2026 HS Team Preview: Midlothian Panthers
December 15, 2025
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: Midlothian Panthers
Head Coach: Ryan Rodgers
UIL Classification: 5A-15
Team Strengths: Youth
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 22-13 (5A Regional Finalist)
Key Players Lost: Graduated 8 Starters
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- C Alec Reyes (2026; Concordia University-Nebraska) - 2025 Honorable Mention All-District
- RHP/OF Aden Bowman (2026; uncommitted)
- Number of Returning Position Players: 1
- Number of Returning Starting Pitchers: 1
- Number of Returning Relief Pitchers: 2
TOP NEWCOMERS
- 1B/OF Kian Vazquez (2028)
- MIF/RHP Rylan Johnson (2028)
- MIF/RHP Jayson Hoopman (2028)
FRESHMAN TO FOLLOW
- C/OF Griffin Kitchens (2029)
SEMLER’S PROSPECT TO FOLLOW
“C Alec Reyes (2026; Concordia University-Nebraska) receives well, accurate throws to 2nd with solid pop times. Aggressive swinger with length, shows some pull side power.”
- Max Semler, North Texas Scouting Director
TEAM OUTLOOK
The Midlothian Panthers, led by Head Coach Ryan Rodgers, are entering the 2026 season looking to re-tool after a successful 2025 season that saw them finish as 5A Regional Finalists with an overall record of 22-13. The team faces a major hurdle this year, however, as they graduated eight starters from the 2025 squad. With a focus on youth, the program's strength will be the development of its promising, newer core of players as they compete in the state’s 5A class.
The team will be relying heavily on its key returners to provide leadership, namely its sole returning position player, senior catcher Alec Reyes. Reyes, a Concordia University-Nebraska commit, will look to bring stability and leadership in one of the game’s most crucial positions following an impressive 2025 campaign that earned him Honorable Mention All-District. On the pitching side, more depth will look to emerge as the Panthers return one starting pitcher and two relief pitchers, including unsigned senior RHP/OF Aden Bowman.
The biggest change to the roster will come from the new additions, particularly a strong class of 2028’s. Top newcomers expected to contribute include 1B/OF Kian Vazquez, MIF/RHP Rylan Johnson, and MIF/RHP Jayson Hoopman. The team's future is also promising with 2029 C/OF Griffin Kitchens, who could play a role on varsity as early as this spring. Ultimately, Midlothian's 2026 season will center on the rapid maturation of this young talent as they work to compete in a district that they were able to finish second in a season ago.
Find more information on the 2026 Midlothian program below:
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