Prep Baseball Report

2025 High School Team Preview: Van Vandals


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: Van
Head Coach: Clayton Haltom
UIL Classification: 15-4A
Team Strengths: Experience
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 24-11-2 (Bi-District Finalists)
Key Players Lost: Colten Grier, Gabriel Bachert, Austin Johnson

 


TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

  • OF/RHP Landon Smith (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Third Team All-State, 2024 First Team All-District
  • LHP/OF Grady Baetz (2025; ETBU) - 2024 District Pitcher of the Year
  • INF Asher Hawkins (2025; Tyler JC) - 2024 District Offensive Player of the Year
  • INF/RHP Easton Hinch (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • C/OF Wyatt Dale (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • INF Andrew Flodder (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • LHP/1B Braiden Peyton (2026; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • INF/RHP Connor McCurley (2026; uncommitted) - 2024 Second Team All-District
  • UTL/RHP Rawly Hinch (2027) - 2024 District Freshman of the Year

FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

  • CIF/C Kace Lovette (2028)

MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • RHP/OF Caeden Alexander (2025; uncommitted)
  • OF/RHP Austin Stephenson (2025; uncommitted)
  • RHP/OF Danny Diaz (2025; uncommitted)
  • RHP/OF Nathan Vance (2026; uncommitted)
  • INF Cayden Bond (2026; uncommitted)

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Van Vandals, led by Head Coach Clayton Haltom, return an experienced roster for 2025. Coming off a solid 2024 campaign with a 24-11-2 record and a bi-district round appearance, the Vandals look poised to take the next step. Their roster is stacked with seasoned veterans and rising stars, making them a formidable force in district competition and beyond. The team’s greatest strength is its depth and overall experience, bolstered by several returning players who excelled both at the district and state levels last season.

Anchoring the lineup is senior OF/RHP Landon Smith (uncommitted), a 2024 Third Team All-State selection who also earned First Team All-District honors for his two-way impact. Senior LHP/OF Grady Baetz (ETBU commit) returns as the reigning District Pitcher of the Year, while INF Asher Hawkins (2025; Tyler JC commit) brings power and consistency to the lineup after earning District Offensive Player of the Year honors last season. The Vandals also benefit from the versatility of INF/RHP Easton Hinch and C/OF Wyatt Dale, both of whom were Second Team All-District selections. Younger talents like LHP/1B Braiden Peyton (2026) and UTL/RHP Rawly Hinch, the 2024 District Freshman of the Year, look to add depth and added versatility to the squad.

Looking ahead, the Vandals will also integrate promising underclassmen such as CIF/C Kace Lovette (2028), while keeping an eye on additional players to watch like RHP/OF Caeden Alexander and INF Cayden Bond. With strong leadership, a deep pool of talent, and valuable playoff experience, the Vandals are well-positioned to contend for a deeper postseason run in 2025. Coach Haltom’s squad will rely on their balance of proven veterans and emerging stars to set the tone in what promises to be an exciting season.


Find more information on the 2025 Van program below:

+ Van 2025 Schedule
+ Follow Van Baseball on X: @Vandal_Baseball
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage


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