Texas Longhorns CWS Starter Enters Transfer Portal

The Texas Longhorns made it back to Omaha to compete in the Men's College World Series for the first time in four years, and the first time in the Jim Schlossnagle era.

But the team will be without a member of its starting lineup next season.

First baseman Ashton Larson announced this week that he will be entering the transfer portal ahead of his senior season.

Larson started in 46 of the 56 games he appeared in in his lone season in Austin. The Overland Park, Kan. native hit .258 on the year with 33 hits, one home run and 16 runs batted in.

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After entering the college ranks and forgoing a 20th round MLB Draft selection out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Larson spent two seasons at LSU before transferring to another top SEC program.

Larson took a step back from his freshman year to his sophomore year in Baton Rouge, and when he committed to Texas, he was rehabbing a torn quad.

Ultimately, injuries on the Longhorns' roster, notably to dual-sport athlete Jonah Williams, forced Larson into the lineup as an outfielder.

Larson quickly proved that he belonged in Schlossnagle's everyday system; he got hits in seven of his first nine games played to start the 2026 season.

Arguably his best stretch came at the end of the regular season and into the NCAA tournament. From May 16 to June 7 (end of Austin Super Regional), Larson hit 9-for-25 (.360) with a pair of runs driven in.

That moment came to a screeching halt in Omaha, as Larson finished the tournament 0-10 in Texas' three games.

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Coming into college, Larson was ranked as the No. 78 overall prospect and the No. 13 outfielder in his class, but ultimately hasn't lived up to his professional billing much to this point.

He is now in search of a new home for one last college season. Texas now turns the page with another strong group of transfers.

The Longhorns have landed commitments from shortstop Linkin Garica, outfielder Sawyer Solitaria, catcher Ian Armstrong, and outfielder Trevor Goldenetz.

Garcia, a former Texas Tech Red Raider, was one of the best freshmen in the country last year. He now joins Texas' star youngster Anthony Pack Jr. to form a pairing that has legit professional potential in a few years.