Category Archives: Player Profiles

October 19, 2012 · 8:44 am

Cameron Cox

Right-handed pitcher Cameron Cox, a 2011 graduate of Round Rock’s Stony Point High School, stands 6’2″ tall and weighs 160 pounds.  He will be joining the Longhorns this season as a sophomore transfer from Weatherford Junior College, where he garnered enough attention as a freshman to be drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 25th round of the 2012 MLB First Year Players Draft. While in high school, Cox played as an infielder and pitcher, batting .439 and maintaining a 2.33 ERA on the mound as a senior in 2011.

After joining the Weatherford Coyotes as a freshman, Cox focused on pitching. He accumulated a 3.15 ERA and a 4-3 record in 11 appearances, and struck out 61 batters in 62.1 innings of work in 2012. The Cleveland Indians took note and drafted Cox, but were unable to convince him to sign, especially once Texas came calling. Tony Lastoria of the Indians Prospect Insider said “[Cox] has a solid three pitch mix and his fastball sits in the low 90′s/high 80′s.  His slider is his best pitch, but his changeup should also project out as average to above average.” With Sophomore John Curtiss out of the mix for 2013, Cox was an important pickup for Skip Johnson and the Longhorns, and he should figure into the rotation from the start of the season. You can see video of Cameron pitching below, and follow him on Twitter @cameronCox24.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

October 15, 2012 · 11:31 am

Codey McElroy

photo courtesy of Codey McElroy

Codey McElroy is a 6’6″, 210 pound infielder joining Texas from Eastern Oklahoma State College, where he was a standout shortstop last year. Originally from Chattanooga, Oklahoma, McElroy signed with the Mountaineers out of high school, and received a rare full scholarship at the college. His first college coach, Craig Price said, “We only have 12 scholarships to divide among all the players on the team, the fact we are giving Codey a full scholarship shows how important he is to us.” That investment paid off, as McElroy led his team in runs (47) and walks (33), and was second on the team with 8 home runs, including a 2-homer game against Arkansas Baptist in April. Perfect Game ranked McElroy in the top 100 of draft eligible Junior College prospects prior to the 2012 MLB draft. The Baseball Draft Report described McElroy as having a “strong arm; [and] good defensive tools” in its 2012 Third Base Prospects. The Mountaineers have a strong program in the NJCAA, and pride themselves on 90 players advancing to 4-year and Major League teams from their campus over the past 8 seasons.

Luckily for the Longhorns, McElroy committed to Texas, where he will play as a sophomore and junior before becoming draft eligible again. McElroy will join a stacked infield under head coach Augie Garrido, but he certainly has the ability to make an impact from day one. Codey was kind enough to take a break from a busy fall schedule of classes and baseball practice to answer a few questions for us recently.

TBB:  What made you choose Texas? Have you gotten a lot of flack from your friends in Oklahoma for your choice?
CM:  I chose Texas because of the coaches and tradition here. When I came on my visit and got to see what Texas baseball was all about I knew this is where I wanted to be. But of course I’ve caught a ton of flack for it, at first none of my friends wanted me to come down here, but I think they’re starting to warm up to the burnt orange.
TBB:  What are your goals for this season, as a player and for the team?
CM:  I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win. We’re working hard to get back to Omaha, and I just want to do my part to help us get there.
TBB:  What is your favorite part of being a Longhorn so far?
CM:  I like everything about it, showing up to the field everyday with the all the All-Americans and World Series Championships on the wall makes it fun to work hard.
TBB:  How has fall practice been going? What have you been working on?
CM:  It’s going well, it’s good to get back on the field after not getting to play last summer. Coach Garrido always talks about getting 1% better everyday, so that’s what we’re trying to do.
TBB:  Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
CM:  I’m a big Yankee fan so I have to go with Roger Clemens. And my favorite MLB player is Derek Jeter.

You can keep up with Codey McElroy as he makes the transition to D1 baseball on Twitter, @CodeyMac28. Fall ball starts up this weekend, so make sure you come out to support Codey and the rest of the Longhorns.

Picture courtesy of Codey McElroy

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

September 28, 2012 · 12:03 pm

Jeremy Montalbano

Jeremy Montalbano is a 6-foot, 2-inch, 190-pound catcher who is joining the Longhorns from Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. This was quite the steal for the Longhorns, who managed to talk Montalbano out of his verbal commitment to Arkansas. While playing for the Spartans, Montalbano accumulated an impressive list of honors and awards, including being named District 19-5A Most Valuable Player in 2012 and being named Third Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. Jason McDaniel wrote a great piece on Montalbano for the Houston Chronicle, speaking to Seven Lakes coach Chad Payne about his standout catcher. When asked about Montalbano, Payne said, “He’s got strong arms. But he has improved a lot at receiving – just catching the ball, helping pitchers out and getting more strikes for the pitcher. I’d say that and blocking. He’s really stepped up his game and improved his ability over the last year.”

