Texas 2024 MLB Draft Projections: Predicting landing spots for Longhorns in MLB
The 2024 MLB draft is just days away and many college baseball prospects have enlisted themselves to make the next career step. The Texas Longhorns made it to the regionals this past season and three of their players have left the team to test the professional ranks.
These players may not be selected in the first round but can star in the future depending on how they perform once drafted in the MLB draft.
Here's a closer look at where Jared Thomas, Jalin Flores and Lebarron Johnson Jr. could end up in this year's draft.
Texas Longhorns 2024 MLB draft projections
#1. Jared Thomas
Projection: Round 2, No. 60 overall, Minnesota Twins
Jared Thomas was an all-around player in his two seasons with the Longhorns. Thomas excelled in both offense and defense, with the 6-foot-2 prospect hitting .336 and scoring 115 runs. He recorded 20 home runs and 76 RBIs in 124 games for Texas. The Waxahachie native also had 28 stolen bases and had on-base and slugging percentages of .418 and .565, respectively.
Over the past two seasons, the center fielder tallied 820 putouts and only recorded seven fielding errors for a fielding percentage of .992. Thomas is expected to be picked between a late No. 50 and early No. 60 pick in this year's draft, with the Minnesota Twins arguably being an ideal team for him.
#2. Jalin Flores
Projection: Round 4, No. 116 overall, San Francisco Giants
Jalin Flores played 105 games in two seasons with Texas. Flores hit .291 on 100 hits in 344 at-bats. The 6-foot-2 sophomore smacked 22 home runs and 79 RBIs while recording 71 runs in 105 games. Flores had an on-base percentage of .373 and a slugging rate of .552.
In defense, Flores made 96 putouts and 190 assisted outs in his two-year college baseball career with Texas. Amazingly, he only had 15 errors for a fielding percentage of .950. He is projected to be a fourth-rounder and the No. 116 overall pick in the draft.
#3. Lebarron Johnson Jr.
Projection: Round 6, No. 200 pick, Washington Nationals
Lebarron Johnson Jr. returned for his junior after an excellent 2023 stint with the Longhorns where he went 8-4 and had an ERA of 2.91. This past season, Johnson played 17 games (15 starts) but instead of having an All-Star season with the Austin-based squad, he struggled to a 3-4 record and an ERA of 5.60.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher went 11-9 in 28 starts for the Longhorns as he allowed 164 hits and an ERA of 4.04. He recorded 203 strikeouts and 93 walks while allowing batters to hit .248. Johnson is expected to be in the top 200, with the Washington Nationals picking him up in the sixth round.