Texas baseball placed Ruger Riojas, Dylan Volantis and Aiden Robbins on the Golden Spikes midseason watch list after a dominant first half.
Texas baseball continues to stack wins, and now the Longhorns are seeing that success reflected on the national stage.
Ruger Riojas, Dylan Volantis and Aiden Robbins were all named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, giving Texas three of college baseball’s most recognized names halfway through the season.
That’s a big statement for a team that has looked like one of the nation’s best through the first half.
Texas has gotten production throughout the roster, but this trio has helped set the tone in a major way. The Longhorns are also the only SEC program with three players on the watch list, which says plenty about the star power currently driving this club.
Riojas has been the headliner on the mound. The Texas right-hander owns a 1.59 ERA, good for fourth nationally, and he’s tied for fifth in the country with 64 strikeouts.
In 39.2 innings, Riojas has limited opposing hitters to a .193 batting average, giving the Longhorns a true Friday-night ace every time he takes the ball.
Volantis has been nearly as important. The sophomore left-hander has put together a 2.08 ERA, one of the best marks in the SEC, while striking out 51 batters and holding opponents to a .209 average.
After finishing as a semifinalist in 2025, Volantis is putting himself firmly in the conversation again.
Then there’s Robbins, who has become a huge piece of the Texas lineup. The outfielder leads the Longhorns with 10 home runs and is hitting .368, giving the offense a consistent bat in the middle of the order.
He’s also among the SEC leaders in average, hits and slugging percentage.
For now, Texas is chasing bigger goals than individual recognition.
But if the Longhorns keep playing at this level, Riojas, Volantis and Robbins won’t just stay on the Golden Spikes radar. They’ll be right in the middle of the national conversation all the way to the finish.
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