We continue our coverage of the final Five Tool Texas 55 for the 2023 class with players ranked No. 31-55... 

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I think I was bad luck for Cypress Woods shortstop and Houston signee Tristan Russell because he struggled at the plate when I saw him this season, which means he hit like .450 in games I didn’t see. But I watched Russell more than hold his own at Area Code, hit a grand slam off the scoreboard off a future D1 arm as a junior, and he had a better run time, better athleticism on the dirt and better arm than when I saw him last summer. He also has outstanding makeup and work ethic and those are the types of talents you bet on. Russell really thinks the game at a high level and wants to be involved in the action.

MJ Seo (Hebron) has been a famous name for a long, long time and remains an intriguing two-way prospect, although I like him best on the mound where he can fire multiple pitches for strikes, gets the most out of his body to create velocity and can spin a breaking ball. Dondreone “Dee” Kennedy (Prestonwood Christian Academy) has one of the prettiest right-handed swings in the class and if he can cut down on the strikeout rate, he could be a dynamic hitter at the next level. He’s also an intriguing right-handed pitcher, but I like him best as a second baseman or outfielder who can run and add a little power. 

Everything Bennett Fryman does is loud. He throws really hard from the left side. He can mash bombs from the left side with noteworthy bat speed. His game is built on power and moving quick. In the future, I like him more as a hitter because he presents a relief profile as a left-handed pitcher, making him an intriguing candidate to possibly do both in professional baseball or Arizona State. Another two-way prospect who is a left-handed hitter is Celina’s RJ Ruias, No. 41 on the list. A stronger, more physical player as a senior, Ruias has a pretty left-handed swing, feel for hitting and has proven able to time good fastballs. On the mound, he can sit in the upper 80s with a changeup that flashes as a future plus pitch. Legitimately, he could do both at Baylor and it’s hard to pick which one he’s better at. 

Sinton’s Jaquae Stewart ended up being one of the best pitchers in program history, but I still prefer him long-term to be an impact hitter from the left side and first baseman. Long ago, he established himself as one of the best pure hitters in the class and has good command of the strike zone and pitch recognition. He’ll need to continue adding the power element to his hitting because he’s limited to being a first baseman defensively, although it could be solid first base defense with work in a college strength program. Guyer's Lane Allen showed an improved swing; looked more agile and athletic this season; and he was one of the state's best producers for a good team. I like the right-handed swing and could see his bat thriving at the next level because he's going to hit for some power and he's always covered the plate well.

If a back injury didn’t sideline him for a decent amount of his senior season, Chase Morgan might have ended up being drafted and signing in the upcoming MLB Draft. He created a lot of buzz among scouts with his early-season performances, featuring a fastball up to 93 MPH and a sharp, bat-missing curveball scouts really liked. He made it back onto the mound for Cypress Woods’ deep playoff run and is a candidate to eventually emerge as a top left-handed pitching prospect at Louisiana… if he can stay healthy. 

Both No. 39 Hudson Hamilton (Grand Oaks) and No. 31 Hayden Morris (Oak Ridge) also missed time injured this past season. And both are right-handers heading to Texas with exciting, although slightly different profiles. Hamilton is more of a strike-thrower with pitching feel known for elite makeup on the mound. Morris, an imposing, mature 6-8, has an arsenal built on a power heater and one of the best curveballs in the state. Both can really spin breaking balls well and while Morris has the higher future upside, Hamilton is probably more ready to step on a college rubber and throw strikes. Assuming both are fine and healthy at Texas, they should compete for innings early because Texas needs arm talent and has plenty of innings available. Fellow Texas signee and Friendswood right-handed pitcher Easton Tumis, who finished his season on a high note, should be in that mix, too. And he has one of the better sliders in the state. If he can add some strength to this frame, it would do wonders for his profile and possible future as a starter. 

