The 2026 Texas high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Iowa Colony Pioneers
Head Coach: Brent Wuthrich
UIL Classification: 5A-20
Team Strengths: Pitching & Defense
2025 Record: 16-11

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• RHP/3B Landon Brown (2026; Mississippi State)
• RHP Matthew Christopoulos (2026) - 2nd Team All-District
• RHP/C Jeren Trainor (2026; Northeastern State)
• RHP/UTL Rudy Mendieta (2026)
  
• OF Jayden Felder (2026)
• INF Cayden Aguilar (2026)
• OF Carson White (2027)
• RHP/INF Sam Aguilera (2027)
• SS/RHP Levi Abrego (2028) - District Newcomer of the Year
  
• OF Kalen Simmons (2028) - 1st Team All-District
• Number of Returning Position Players: 7
• Number of Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
• Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 5

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TOP NEWCOMERS

• C Noah Guijosa (2026)
• RHP/INF Alex Vasquez (2027)
• LHP Kyle Guillot (2028)

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

• C/1B Larry Brooks (2029)
• INF Maximus Jimenez (2029)
• INF Nelson Farr (2029)

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SEMLER’S PROSPECTS TO FOLLOW

“2026 RHP Landon Brown: 6'3 205. Repeats delivery and arm action. Pitches 92-96, will show better at times. Feel for secondary present with Slider 83-86 and Changeup 86-87. Aggressive on mound. Dodgers Fall Scout Team … 2028 INF Levi Abrego: 6.78 60 now. Solid approach to hit with bat quickness, shows impact to pull side now. Actions … 2028 OF Kalen Simmons: Athletic with great build/frame to add strength. LHH showing developing ability to impact baseball. Handles bat, plus runner. Uncommitted RHP Matthew Christopoulos: 6'2 195. Repeats delivery, some effort. Pitches 88-91, has shown better. CB 72-75 with some depth.”

- Max Semler, North Texas Scouting Director

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

“Will be led by 2024 Future Gamer, Landon Brown. 2028 Standout from the Underclass State Games, Levi Abrego is poised to make an impact as well.”

- Ben Green, Texas State Director

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Head Coach Brent Wuthrich and the Iowa Colony Pioneers are poised to build upon a successful first year in the 5A Classification, having secured 16 wins last year (their first season in 5A). The team's strengths entering 2026 will be their pitching and defense. The 2026 season features a significant returning core, including seven returning position players, three returning starting pitchers, and five returning relief pitchers.

The Pioneers boast a talented roster, anchored by strong pitching prospects in RHP/3B Landon Brown (2026; Mississippi State) and RHP Matthew Christopoulos (2026). The Pioneers' younger talent is also set to make an impact, with District Newcomer of the Year SS/RHP Levi Abrego and 1st Team All-District OF Kalen Simmons highlighted as top returners, both anchoring the program’s sophomore class.

The team will also integrate newcomers such as C Noah Guijosa (2026), RHP/INF Alex Vasquez (2027), and LHP Kyle Guillot (2028). The combination of a strong returning core, especially on the mound, and promising newcomers provides a solid foundation as the team navigates the challenges of their second year in Class 5A.

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COACH’S QUOTE

“We are very excited to return a seasoned pitching staff with tons of Varsity experience and a very solid defense behind them for year two in 5A. The lineup should feature a great mix of speed and power with more depth and several great options off the bench. As always if you can navigate the pitchers in 20-5A you can play with anyone.”

- Brent Wuthrich, Iowa Colony Head Coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Iowa Colony program below:
+ Follow on X/Twitter: @IC_PioneerBsb
+ Prep Baseball Texas Team Preview Page

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