30 baseball players to watch this season across the Austin area

With the high school baseball season starting for UIL schools Monday, here are 30 players to watch across the Austin area.

(Players are listed in alphabetical order)

Jack Brady, senior pitcher, Westlake: Saving his best work for the playoffs, Brady finished 9-0 with a 0.95 ERA a year ago and was a big reason the Chaps advanced to the Class 6A state tournament. Had 74 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.

Holden Catron, senior infielder, Hays: The first-team all-District 25-5A pick a year ago had 25 hits, drove in 20 RBI and finished with an OBP of .433.

Jaden Corzine, senior outfielder, Bowie: Arguably the best — and fastest — defensive outfielder in the area, he played a big part in the Bulldogs making the playoffs in a loaded District 26-6A and going to the second round of the playoffs last spring.

Chase Covert, senior pitcher, Westlake: The southpaw was a key figure in Westlake’s run to the state tournament a year ago as he went 6-1 with 40 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA in 60 innings. Signed to play at Texas.

Kade Davis, senior outfielder/pitcher, Cedar Park: No one will — or should — test Davis’ cannon of an arm, and those who did a year ago mainly were thrown out. At the plate, he had 47 hits while batting .385 with a .455 OBP and 22 RBIs. Helped the Timberwolves to the District 25-5A title and the third round of the playoffs.

Connor Digesualdo, senior outfielder, Round Rock: Has great tracking ability in the outfield and hit .369 with an OBP of .451 a year ago to help the Dragons to the District 25-6A title and the third round of the playoffs.

John Duran, junior DH, Johnson: One of the Austin area’s top hitting sophomores a year ago, he’ll likely only improve upon last year when he after hit .357 with an OBP of .457 to help the Jaguars earn a playoff spot out of a brutal District 26-6A.

Hudson Ellis, senior infielder, Round Rock: Possibly the best defensive middle infielder in the Austin area, Ellis hit .410 with an OBP of .500 last spring and played a crucial role in the Dragons sweeping District 25-6A and reaching the third round of the playoffs.

Issac Garcia, senior outfielder, Vista Ridge: A unanimous first-team all-District 25-6A pick a year ago, he hit .365 with 13 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Along with Kade Nathman (see below) is part of one of the best defensive outfields in the Austin area.

Theo Gillen, junior infielder, Westlake: Maybe the best pure hitter in the area, Gillen batted .455 with an OBP of .552 and drove in 25 runs last spring. Injuries have hampered him the past two years, but even missing most of Westlake’s playoff run he still had 35 runs and 37 stolen bases. Signed to play at Texas.

Hudson Hartgrove, junior infielder, Cedar Ridge: Already receiving plenty of Division I attention, the shortstop was first-team all-District 25-6A as a sophomore after hitting .337 with six doubles, four triples and an OBP of .396.

Rayner Heinrich, senior infielder, Rouse: A hitting machine, Heinrich banged out 50 hits a year ago that included 12 doubles and five home runs. He finished batting .410 with an OBP of .523 and drove in 26 RBIs, scored 40 runs and stole 15 bases. Had a fielding percentage of .965 and played a key role in the Raiders advancing to the Class 5A regional final.

Zac Kahn, senior pitcher/infielder, LASA: A crafty lefty who was nearly unhittable in District 24-5A play, Kahn finished with 104 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings and a 2.50 ERA. At the plate, he tallied 51 hits while batting .515 with an OBP of almost .600.

Ryley Leininger, senior infielder/pitcher, Georgetown: The District 23-5A player of the year played multiple positions in the infield, pitched and slugged .426 with an OBP of .424 in helping the Eagles claim a district title and reach the third round of the playoffs.

Kadyn Leon, senior pitcher/outfielder, Lake Travis: One of the top pitchers in the area, Leon will be the Cavs’ ace this season after going 7-2 with a 1.74 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 57 innings last spring. Will hold down a spot in the outfield when not on the mound.

Ethan McLain, senior infielder, Johnson: A wizard on the infield, McLain was all-District 26-6A while recording 12 extra-base hits and 21 RBI to help the Jaguars to the playoffs.

Blaze Milam, senior pitcher, Liberty Hill: The returning District 25-5A pitcher of the year struck out 75 in 65 innings with a 1.12 ERA a year ago while helping the Panthers to a share of the district title. Will play at Grayson College next year.

Austin Miller, senior infielder, Elgin: Produced 39 hits as he batted .419 and added 24 runs and 18 stolen bases to spur the Wildcats to second place in District 23-5A and the second round of the playoffs.

Cole Miller, senior pitcher, Bowie: Struck out 75 batters in 48 innings with a 2.32 ERA a year ago while opponents hit .168 against him. A returning first-team all-District 26-6A pick, Miller joins Ryder Melsa to give the Bulldogs a formidable starting duo for district play.

Landon Miller, senior outfielder, Rouse: Consistent both in the field and at the plate, Miller hit .352 with an OBP of .447 and had 20 RBIs and 25 runs in helping the Raiders to the Class 5A regional final.

Ridge Morgan, senior pitcher, Westwood: The second-team all-Central Texas pick a year ago went 9-3 with a 1.09 ERA and struck out an impressive 88 batters in 57⅓ innings to lead the Warriors to a 19-13 record and a spot in the playoffs.

Kade Nathman, senior outfielder, Vista Ridge: Headed to play for St. Edwards next year, Nathman hit .334 with 24 runs scored and went 19-for-19 on stolen bases to help the Rangers reach the playoffs. Also threw out four runners.

Devin Peterson, senior outfielder, Georgetown: Hit .344 with an OBP of .545 last spring while playing a big part in the Eagles winning District 23-5A and advancing to the third round of the playoffs. Finished with 33 hits, including seven doubles, 36 runs and 32 stolen bases.

Oscar Salazar, senior infielder, Rouse: A true utility player who can start anywhere on the field, Salazar hit .387 with an OBP of .500 and had 32 RBIs and 26 runs to help the Raiders to the Class 5A regional finals.

Gavyn Schlotterback, catcher, Lake Travis: The area’s best catcher gives the Cavs a potent starting battery with Leon and played a big role in them advancing to the third round of the playoffs a year ago.

Ed Small, junior outfielder, Anderson: Recorded 44 hits for the Trojans while batting .431 with an OBP of .516. He finished with 21 RBIs, 19 walks and 18 stolen bases.

Sam Stevens, junior infielder, McCallum: The District 24-5A co-MVP does it all for the Knights. A standout defensively, he hit .442 with an OBP of .551 and had nine doubles and 22 RBIs and on the mound went 7-0 with a 0.39 ERA and 68 strikeouts.

Cole Taylor, sophomore infielder, Pflugerville: The all-Central Texas newcomer of the year in 2023 after hitting .307 with an OBP of .437 and 11 doubles and 23 RBI, Taylor should be even better as a sophomore. He was nearly perfect as a first baseman last spring with a fielding percentage of .958 and helped the Panthers make a late run for a playoff berth and take a bidistrict series win over LASA.

Taylor Tracey, junior pitcher, Dripping Springs: A Tennessee commit, Tracey had a wildly impressive 0.47 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings during an injury-shortened season a year ago while going 5-0. At the plate, he produced 27 hits and finished with a .375 average and .483 OBP.

Cole Wissen, senior outfielder, Vandegrift: A first-team all-District 25-6A pick a year ago, Wissen hit .343 with an OBP of .438 in helping the Vipers qualify for the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 30 baseball players to watch this season across the Austin area