Montalbano certainly had a great senior season, batting .340 with 7 home runs and 46 RBIs. He also spent 34 innings on the other side of the battery, posting a 2.20 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 5 walks, earning a 6-0 record as a pitcher. Unfortunately, Montalbano’s season ended prematurely with a back injury, and he was forced to sit out the last few playoff games. After a stellar season of being nationally ranked, Seven Lakes lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual state champions, Cypress Ranch. Angel Verjado, of the Houston Chronicle, spoke to Montalbano after he was named Player of the Year by the publication, and asked him about his seemingly sudden decision to become a Longhorn. Montalbano said, “I thought my best option was Texas because of the education and they offered me the best scholarship.” We also had the opportunity to ask Jeremy a few questions this week, and he took some time out of classes and fall practice to answer them.

TBB: What is your favorite part of being a catcher?
JM: It’s never boring and you’re always in the game which is pretty fun.
TBB: You earned quite a few honors in high school. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far?
JM: Getting a chance to play for the university of Texas is by far my biggest accomplishment.
TBB: What are your goals for yourself and the team this year?
JM: My goal is to do whatever the team needs me to do to help win and the team goal has to be to win a big 12 and national championship.
TBB: Fall practice just started up for Texas – what are you working on now?
JM:  I’m working on a more consistent approach at the plate. Defensively, I’m working on handling some great pitchers and get up to the speed of college baseball.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
JM: Longhorn- Roger Clemens & MLB Player- Albert Pujols.

You can find Jeremy Montalbano on Twitter @jmontalbano33 and follow him as he takes on college competition with the Longhorns in 2013. We expect Jeremy to see some mid-week and late-inning playing time early this season as he backs up junior Jacob Felts behind the plate.

Photo: Donald Boyles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

September 15, 2012 · 8:21 pm

Ty Marlow

If Ty Marlow’s name sounds familiar, it could be for one of two reasons – the transfer infielder spent his freshman season playing for Texas A&M, and he is also Longhorn infielder Brooks Marlow’s older brother. Ty saw limited playing time under Coach Childress, and not long after Brooks joined the Longhorns as a freshman in 2011, word leaked out that his older brother, Ty, was transferring to McClennan Community College.  Rumors began to swirl early that the Texas coaches had their eye on this former Giddings High School standout, and in late May, it was officially announced that Ty would be a Longhorn.

While playing for his father, Coach Mike Marlow, at Giddings High School, Ty hammered the ball, posting a .491 batting average with 8 home runs as a senior in 2010. Marlow saw only a few at-bats at A&M, but showed what he is capable of at McClennan as a sophomore. Ty played 50 games for the Highlanders, batting .359 with 8 home runs, 4 triples, and 15 doubles. He stole 10 bases in 11 attempts, and had 60 RBIs. We predict that it won’t take Ty long to settle into D1 ball as a junior, and the storyline of a two-Marlow middle infield will be hard for the media to resist. For a small taste of what the elder Marlow brother is capable of, check out this video of Ty smashing a home run for the East Texas Pump Jacks, his summer team in 2011.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 31, 2012 · 11:09 am

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is a 6-foot-1-inch, 185 pound outfielder that will be joining the Longhorns from Westwood High School. Born and raised in an Austin baseball family, Johnson is expected to make a smooth transition into the outfield at the Disch in 2013. His older brother, William, plays baseball for Vanderbilt. Ben made a name for himself while with the Warriors by showing off his quick feet in the outfield and a strong bat at the plate. During his junior year, Johnson batted .477 with 7 home runs. He was named to the All-Central Texas First Team by the Austin American-Statesman as a junior, and received All-District 16-5A First Team honors multiple times. A two-sport star at Westwood (he was also the school’s starting quarterback), Johnson has decided to focus on baseball, and the coaches at Texas couldn’t be happier with his decision. Tommy Harmon had great things to say about Johnson after he committed, saying, “Ben is a great athlete from Austin Westwood. He fits in the mold with the rest of these guys, with a plus throwing arm and plus speed. He has thrown for 1,000 yards and ran for 1,000 yards in football this year, so that tells you what kind of athlete he is. He is a great competitor and he has a very good future in baseball.”