Among our favorite stories from the 2023 class is Americas right-hander and Baylor signee Stephen Sepulveda. Nicknamed “The Water Moccasin” after his dominant and highly competitive performance during the 2022 AABC Don Mattingly World Series, Sepulveda might have the best slider in the class and we’ve heard whispers of his velocity being up to 94 MPH this summer. An outstanding competitor with great makeup, Sepulveda could profile immediately in the backend of a college bullpen, but could also push for starting innings if his third pitch continues to progress. Regardless, don’t bet against him. 

I caught a couple of Mason Green’s playoff outings and I think the Cypress Woods lefty was running out of gas, understandably so, when the season was ending. Some innings, his fastball velocity was up to 92 MPH with a curveball that flashed plus at 74 MPH. Other innings, the sharpness to the breaking stuff wasn’t there and the fastball command and velocity declined. Still, it was easy to see the true, promising four-pitch mix and future as an eventual weekend starter at Baylor. 

A couple of left-handed hitters that showed advanced feel for hitting this season were Ace Reese (Canton) and Boots Landry (Friendswood). Both have bat-first profiles, but both control the strike zone and have bat-to-ball skill different than most of their peers. Landry presents more of a classic slugger profile at first base with loud exit velocity and promising raw power he can get to, especially as he adds strength. Reese might be able to play in a corner outfield spot and is more of a gap-to-gap power hitter that really stood out during the fall with a few exceptional at-bats in tough left-on-left situations. 

Deciding which pitchers to include on the bottom part of the list was especially tough because there are some really good pitchers who didn’t make the cut. Let’s list out the final pitchers on the 55: 

- Alex Petrovic, who is heading to Auburn, is a good mover on the mound, especially at his size, and has one of the better changeups in the state with gas in the tank. 

- Aidan Coleman from Reagan High School kind of gave me some Sonny Gray vibes because of his frame and four-pitch arsenal. 

- Javier Torres can throw really hard and is a candidate to really take off at the next level in a new developmental environment.

- Alex Solis can kill the spin on a low 80s changeup that can get whiffs, can spin and execute a slider and we’ve seen him up to 94 MPH… added strength should help the ability of him to carry that stuff instead of showing it in short bursts.

- Every time Tanner Wiggins shows up, he throws really hard, throws strikes, gets whiffs with his slider and throws deep into a game.

- In the Five Tool Collegiate League, McLennan signee Bryce McCain recently touched 95 MPH and has hit 94 MPH in multiple outings. From a crossfire look with good shoulder rotation, McCain creates a really tough look for right-handed hitters and has proven able to get his slider and fastball over to his glove side despite the heavy crossfire approach. A good athlete, McCain is really intriguing, especially if he can carry his stuff deep into outings as a starter. 

- Hank Howard is a true two-way prospect because he is an above-average runner, impressive for being around 6-4, 230 pounds, with plus raw power and a right-handed swing that looks the part of one to bet on. But he’s most known for his work on the mound, where he carried 93 MPH into the seventh inning of a complete game and can fire strikes with three pitches. 

In terms of athleticism and tools, Tompkins’ Drew Markle, an Ole Miss signee, is way up there. Put him in a workout setting and watch him run and he’ll immediately stand out. He didn’t produce in the spring like he’s capable, but if Ole Miss can tap into those tools at the next level, he could flourish. I like Markle as an outfielder where his arm is plus and his 4.1 run times show. Summer teammate Blake Brown, who is heading to Sam Houston State, isn’t just a gamer anymore with a long track record of producing. Although he’s short with a compact frame, Brown is a pretty physical prospect who can run, moves with athletic and quick actions on the dirt and is skilled enough to play all over the diamond and be an impact hitter. 

A household name for years, Mac Rose will end his high school career as one of the most impressive players in DFW. He stood out during Blue Jays Scout Team in the fall, hit at Area Code, hit or Rockwall and was a standout pitcher, and showed up to the Five Tool Collegiate League and hit there, too. I think I like Rose most as a left-handed hitting first baseman, but his catching skill has improved noticeably lately and McLennan knows what it’s doing at that position. 

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor