recruit presents as a position player, it feels unwise to push him away from that side of things without sufficient testing at higher levels. His ceiling maintains an impossibly high setting, and while the floor might be lower than some of his peers in the class, those clubs with a higher tolerance of risk might be rewarded greatly by investing in Koeninger’s path as a left side impact bat.


 As mentioned prior, Koeninger is the most polarizing prospect in the class, and his first week look on the mound only cemented that status. The uber-athletic right-hander struck out nine across four 1-hit innings without yielding a walk while pouring in nearly 75% strikes (40 of 54) on a night in which he squared off against an Austin powerhouse in its own ballpark.

 Comfortably sitting 94-95 from a steep, high ¾ slot with a unique, shorter takeaway, Koeninger touched 96 mph on multiple occasions while generating whiffs in the zone on a pitch that featured heaviness and some sinking action (1700-1900 rpm). More impressively, especially after the first frame, were the secondary offerings that he displayed. Ripping off a plus-plus curveball with downer, 12/6 shape at a firm 82-84, the pitch displayed heaviness in the sense that it dropped viciously from its apex through the zone with numerous middle-middle whiffs. Though unnecessary in this look, he flashed an 88 mph slider that took near-cutter shape and is likely to develop into a weapon in future looks. Still more, his best pitch of the night came on a two-strike changeup that was swung through for a strikeout. Perfectly mirroring the profile of the fastball, the 86 mph pitch featured late fade/sink with a power profile and likely plus-potential (when thrown more regularly). The four pitches all held at least above average grades with the fastball/curveball/changeup having at least plus potential.

 In short, Koeninger looked the part of a frontline starter in this stint, and is likely to get even better throughout the spring. Even with his pitching prowess acting as a “side project”, he easily nestles into the top 5 pitching prospects in a loaded right-handed class, and ultimately would challenge for the top spot with more singular focus in the realm. The delivery, arm action, and profile seem to mirror that of current Oregon State ace, Dax Whitney, but with even better pitch profiles at the same age. Still more, given his unmatched athleticism, Koeninger might only be scratching the surface with where he can get to on the mound.

 But all of this comes with the caveat that he may never toe a professional rubber should the bat be given its (due) time within a well-guided player development system…


+ SS Connor Comeau (Anderson HS, TX Texas A&M recruit)
Long-limbed at nearly 6-foot-4, 180-pounds with a thin look of stretched athleticism, Comeau is set to be one of the more intriguing Day 1 hopefuls in the class. A batting practice session saw the left-handed hitter maintain a relaxed pursuit from a tall setup, slowly loading with a minor leg hang while controlling the forward move gracefully before igniting a heavy barrel through the zone with quick hands. The dream of added strength and power feels inherently likely, especially when considering his status as one of the younger prospects in the class (17.11 at draft). The barrel lags endlessly in the zone, and Comeau’s best swing of the week, perhaps, came after swinging through a fastball where he eloquently waited on a curveball before driving it firmly to the back side for a louder single. Defensively, Comeau plays a bit more upright at shortstop, which is natural given the torso, but features adequate arm strength and glovework, and likely warrants being sent off at the position with a shift to a corner spot plausible. Coming on the heels of a breakout summer/fall, this look did nothing to dissuade the Day 1 status, and given the appetite of the industry for the tools and profile that he exhibits, a 2nd or 3rd round selection feels likely. There are some similarities on both sides of the ball to former Colorado prepster and Giants’ 2nd rounder, IF Walker Martin, though Comeau will check in at roughly 17 months younger on draft day.




+ RHP Cooper Webb (Lake Travis HS, TX Texas recruit)
Working entirely out of the stretch, Webb showcased impressive raw arm talent along with innate ability to spin a breaking ball that should develop quickly into a weapon at higher levels. Listed at 6-foot-3, 200-pound, he appeared a touch lighter with quality athleticism displayed in working linear down the mound with a quick, efficient arm stroke showcasing quickness out front. Perhaps getting squeezed a bit on the corners, Webb’s 91-95 fastball displayed more control over command, though he did look to drive the pitch in on the hands of right-handers, at times. The fastball did not miss bats, in this look, but he routinely went to a firmer breaking ball at 80-84. Manipulating its shape, whether dropped in with depth or quickly darting horizontal action, the pitch served as his confidence offering and was thrown in any and all counts. He also flashed a changeup at 82 mph. While it was not his best outing, the right-hander still struck out eight in four innings, and demonstrated a competitive nature that should help drive for an upward trend throughout the spring and especially in the future.