During his senior year, Johnson batted .462, including 8 doubles and 5 home runs, and scored 27 runs. He had a slugging percentage of .775 and an on-base percentage of .537. His skill set and stats began to draw even more attention from pro-level scouts, but Johnson stayed true to his word. After being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 34th round of the draft, Ben and his family made it clear that he would be playing for Augie Garrido before going pro. The Austin American-Statesman said that “An undisclosed team wanted to select Johnson in a much earlier round…, even making him a decent offer, but he told the club he would not sign.” To see his talent in action, check out this video of Ben Johnson hitting a home run during his senior year:

Since graduating, Johnson has continued working on improving over the summer. He joined up with fellow freshmen Jeremy Montalbano and Chad Hollingsworth in the Heartland Baseball Classic, helping team Texas go 8-0. Johnson was named MVP of that tournament with 13 RBIs. We were able to ask Ben a few questions recently, and he told us about his choice to join the Longhorns and what it has been like watching his older brother play D1 baseball.

TBB: After offers from other quality D1 programs and the Braves, what has made you so confident in your decision to choose Texas?
BJ: With the resources that Texas provides you from both an academic and athletic standpoint, it’s off the charts. There isn’t another university like Texas.
TBB: What has it been like watching your older brother play college baseball for Vanderbilt? Has growing up with him inspired or motivated you as a player?
BJ: It has been a great honor to watch my brother/best friend play at the D1 level. He has definitely inspired and motivated me to play D1 baseball.
TBB: As a fellow Westwood alumni, what did you learn in your high school career that you are eager to use at the Disch?
BJ: I learned how to fight through adversity. No matter what the score is, you can’t ever quit and you just have to keep fighting back.
TBB: What are your goals for yourself and the team in 2013?
BJ: Do whatever I can to help this team get back to Omaha. One of the reasons I chose Texas was the winning tradition and I want to help continue that.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
BJ: I have 3. Drew Bishop, Marcus Hendry, and Drew Stubbs. My favorite MLB player is Mike Trout.

Ben Johnson will join a crowded and talented outfield for the Longhorns this spring, but we at Texas Baseball Blog project he will find his way into the lineup quickly. You can follow him on Twitter @ben_johnson14.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 27, 2012 · 10:21 am

Chad Hollingsworth

Chad Hollingsworth is a 6’2″ right-handed pitcher who comes to the Longhorns with a very impressive high school resume. While playing with the Robinson Rockets, just southeast of Waco, Hollingsworth turned heads with his comfortable low-90′s fastball and a 92 MPH sinker, producing a plethora of ground-outs and a staggering ERA. As a junior in 2011, Hollingsworth held a 11-2 record with a 1.30 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 89 innings of work. After leading the Rockets to the State Champsionships, he was named District 19-3A Most Valuable Player and the Super CenTex Player of the Year by the Waco Tribune in 2011. Other honors included being named to the Texas Rangers Area Code Team and to the the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State Second Team. Former Texas recruiter Tommy Harmon said of Hollingsworth after his junior year, “Chad is a big, strong right-hander with a hard sinker.”

Hollingsworth continued to develop as a senior in 2012. He compiled a 13-2 record over 97.1 innings, with a 0.50 ERA and 139 strikeouts overall and a 4-0 record with a 0.23 ERA in district play. Once again, Chad was named District 19-3A MVP, and it is easy to understand why. In postseason play, he hurled a complete game no-hitter, with 10 K’s and zero walks. The Rockets were unable to reach the finals, falling two runs short in the semifinals, played at Texas’ own Disch-Falk Field. You can read more about Chad’s high school accomplishments, of which there are many, in this article by Denton Ramsey in the Robinson Ringer. Chad took some time from his busy summer of preparing to take the bump at the Disch and answered a few questions for us.

TBB: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far?
CH: I think going to the state tournament back to back years my junior and senior year is my biggest accomplishment.
TBB: When did you decide you wanted to be a Longhorn?
CH: I always knew I wanted to be a Longhorn since I was little and when they offered I knew it was the place for me.
TBB: What are your goals for yourself and the team this season?
CH: I want to contribute to the team in any way possible and to make the trip to Omaha.
TBB: What do you consider to be your greatest strength as a pitcher?
CH: I think my strength as a pitcher is being able to not be rattled very easily and always keeping my cool.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
CH: My favorite former Longhorn has to be The Rocket! And my favorite MLB player is Curtis Ganderson or Andrew McCutcheon.

We believe Chad’s ability to keep his cool will be a vital asset at the next level of his baseball career. You can find Chad on twitter @ChadH_13 and follow his journey as an integral part of the 2013 pitching staff.

