Red Raider Position Group Breakdown: Left Field
Updated
Of all the positions on the diamond for the 2026 Red Raider baseball team, the one that seems to be the most settled has to be left field. After all, Tim Tadlock’s team returns 1st Team All-Big 12 member Logan Hughes to the position after he shined a season ago in his first year in Red and Black. The Florida native started 49 games at the position last year and showed to be a very good defender.
So, will the Red Raiders stick with Hughes in left in 2026 or will Tim Tadlock change things up?
Here is a list of the candidates:
Logan Hughes 5-11 211 Junior Deland, Fla
-2nd Year Red Raider
-2025: 52 games (.327) 19 HRs 56 RBI
-Jace Souza 6-2 190 Sophomore Honolulu, Hi
-2nd Year Red Raiders
-2025: 9 games (.222) 1 RBI
-Missed 35 games with an injury
Chase Thomas 5-11 220 Freshman Rowlett, Tx
-2025 Signee
Jesse Rusinek 6-0 193 Freshman Brock, Tx
-2025 Signee
Breakdown:
I don’t think there is any question that if healthy, Logan Hughes is going to start in left-field for the Red Raiders almost every day. Yes, there could be a possible rest day, or a day he starts at first base or even a day that he is the DH, but beyond that I would expect to see the Junior out there patrolling left.
So, where does that leave the other three guys? Souza is loaded with talent but has to stay healthy if he is going to make his mark with this team. He could see time at all three outfield positions this year and likely will get some starts in center and right. The Red Raiders know the talent is there, they are just waiting for the highly touted prospect to put it all together.
Thomas and Rusinek can also play all three outfield spots and look to be talented players for the future. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t get a shot this year. Both can really hit and run. Rusinek will also pitch for Texas Tech and could be one of their better left handed arms coming out of the bullpen.
If you are looking for intrigue or a good position battle for the Red Raiders this Spring, left field is not your spot. Logan Hughes will be the guy most every day and if his production is anything like it was last year, Texas Tech fans will be thrilled and MLB scouts will be drooling.
Red Raider Position Group Breakdown: Right Field
Updated
Damian Bravo started 53 games in the outfield for the Red Raiders in 2025, most of them in right field. Unfortunately for Red Raider fans, Bravo moved on in the MLB Draft and is now a member of the San Francisco Giants organization. The loss of Bravo has left an open spot for the Red Raiders. Jace Souza started seven games for Texas Tech in that spot last year but is he penciled in to be the starter this year or will it go to a newcomer?
Here is a list of the candidates:
Jace Souza 6-2 190 Sophomore Honolulu, Hi
-2nd Year Red Raider
-2025: 9 games 7 starts .222 BA 0 HR 1 RBI
-2025: Missed 35 games due to injury
Connor Shouse 6-1 175 Sophomore Jasper, GA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Georgia Tech: 24 games 9 starts .265 BA 2 HRs 8 RBI
Caden Ferraro 6-2 215 Junior Pearland, Texas
-2025 Junior College Signee
-2025 Blinn Junior College: 60 games .369 BA 18 HRs 74 RBI
-2024 Blinn Junior College: 60 games .384 BA 18 HRs 82 RBI
Robin Villeneuve 6-2 208 Graduate Gatineau, Quebec
-2nd year Red Raider
-2025: 52 games 50 starts .365 BA 12 HRs 49 RBIs
-2024: Tennessee: 35 games 24 starts .288 BA 5 HRs 22 RBIs
-2023: Weatherford Junior College: .401 BA 28 HRs 102 RBIs
Heading into the final days before the start of the 2026 season, it appears there is no position group that is more highly contested than Right Field. If you went back to the Fall, it looked like the job was definitely Ferraro’s. A few weeks into the Spring, it looked like Connor Shouse had claimed the spot. But now, Jace Souza is making a push and swinging a hot bat in the latest scrimmages. Villeneuve has never been the favorite to win the job as he should be the starting first baseman on most days, but his versatility gives Tim Tadlock some flexibility if he wanted to play someone else at first.
Ultimately, the job is going to likely come down to who is providing a good spark offensively. Souza is the best defensively at the position, Ferraro has been the most consistent hitter, and Shouse is a great athlete that can really run and put pressure on a pitching staff. Tim Tadlock definitely has a challenge figuring out which guy to use on any given day, but the good news is, he has some really talented options to chose from.
