News Summary
Ashton Larson, former designated hitter at LSU, has transferred to the Texas Longhorns baseball team. With standout performance stats, Larson aims to enhance Texas’s lineup after a tough end to their last season. The team is actively reshaping its roster in light of recent player transfers, seeking improvement for the upcoming season.
Austin, Texas – Former Louisiana State University designated hitter Ashton Larson has officially transferred to the University of Texas baseball program after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal. Larson announced his decision via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday afternoon, excited to join the Longhorns for the upcoming season.
Hailing from Overland Park, Kansas, Larson has accumulated considerable experience during his two seasons at LSU, participating in a total of 86 games. In that period, he recorded an impressive combined batting average of .289, which included 12 doubles, five home runs, and 28 runs batted in (RBI). Additionally, he achieved a slugging percentage of .439 and an on-base percentage of .406, showcasing his offensive prowess.
Larson’s arrival at Texas comes on the heels of a disappointing end to the Longhorns’ 2025 season. Despite being seeded No. 2 overall in the NCAA Tournament, Texas failed to advance beyond the Austin Regional. The team was eliminated after suffering consecutive losses to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Throughout the regular season, Texas performed well, winning a conference-leading 20 Southeastern Conference (SEC) games and finishing with an overall record of 44-14. However, hiccups in crucial situations, especially during their final series against UTSA—where the team averaged only .260, struck out 23 times, and left an alarming 23 runners on base—highlighted the need for improvement.
In the wake of their early exit from the postseason, Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle indicated that the team had benefited from good fortune during the early parts of the season but underscored the importance of delivering results under pressure. With the objective of rebuilding the roster and fortifying the lineup, Texas has been active in the transfer portal since it opened on June 1. This period allowed players seeking new opportunities for the 2026 season to explore their options.
As of now, Texas has seen a significant amount of turnover on its roster, with a total of 16 players announcing their intent to transfer. This has created an environment of change, as several key contributors, including starting center fielder Gasparino and pitcher Drew Rerick, have opted to explore new prospects. Rerick made seven appearances during the 2025 season and posted a challenging performance with a 9.00 earned run average (ERA), exhibiting more walks than strikeouts (11 walks against 7 strikeouts).
The Longhorns are not alone in navigating a shifting landscape; they rank among SEC teams with the highest number of transfers this offseason. As of recent reports, there have been 19 player transfers, a significant indicator of the intense competition and fluidity of college baseball rosters. Recognizing the need to bolster their squad, Texas has actively sought out impactful transfers while simultaneously welcoming a new class of freshmen.
Larson’s transfer adds to the Longhorns’ strategy of improving the team’s overall performance. His strong track record at LSU positions him as a potential key player as Texas aims to rebound from their early exit in the last NCAA tournament. Furthermore, the addition of Larson—along with other significant transfers—demonstrates Texas’s commitment to returning to competitive form next season. The expectations for the Longhorns remain high as they look forward to revitalizing their offense and building a more resilient team capable of handling pressure situations moving forward.
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HERE Resources
Texas Longhorns Strengthen Teams with Key Transfers and Recruits
Additional Resources
- Sports Illustrated: Texas Longhorns Freshman Pitcher
- Statesman: Texas Baseball Transfers
- On3: Texas Baseball Transfers
- Baseball America: Transfer Portal Tracker
- Burnt Orange Nation: Ashton Larson Commits
- Wikipedia: NCAA Transfer Portal
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