Photo: Donald Boyles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 24, 2012 · 10:03 am

CJ Hinojosa

In recent years, Texas fans have become accustomed to commits vanishing before making it to the 40 Acres. The lack of compulsory college playing time before being selected in the MLB draft means that players who commit to Texas often sign with professional teams instead of becoming Longhorns. As recently as 2011, Texas fans felt the sting of a highly-touted recruit not making it to campus when Josh Bell made a 180 on his plans and turned pro at the last minute. So when news broke that Klein Collins standout shortstop CJ Hinojosa, a starter on the varsity squad since his freshman year, had committed to Texas, we all held our collective breath. By his junior year, Hinojosa was already popular with the scouts (John Klima of Baseball Prospect Report went so far as to say, “if some of the media could marry this guy, they would.”), and he had the stats to garner attention from around the country. In 2011, Hinojosa batted .405 with 38 runs, 45 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. He was selected to the West Roster for the 2011 Perfect Game All American Classic, one of the premiere prep baseball events across the country, and he was also a member of the 2011 Texas Rangers Area Code Team. Hinojosa also earned high praise from his high school coach, Miguel Carlos, who told Christian Corona of The Daily Texan, “You know how they talk about how the game slows down for kids? I think that’s what happens with this kid. He just sees everything at a different level.”

The plan was for Hinojosa to graduate one semester early and enroll as a Longhorn in time to play the 2012 season, but due the grueling schedule and online college coursework, this didn’t come to fruition. Hinojosa decided to finish high school in the normal timeframe, and planned to suit up for the Tigers of Klein Collins once more in the spring. After less than a dozen games with his high school team, Hinojosa elected to undergo surgery on his left (non-throwing arm) shoulder after suffering an injury diving for balls up the middle. Unable to compete for the rest of 2012, Hinojosa’s draft stock slid. When June rolled around, the Houston Astros drafted CJ in the 26th round. After being drafted, Hinojosa told the media, “It’s awesome. It’s a dream come true. I didn’t get picked where I wanted to be, but I knew with the injury that wasn’t going to happen. But I still had the dream of having my name called.”

Luckily for Longhorn fans, Hinojosa decided to forgo signing with the Astros, and will play for Texas. Fans have raised their suspicions about Hinojosa since his commitment was announced, and he will quickly find out just how high-pressure Longhorn Baseball can be. However, as CJ told Connor Glassey of Baseball America, he thrives on doubters, remembering the words of his grandfather. “He always told me, ‘Don’t ever let people tell you you can’t do something,’ So I love whenever somebody doubts me or tries to put me down because it never works.” We believe Hinojosa will be a standout player for Augie Garrido, and expect to see him in the lineup from day one. CJ was nice enough to answer a few questions for us recently, and told us about his injury and his choice to become a Longhorn.

TBB: What made you choose Texas?
CH: Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a Longhorn and wear the burnt orange, so it was a very easy decision for me to pick UT over all of the other schools
TBB: What are your expectations for the team and yourself this season?
CH: I hope that we come together as a team and make a run this post season to Omaha. As for myself, I want to do whatever I have to to contribute to winning every ball game we play this year.
TBB: What did facing your injury last season teach you about adversity?
CH: My injury has taught me a lot actually. It has taught me that you can’t take things for granted because the thing you love the most can be taken away in a blink of an eye. Also it has taught me that God has control over everything and he has a plan for everyone.
TBB: You have been highly covered in the media since committing to Texas – is there anything you think the fans should know about you?
CH: I’m a hard working kid that’s just trying to live my dream and I’m ready for any adversity that stares me in the eyes.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
CH: The Rocket! And my favorite MLB baseball player is Robinson Cano – I even named my dog “Cano”.

You can keep up with CJ as he embarks on his college career by following him on Twitter @CJ_Hinojosa.

Photo: Donald Boyles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 20, 2012 · 8:50 am

Holden Helmink

Holden Helmink is a 6’4″, 185 lb., right-handed pitcher joining the Longhorns from Willis High School, north of Houston. Drafted in the 22nd round of the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Helmink made the decision to honor his commitment to Texas, and is on a mission to bring the Longhorns a national championship. With a 92 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball, it’s easy to see what the Diamondbacks saw in this young pitcher.During his junior year, Helmink played primarily in right field due to an injury, but still managed to lead the Wildkats to the Region 3-4A quarterfinals and was named 2011 District 18-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player (.531 batting average, 14 home runs). Helmink continued collecting honors during his senior season, including being selected as 18-4A 1st Team All-District, Greater Houston Area Pre-Season Baseball Team, and the Under Armor Pre-Season All American Baseball Team. He also helped take his team to the 4A State Playoffs. Holden was generous enough to answer a few questions for us recently.