Red Raider Position Group Breakdown: Third Base
Updated
After the dust had settled on the 2025 season, the Red Raider Baseball team knew they would need to find some help at the third base position. The squad had used T.J. Pompey, Garet Boehm, and Peyton Shulze at the position and the first two hit the Transfer Portal and the third had used up his eligibility.
The 2026 Red Raiders have plenty of candidates for the position with Connor Shouse getting the majority of the reps in the Fall. However, by the end of the semester workouts, the Sophomore was also playing a lot of 2nd base and was also seen playing the Outfield in scrimmages last week. So who will grab the job this Spring?
Here is a look at the candidates:
Connor Shouse 6-1 175 Sophomore Jasper, GA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Georgia Tech: 24 games 9 starts .265 BA 2 HRs 8 RBI
Linkin Garcia 6-5 218 Freshman Newport Beach, CA
-2025 High School Signee
-2025 A3 Prep School: (.513) 6HR 48RBI
Luke Orfi 6-1 180 Junior Cumming, GA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Florida Southwest JC: .341 BA 6 HRs 42 RBI 45 SBs
-2024: Georgia Highlands JC: .438 BA 16 HRs 60 RBI 56 SBs
Hollis Porter 6-4 225 Junior Hurley, Miss
-2025 Transfer
-2025 Maryland: 55 games 55 starts .303 BA 21 HRs 64 RBI
-2024 Pearl River Community College: .399 BA 20 HRs 73 RBI
-2023 Mississippi St. : Redshirted
Tracer Lopez 5-10 155 Senior Rosebud, Texas
-4th year Red Raider
-2025: 55 games 53 starts .299 BA 5 HRs 30 RBI
-2024: 53 games 53 starts .266 BA 6 HRs 20 RBI
-2023: 55 games 50 starts .268 BA 4 HR 31 RBI
Matt Quintanar 6-0 215 Junior Sunland, CA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Blinn Junior College: 61 games .407 BA 15 HR 57 RBI
Breakdown:
Each one of the six players listed is expected to see time elsewhere and none of them is a natural third baseman. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t handle the position with plenty of success. Because of the players factoring in at other positions, the decision here for Tim Tadlock will affect other positions. And much like many other positions, it is not likely to be decided by opening day. Instead it is likely that the coaching staff sees who handles the position best early in the season and can also be a run producer at the plate.
I think Garcia and Lopez look the best defensively here but they both could likely start at other positions. With his ability to affect games on offense, I would be really surprised if Connor Shouse isn’t given every opportunity to win this job. This will definitely be an interesting position to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see all six of these players see time at 3rd early this Spring.
Red Raider Position Group Break Down: Second Base
Updated
For the third consecutive year in 2025, the Red Raider Baseball team saw Tracer Lopez handle the large majority of the innings at 2nd base. And for the third straight season, Lopez also moved over and played shortstop for stretches while someone else took over at second.
Heading into 2026, Lopez again looks like the front runner to take the majority of the reps at the position. However, the Red Raiders have added three newcomers to the mix that could factor in as well.
Here is a look at the candidates:
Tracer Lopez 5-10 155 Senior Rosebud, Texas
-4th year Red Raider
-2025: 55 games 53 starts .299 BA 5 HRs 30 RBI
-2024: 53 games 53 starts .266 BA 6 HRs 20 RBI
-2023: 55 games 50 starts .268 BA 4 HR 31 RBI
Luke Orfi 6-1 180 Junior Cummings, GA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Florida Southwest JC: .341 BA 6 HRs 42 RBI 45 SBs
-2024: Georgia Highlands JC: .438 BA 16 HRs 60 RBI 56 SBs
Connor Shouse 6-1 175 Sophomore Jasper, GA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Georgia Tech: 24 games 9 starts .265 BA 2 HRs 8 RBI
Tommy Hanger 5-10 175 Freshman Toronto, Canada
Breakdown:
Lopez is the clear cut favorite to win the job and is one of the true leaders on this Red Raider team. Shouse spent most of the time playing 3rd base in the Fall but also played some 2nd at the end of the year. The No. 83 player in the 2024 class is a terrific athlete and has the highest offensive upside of the group. Orfi showed great run production numbers in the Juco ranks but was slowed by an injury for part of the Fall. The same could be said for Hanger, who was never able to take at bats in Fall scrimmages due to an injury. He was one of the top hitters in Canada a season ago and has the makings of a top of the line-up guy.
The key factor here, is does Tim Tadlock want to play Lopez at 2nd base or instead at 3rd base. The Senior looks to be the best defender at both positions. Shouse will likely start at the other position. Either way, Texas Tech definitely has some talented options at 2nd base.
