The Texas Longhorn baseballers officially kicked off their 2025 campaign with the annual Alumni Game and Fan Appreciation Day at Disch-Falk Field on Saturday. For many Texas baseball fans, it was their first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 2025 version of Texas Baseball under first year head coach Jim Schlossnagle and a chance to mingle with Texas Longhorns past and present before the game. After a beautiful day of celebrating Texas Baseball, the 2025 Longhorns beat the alumni 6-3. Here's my 12 pack of thoughts from the game:

1. It's great to have Texas baseball back. The down time between Texas football and Texas baseball is some of the most brutal time the gods have ever concocted. Only 12 more days until we have a run of baseball that, hopefully, carries us well into June.
2. New faces carried the day for the Longhorns. True Freshmen Cole Chamberlain and Adrian Rodriguez both left the ballpark on Saturday in their first action as college baseball players. Freshman LHP Dylan Volantis and Junior transfers RHP Ruger Riojas and RHP Aiden Moffett were electric on the bump for a Texas pitching staff that's looking at a major rebuild in 2025.
3. Will Gasparino spent the offseason eating and lifting. There is still plenty of room on his 6-6 frame to continue to add healthy weight but his offseason transformation was noticeable.
4. Something to watch defensively will be the play of 2B Ethan Mendoza. He had 1 error on a routine groundball and misplayed a throw or two from the outfield. Could be nothing. Could be something.
5. Arm Farm impact or not, Texas has plenty of arms gassing it up into and beyond the mid 90s on this roster. Volantis, Riojas, Moffett, Rerick and Mercer all with a lot of zip on their fastballs yesterday.
6. Nice crowd on hand for the festivities. An estimated 5000 Texas fans took in the great weather for a day at Disch-Falk.
7. This Texas roster looks bigger than past rosters. A lot of 200lb+ Longhorns in the lineup in 2025. They look pretty "SEC ready".
8. Coach Schloss, Max Weiner and Nolan Cain look good in Burnt Orange and White.
9. The Texas outfield might hit 50 HRs by itself. We all know what Max Belyeu is capable of. Easton Winfield led his ULM squad with 10 HRs as a True Freshman last season. A more physical Will Gasparino looks to add to his 12 HR total in his rookie season with the Longhorns.
10. Outside of a handful of shaky moments, the pitchers seemed much more consistent on Saturday than we saw last season. Small sample size, but Texas pitchers filled up the zone and the misses weren't by much.
11. SEC Unfiltered's own, Harrison Fant, sees some SEC Freshman of the Year potential in Cole Chamberlain. But where does he play? He's a C/1B type but my guess is he'll see most of his action at DH in 2025.
12. Play baseball at Texas and get drafted. 31 Texas baseball alumni dressed out on Saturday. Every one of them have or still play pro baseball.

It's hard to take too much away from one exhibition game, but I really like the personnel on this team both offensively and on the mound. The new look Longhorns will be put to the test as they take on Louisville, Ole Miss and Oklahoma St at the Shriner's Classic in Arlington, starting Feb 14th. Let's Play Ball!