Prep Baseball Report

2025 High School Team Preview: Thorndale Bulldogs


Prep Baseball Texas Staff

The 2025 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 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Thorndale
Head Coach: Kelly Kuhl
UIL Classification: 27-2A
Team Strengths: Pitching
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 33-3 (Regional Semifinalists)
Key Players Lost: Kaden Kovar, Rowdy Casner

 


TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

  • RHP/SS Gunner Ferguson (2025; Eastern New Mexico) - 2024 Second Team All-State, 2024 District Most Valuable Player
  • INF Brenson Beran (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • OF Jayden Clawson (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • INF/RHP Nathan Grimm (2026; uncommitted) - 2024 First Team All-District
  • OF/RHP Lance Pesl (2026; uncommitted)
  • C/RHP Kade Becker (2027) - 2024 First Team All-District
  • UTL/LHP Jaxson Eschberger (2027) - 2024 Third Team All-State, 2024 District Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player
  • INF Hunter Brantley (2027) - 2024 Honorable Mention All-District

TOP NEWCOMERS

  • UTL Pedro Jimeniz

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Thorndale Bulldogs, under Head Coach Kelly Kuhl, are poised for another exceptional season in 2025. Coming off a stellar 33-3 record in 2024, where they advanced to the regional semifinals, the Bulldogs are determined to build on their recent success this spring. Leaning on their pitching depth in 2025, the team will rely on a robust roster featuring a mix of experienced upperclassmen and promising underclassmen. This combination positions Thorndale as a strong contender in district play and beyond again this year.

Leading the charge is senior Gunner Ferguson, a dual-threat as a dominant right-handed pitcher and shortstop. The Eastern New Mexico commit was a cornerstone of last year’s success, earning Second Team All-State and District MVP honors. Supporting him are Brenson Beran and Jayden Clawson, both Second Team All-District selections in 2024, who bring consistency and leadership to the infield and outfield, respectively. Junior Nathan Grimm, a versatile infielder and pitcher, will also be pivotal after his First Team All-District recognition last season. With the added firepower of underclassmen standouts like Kade Becker and Jaxson Eschberger, Thorndale’s depth ensures they’ll be a force to reckon with.

The Bulldogs’ pitching rotation, anchored by Ferguson, Eschberger, and promising young arms like Lance Pesl, is arguably their greatest asset. Their ability to control the game on the mound, combined with a reliable defense and opportunistic offense, gives Thorndale the tools to make another deep playoff run.


Find more information on the 2025 Thorndale program below:

+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage


Related Content