The 2024 Texas high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 30 rankings.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Calallen Wildcats
Head Coach: Steve Chapman
UIL Classification: UIL Class 4A (District 31)
Team Strengths: Depth
2023 Record (Playoff Finish): 28-7 (4A Area Finalists)
Key Players Lost: Dawson Byers, Jett Batek, Ysiah Sanchez

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ INF Matt Lopez (2024; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ C Justin Calderon (2024; uncommitted) - Second Team All-District in 2023
+ OF Tress Vasquez (2024; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ INF RJ Cruz (2024; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ RHP Hayden Brock (2025; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ OF Chase Lynch (2025; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ INF/OF Jaydon Cruz (2025; uncommitted) - Second Team All-District in 2023
+ INF Drayson Gamez (2026) - District Newcomer of the Year in 2023
+ LHP/UTL Drayton Mitchell (2026)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ RHP/OF Nathan Groves (2024; uncommitted)
+ 1B/OF Aiden Mendez (2026)
+ INF Blake Quinn (2026)
+ INF Aiden Flores (2026)

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

+ OF/1B Wyatt Duke (2027)
+ UTL/RHP Jagger Batek (2027)
+ INF/RHP Cash Filla (2027)
+ LHP/1B Conner Klosterman (2027)
+ INF/RHP Carson Klosterman (2027)
+ INF/OF Josh Norval (2027)
+ RHP/OF Cooper Becton (2027)
+ UTL/RHP Nick Villanueva (2027)
+ UTL/RHP Jaden Martinez (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Calallen Wildcats look to build off a 2023 season that saw them win nearly 30 games and finish as 4A Area Finalists. Led by Coach Steve Chapman, the Wildcats will rely on their program depth in 2024, as they return eight players who were All-District award winners from a season ago.

Half of the All-District recipients from 2023 will be members of the Wildcats’ senior class this season, with three of the four earning First Team honors. This group includes INF Matt Lopez (uncommitted - 1st Team), C Justin Calderon (uncommitted - 2nd Team), OF Tress Vasquez (uncommitted - 1st Team), and INF RJ Cruz (uncommitted - 1st Team). The 2024 senior class will welcome RHP/OF Nathan Groves (uncommitted) to the varsity fold this season, as he should make an impact as both a pitcher and position player.

Calallen’s junior class is impressive as well, bringing back a trio of players who were All-District performers in 2023. The junior class is headlined by a pair of First Team All-District players in RHP Hayden Brock (uncommitted) and OF Chase Lynch (uncommitted), with INF/OF Jaydon Cruz (uncommitted) returning as well after earning Second Team honors last year.

The Wildcats’ sophomore class looks to make a big impact starting in 2024 as they return two players who were freshmen standouts in 2023, as well as welcoming three newcomers who should see plenty of time on varsity this season. Reigning District Newcomer of the Year, INF Drayson Gamez (2026) will headline the class, alongside fellow returner LHP/UTL Drayton Mitchell (2026). This pair will be joined in 2024 by 1B/OF Aiden Mendez, INF Blake Quinn, and INF Aiden Flores.

Calallen has a robust nine freshmen to keep tabs on starting in 2024, with seven of the nine being two-way players. The seven two-ways include UTL/RHP Jagger Batek, INF/RHP Cash Filla, LHP/1B Conner Klosterman, INF/RHP Carson Klosterman, RHP/OF Cooper Becton, UTL/RHP Nick Villanueva, and UTL/RHP Jaden Martinez. OF/1B Wyatt Duke and INF/OF Josh Norval will round out the freshmen to watch as these nine begin their high school careers this spring.

With the amount of depth and All-District talent they have throughout the program, Coach Chapman has a lot to be excited about entering 2024 and beyond. This Calallen Wildcats team should be a tough out all season long and look poised for another 4A playoff run in 2024.

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Find more information on the 2024 Calallen Wildcats program below:

+ Follow Calallen on X: @CalallenBBall
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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