Red Raider Baseball Position Group Breakdown: First Base
Updated
The Red Raider Baseball team received a huge boost this offseason with the announcement that Graduate Robin Villeneuve would return for another season. After all, the 1st Baseman lead the Red Raiders in batting average (.365), doubles (18), on base percentage (.447), and tied for the team lead in walks (26) and hit by pitches (6). For his hard work, the native Canadian was honored with an All-Big 12 Second team honor.
However, when it came to adding players from the Transfer Portal, the first to sign on with the Red Raiders this past offseason was former Maryland first baseman Hollis Porter. Texas Tech also added a big time Junior College prospect in Caden Ferraro. Where do Porter and Ferraro fit in and who ultimately will be the go to guy at 1st Base?
Here is a look at the candidates:
Robin Villeneuve 6-2 208 Graduate Gatineau, Quebec
-2nd year Red Raider
-2025: 52 games 50 starts .365 BA 12 HRs 49 RBIs
-2024: Tennessee: 35 games 24 starts .288 BA 5 HRs 22 RBIs
-2023: Weatherford Junior College: .401 BA 28 HRs 102 RBIs
Hollis Porter 6-4 225 Junior Hurley, Miss
-2025 Transfer
-2025 Maryland: 55 games 55 starts .303 BA 21 HRs 64 RBI
-2024 Pearl River Community College: .399 BA 20 HRs 73 RBI
-2023 Mississippi St. : Redshirted
Caden Ferraro 6-2 215 Junior Pearland, Texas
-2025 Transfer
-2025 Blinn Junior College: 60 games .369 BA 18 HRs 74 RBI
-2024 Blinn Junior College: 60 games .384 BA 18 HRs 82 RBI
Breakdown:
While all three players look comfortable fielding their position at 1st Base, Villeneuve is an elite defender and can take away a bunch of hits and save plenty of runs. This Fall, Coach Tim Tadlock moved each of the players around to see what other positions they looked comfortable playing. This was likely done to find ways to get as many hot bats as possible in the line-up. Villeneuve looked at home at both corner outfield positions, Porter appeared to be able to handle the 3rd base spot and Ferraro looked solid in right field. During that time, other players like Logan Hughes and Davis Rivers played some 1st Base.
Regardless of that movement and others taking their turn at first, it is hard to envision a scenario where Robin Villeneuve is not taking a high percentage of the reps at 1B. However, Porter’s left handed power bat should play well at Rip Griffin Park so I would expect to see him hold down the DH spot on many days. Ferraro is likely the second best defender in the group and I would expect to see him a good amount in right field. Either way, it’s clear that the Red Raiders have the potential to have three really talented players at this spot that should be able to drive in a bunch of runs.
Red Raider Baseball Position Group Breakdown: Catchers
Updated
The 2025 Texas Tech Baseball roster included four catchers with three seeing action and two (Dylan Maxcey and Davis Rivers) getting the large majority of the reps. With Maxcey transferring to Houston, only Rivers returns to the Red Raider backstop rotation for 2026.
To replace the three exiting players, Texas Tech has added two new catchers from the Junior College ranks to compete with Rivers for the starting spot in 2026. Those two include Matt Quintanar from Blinn JC, and A.J. Goytia from McClennan CC.
Here is a look at the three players:
Davis Rivers 6-0 195 Junior Waller
-3rd year Red Raider
-2025: 40 games 33 starts .211 BA 5 HRs 26RBI
-2024: 19 games 7 starts .286 BA 2 HRs 21RBI
A.J. Goytia 5-11 190 Junior Wesley Chapel, Fla
-2025 Transfer
-2025: McClennan Junior College: 42 games .280 BA 7 HRs 37RBI
-2024: University of Miami: 11 games .400 BA 1 RBI
Matt Quintanar 6-0 215 Junior Sunland, CA
-2025 Transfer
-2025: Blinn Junior College: 61 games .407 BA 15 HR 57 RBI
Breakdown:
All three of the catchers showed good offensive ability in the Fall and can definitely hold their own as run producers. Along with that, all three have shown the ability to catch and throw with Quintanar most likely being the best at throwing out would be base stealers. The Designated Hitter spot will also factor in with this group as each of them could pull in some extra at bats there.
While Tim Tadlock values being good behind the plate, with each of these guys being veterans and having shown an ability to defend, this is likely going to come down to match-ups on the mound and who is swinging a hot bat. I would expect to see each of the three guys get a chance to start early in the season before Tadlock settles on a starter a month or so into the season.
