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: Galena Park Yellowjackets
Head Coach: James Turrubiartes
UIL Classification: UIL Class 5A (District 19)
Team Strengths: Experience (Returning 7 starters)
2023 Record (Playoff Finish): 22-7-1 (5A Bi-District Finalists)
Key Players Lost: Nehomar Ochoa JR., Josue Carrizales

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ C Matthew Mendez (2024; Coastal Bend) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ INF/RHP Raul Betancourt (2024; uncommitted) - First Team All-District in 2023
+ INF/LHP Jason Soto (2024; uncommitted)
+ INF/RHP Hector Arrieta (2025; uncommitted) - District Newcomer of the Year in 2023

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TOP NEWCOMERS

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Coach James Turrubiartes and the Galena Park Yellowjackets are coming off an impressive 2023 season where they finished as 5A Bi-District Finalists. Despite losing Nehomar Ochoa Jr. off of last year’s team, who is now a Houston Astros farmhand after being selected in the 11th round of the MLB Draft last summer, the Yellowjackets bring back seven returning starters with varsity experience in 2024.

Headlining the Yellowjackets’ 2024 squad is recent Coastal Bend College signee, C Matthew Mendez (2024), who was a First Team All-District selection a year ago and should lead the experienced roster this season. Another First Team All-District recipient from last season that will be back in 2024 is senior INF/RHP Raul Betancourt (uncommitted), who should factor in as both a position player and a pitcher for the Yellowjackets this spring. An additional key returning senior for the 2024 season will be another two-way player in INF/LHP Jason Soto (uncommitted). Rounding out the key returners to know for the Yellowjackets is the reigning District Newcomer of the Year, INF/RHP Hector Arrieta (2025; uncommitted), who should give Coach Turrubiartes a valuable piece to build around for this season and next.

After returning seven starters from last year’s squad, the Yellowjackets look primed to return to 5A playoff action again in 2024.

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Find more information on the 2024 Galena Park Yellowjackets program below:

+ Follow Galena Park on X: @ParkGalena
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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