AUSTIN (KXAN) — At least one Texas Longhorn has been selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft every year since its inception in 1965, and the streak continued with three getting the call to the big leagues when the draft concluded Tuesday.
The Colorado Rockies selected Jared Thomas in the second round with the No. 42 overall pick, making him the first Longhorn off the board. Thomas, who played both infield and outfield for the Longhorns, had a tremendous sophomore season. He hit .349 with 16 home runs and 18 stolen bases to help guide Texas to the NCAA tournament. He scored 61 times and had a .434 on-base percentage with 87 hits.
For his career with Texas, Thomas hit .336 with 30 doubles and 20 home runs. The slot value (recommended signing bonus) for Thomas’ draft position is $2.2 million.
Thomas could have a familiar face with him in the Rockies’ system. Colorado grabbed right-handed pitcher Lebarron Johnson Jr. in the fifth round with the No. 139 overall pick. Johnson’s year went from being named the Big 12 preseason pitcher of the year to struggling with command for most of the season. He posted a 5.60 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings, but he also walked 44 batters and allowed a career-high 10 home runs.
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Johnson finished the season with a 3-4 record in 15 starts. His pick’s slot value is $500,000.
The New York Mets selected Tanner Witt in the 14th round of the 20-round event. Witt struggled in returning to the starting rotation after Tommy John surgery, pitching just five games with a 5.79 ERA. Witt pitched 9 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and eight walks, but he was a star when he was healthy during his freshman year.
A freshman All-American out of the bullpen, Witt pitched in 41 games for the Longhorns in his career, 28 during the 2021 season. He picked up five saves that season with a 3.16 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 57 innings. Witt was an 18th-round pick in the 2023 draft but decided to return to Texas for another season.
Sophomore shortstop Jalin Flores was draft-eligible but elected to return to Texas for another season, he announced Monday on social media.
Four high school players who signed letters of intent with the Longhorns were selected in the draft, most notably shortstop Bryce Rainer from Harvard-Westlake HS in California. The Detroit Tigers grabbed him at No. 11 overall with a slot value of $5.71 million.
Westlake’s Theo Gillen was the No. 18 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays with a slot value of $4.37 million. Levi Sterling and Kyle DeGroat were also selected in the draft.
National runner-up Texas A&M had seven players selected, led by outfielder Braden Montgomery at No. 12 overall.
Teams have until 5 p.m. ET, Aug. 1 to sign their draft picks or else lose their rights.