TBB: How did it feel being selected by the Diamondbacks in the MLB draft?
HH: It was one of the most exciting moments of my life, it was a dream come true after years and years of working on being the best player I could be.
TBB: What are your goals for yourself and the team this season?
HH: My personal goal is to be in the starting rotation, as for the team hopefully win the Big 12 and go on to win the Longhorns another world series.
TBB: What is it like working with Skip?
HH: It’s an honor to work with THE BEST pitching coach in the country – hence one of the biggest reasons I chose to become a Longhorn!
TBB: What have you been working on this summer?
HH: Mostly strength training, also been working on mechanics trying to become as tuned as possible before the season.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? MLB player?
HH: Favorite Longhorn: definitely has to be “The Rocket” Roger Clemens! My favorite MLB player is Justin Verlander.

If you have any questions for Holden, you can find him on Twitter @HoldenHelmink.

Photo courtesy of Holden Helmink

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 15, 2012 · 9:07 am

Weston Hall

When outfielder Weston Hall graduated from Leander High School in 2010, he had flown under the radar of most college scouts, and didn’t have plans for college baseball set in stone. After an impressive showing during summer ball, Hall was given the opportunity to walk on at Navarro College. He helped the Bulldogs win a NJCAA National Championship during his freshman season while batting .301, and fought his way to a full scholarship by his second year at the two-year school. In 2012, he swiped 25 bases in 26 attempts and was named to the 2012 Region XIV East All Conference Baseball Second Team. Texas Tech took note of Hall’s talents, but once Skip Johnson (former head coach at Navarro) came calling, Hall’s choice was easy. In an article with OrangeBloods, Weston said, “This was my dream school. It was a pretty easy decision to me. I’m pretty pumped about this.” The speedy outfielder will fit in well at Texas, and at 6-0 and 180 pounds, he is poised to bring a powerful bat to the Disch as well. This summer, Hall had the chance to join up with Jacob Felts, Kirby Bellow, and Taylor Stell, when he played with the Santa Barbara Foresters. In his brief time with the recent NBC Champions, Weston went 2 for 3, scoring 2 runs.

You can find Weston on Twitter (@WestonHall2). We were able to ask Weston a few questions earlier this week about joining the Longhorns in 2013.

TBB: What did you learn at Navarro that you are eager to bring to the Disch?
WH: At Navarro I really learned how to win as a team and also how to deal with failure when you don’t win or aren’t doing well at the plate.
TBB: Navarro won the JUCO World Series with you in 2011 – what do you think it will take for Texas to win it all in Omaha this season?
WH: One of the biggest reasons why we were able to win it all was because of our leadership and how close our team was, almost like a family.
TBB: What have you been working on this summer?
WH: I’ve been working hard this summer improving my swing and getting stronger and faster so I can help the team succeed as much as I can.
TBB: What are you looking forward to accomplishing as a Longhorn?
WH: Having a good impactive season and doing everything I can to help our team get back to Omaha.
TBB: Who is your favorite former Longhorn? Favorite MLB player?
WH: My favorite former Longhorn would definitely be Drew Stubbs and my favorite MLB player is Derek Jeter.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as

August 10, 2012 · 9:36 am

Mark Gottsacker

Mark Gottsacker is a 5’11″, 175 pound outfielder joining the Longhorns after graduating from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. While with the Scots, Mark was given a Perfect Game rating of 9.5 out 0f 10. During his senior season in 2012, he batted .406 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI, and stole 15 bases. Gottsacker was named All-District 10-4A Offensive MVP, Dallas Morning News All-Area Second Team, and a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star.

Gottsacker was announced as a preferred walk-on in mid-June, and his status as a walk-on in no way belittles the talent he will bring to the Disch. NCAA regulations stipulate that Division I baseball programs can only hand out 11.7 scholarships, so many players come to Texas on partial scholarships. Luckily for the Longhorns, Mark had already been accepted to the University of Texas based on his scholastic accomplishments, and was willing to turn down scholarship offers from other schools if it meant donning burnt orange. In a recent Park Cities People article, Gottsacker spoke of the importance of education, saying, “I had offers from other places, but I didn’t want to go somewhere and sacrifice an education for baseball. I planned on going to Texas for quite a while.”

Photo: Donald Boyles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Player Profiles

Tagged as