+ 2026 3B/P Logan Brown (Keller HS, TX Houston recruit)
It was a quick look at the physically imposing, 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-handed slugger, but one that was impactful as he belted a resounding home run to center field. A true two-way talent, the swing works with fluidity and promises even more power to come. Even more intriguing about the upside was how surprisingly well Brown moved on the bases and on the infield.



UP Next



+ SS Selvin Garrett (Buda Johnson HS, TX Texas recruit)
Appearing ready to make the next step as a prospect, Garrett enjoyed a strong week on both sides of the ball to kick off the spring season. There was added strength on his 5’10” 175-pound frame, and got to it at the plate including a mega-bomb over the center field fence. The right-handed hitter rocks the hands back from an athletic crouch in conjunction with a larger leg hang. The past had shown a propensity for working the hands inside the ball and driving the other way, but this look showcased the ability to turn the barrel with some force. As the offensive profile continues to tick up, Garrett’s impactful defensive work continued to shine, and his sure, soft hands and dynamic arm looked the part at shortstop throughout a confident week.



+ SS Hank Rippy (Anderson HS, TX Texas recruit)
Looking closer to 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, Rippy’s left-handed stick is trending in a power direction as his elite glovework maintains its advanced left side status. Setting up wider from the left side without a stride, the hands drop back into a firm power position before working uphill through the zone with heaviness to the barrel. There was a bit more pronounced pull-oriented rotational action throughout the week, but the looseness of the wrists is still present, and some minor adjustments are likely to free up the hands in moving the barrel around and driving the ball to all fields. He flashed pull side power throughout batting practice, and given the way the frame has tacked on quality strength since last summer, it feels likely that he adds even more in the future. Naturally gifted on the dirt with some of the best hands in the class and a silky-quick throwing arm, Rippy will get his turn to play shortstop throughout the summer (Comeau currently occupies the position) where he can build a case as one of the better prospects in the class.



UNCOMMITTED CORNER:



2028 LHP Maddox McCrary (Keller HS, TX)
A revelation piggy-backing MLB Draft prospect, Cole Koeninger, McCrary looked the part of a must-follow arm in the sophomore class. Wiry-athletic at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, the southpaw moved dynamically down the mound with a quick, whippy arm that churned out fastballs at 83-85 with more on the way. Toying with timing, he pulled the string on some advanced changeups at 77-79 that featured fading action. He also exhibited feel for a curveball at 70-72 that featured depth with some ability to manipulate shape. In short, McCrary looks like a future starter with a competitive edge, and warrants immediate looks on the summer circuit.



+ 2027 OF Joseph Cardona (Buda Johnson HS, TX)
+ 2027 RHP Reed Dierschke (Buda Johnson HS, TX)
+ 2027 IF Braylon Jones (Vandegrift HS, TX)

Freshman Phenoms:



2029 RHP Cruz McBride (Dripping Springs HS, TX)
Already looking like one of the more polished arms in the class, McBride still holds impressive upside that will be followed closely by the scouting community moving forward. Wide-shouldered at a wiry-athletic, 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, the right-hander poured in strikes with a hoppy, 88-90 (2488 rpm) fastball that delivered multiple in-zone-misses. Efficient down the mound with a well-connected, repeatable delivery, he found a high ¾ slot with ease along with quality extension, and his quick, whippy arm delivered quickness out front with more velocity on the way. His 11/5 curveball (72-76) took quality shape, and is likely to see quick advancements. Given the aptitude for spin, it feels likely that he cultivates a firmer slider, as well, in coming years. McBride also demonstrated feel for killing spin on a quality changeup at 81-82. Leaving the outing, it is hard to think of many arms in the class holding as much upside and excitement as this young right-hander.



+ 2029 LHP Cooper Knight (Buda Johnson HS, TX)
+ 2029 OF Hayden Chung (Westlake HS, TX)

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