Texas Tech sees five players be named as top-40 MLB prospects, including two Preseason All-Americans in the top 20.
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech Red Raiders get the 2026 season underway in an MLB ballpark this week, playing at Globe Life Field in Arlington against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Shriner's Children's College Showdown.
We figure MLB scouts will be in attendance monitoring Tim Tadlock's squad not just this weekend, but all season long as a handful of Red Raiders are considered future professional prospects.
According to D1Baseball, Texas Tech has five players who are inside the publication's top 40 draft prospects entering the college baseball season.
Leading the group is outfielder Logan Hughes (No. 10), who is joined by catcher Matt Quintanar (No. 19), right-handed pitcher Parker Hutyra (No. 30), infielder Connor Shouse (No. 36) and outfielder Kyeler Thompson (No. 39).
Also receiving love from D1Baseball in their preseason content is Robin Villeneuve, who was named the No. 9-ranked first baseman in the country, and Tracer Lopez, the No. 39-ranked second baseman in the top-50 national rankings.
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its Preseason All-American teams, and Hughes earned a Third-Team nod, while Quintanar landed on the Fourth Team.
Hughes, who was also tabbed as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection by league coaches, hit .327 for the Red Raiders last season. He led the conference with 19 home runs and 58 runs batted in in 2025.
Quintanar is preparing to make his Texas Tech debut after a stellar career in the junior college ranks. He spent time at Central Arizona and Blinn College. At Blinn in 2025, he earned All-American status after launching 15 home runs, driving in 50 runs, and batting .411 on the year.
The matchup with the Sooners will be the first official test, but this year's Texas Tech team has already lined up against some of their own in the program's annual Alumni Game on Jan. 31.
The current Red Raiders pulled out the 10-4 win over Team Alumni, which featured apperaances from over five generations of former Tech ball players. Among them were Major Leaguers Jace and Josh Jung, AJ Ramos and Chad Bettis.
In the Alumni Game, Hughes launched an opposite-field homer in his first at bat and Quintanar hit two doubles.
The duo looks to carry that rhythm into the season opener and officially begin what could be a fruitful season for their dreams of making the big leagues.