11/13/2026 8:22:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE -Â The Sam Houston baseball program announced the signing of 10 student-athletes Wednesday, adding an all-Texas group of high school prospects who will join the Bearkats for the 2028 season.Â
The class includes seven pitchers, including four right-handers and three left-handers, along with an infielder, a catcher and an outfielder. Four signees helped their high school programs capture state championships in 2026, including Lovejoy teammates Lucas Smith and Reed Blakely, Tomball pitcher Colton Igal and David Corona at Lutheran South Academy.Â
Dylan Arriaga • LHP • L/L • 5-10 • 170 • Sinton, Texas / Sinton HS
Arriaga will join the Bearkats from Sinton High School, where he has contributed both on the mound and in the outfield. He earned honorable mention Class 4A all-state recognition from the Texas Sports Writers Association as an outfielder in 2026.Â
In 23 games during his junior season, Arriaga hit .413 with a .518 on-base percentage and .619 slugging percentage. He collected 26 hits, including four doubles, three triples and a home run, while driving in 23 runs and scoring 18 times.Â
He was also selected as a pitcher for the Corpus Christi Hooks' 2026 South Texas Preseason High School All-Star Team. Arriaga played summer baseball with South Texas Twelve Maroon 2027.Â
Wood on Arriaga …Â
"Dylan is coming from a powerhouse in Sinton High School. He has been one of their guys for a few years. He is going to bring a strong arsenal and a ton of experience to Huntsville. He knows how to pitch at a high level and can command multiple pitches."Â
David Corona • RHP • R/R • 6-2 • 205 • Pasadena, Texas / The Bennett SchoolÂ
Corona comes to Sam Houston from The Bennett School in Houston after helping Lutheran South Academy win the 2026 TAPPS Division II state championship.Â
He went 7-2 with a 1.57 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 67 innings as a junior, adding a save and earning a spot on the Houston Chronicle's All-Greater Houston private school team. Corona closed out Lutheran South's 3-2 state semifinal win over Second Baptist to earn the save.Â
The Pasadena native has competed on the travel circuit with the Houston Wildcatters organization and topped out at 91 mph at a Perfect Game event in June 2026.Â
Wood on Corona …Â
"David pitched in some huge games last year for Lutheran South during their state run. He also played a highly competitive summer schedule with Wildcatters National. He is used to having the ball in big moments. We are looking forward to reuniting him with his high school teammate, Wyatt Powell."Â
Owen Sieve • LHP • L/L • 6-3 • 205 • Beaumont, Texas / Hardin-Jefferson HSÂ
Sieve will join the Kats from Hardin-Jefferson High School after earning first-team all-district recognition as a pitcher in consecutive seasons in 2025 and 2026.Â
He recorded a 2.86 ERA and 86 strikeouts as a junior, helping the Hawks finish 19-13 and reach the area round of the playoffs. Sieve also contributed at the plate with two home runs.Â
He threw a 5-inning no-hitter against Pasadena on March 27, 2026, striking out nine without allowing a run. In the same game, he collected two doubles and drove in five runs.Â
The Beaumont native has also competed on the travel circuit with the Gladiators Baseball organization.Â
Wood on Sieve …Â
"Owen is a highly projectable LHP. He has a very good frame and the stuff has only been improving each time we have seen him. He plays for a great program in the Beaumont Gladiators and is Hardin-Jefferson's number 1. He is an arm that shows no fear. He goes right after his opponents with his best stuff. He will fit in perfectly."Â
Tyler Tarnowski • RHP • R/R • 6-6 • 220 • Cypress, Texas / Bridgeland HSÂ
Tarnowski earned second-team All-District 16-6A recognition as a pitcher for Bridgeland High School in 2026 after recording eight wins, a 1.94 ERA and 58 strikeouts.Â
His efforts helped the Bears finish 25-11-1 and qualify for the state playoffs. He also earned academic all-district honors in both 2025 and 2026.Â
Tarnowski competed on the travel circuit with the HP 27 San Francisco Giants Scout Team.Â
Wood on Tarnowski …Â
"Tyler is coming to us from Bridgeland HS where he pitched in every big game for them last year. He is a huge kid with a tough look with his arm slot. He doesn't fear the strike zone. We are fired up to get him on campus and in our program because the sky is the limit for him."Â
Owen Finke • INF • R/R • 6-0 • 150 • Brenham, Texas / Brenham HSÂ
Finke collected 50 hits and nine stolen bases as a junior at Brenham High School in 2026, helping the Cubs finish 24-13-1 and advance to the area round of the state playoffs.Â
The shortstop helped Brenham claim its first outright district championship since 2015 with an 11-1 league record. He hit a 2-run home run in the Cubs' district finale against Rudder.Â
Wood on Finke …Â
"Owen is a fire starter. He can really run. He has a great frame that he will fill into. Arm strength is plus and he can play anywhere on the field. Just a pure athlete. We love getting players from the Twelve organization and he also plays for former Bearkat assistant, Jake Carlson, at Brenham High. He will know a lot about our program and what to expect before he even sets foot on campus. He will also be the biggest beneficiary of getting with Coach Hacker in the weight room. We can't wait."Â
Colton Igal • RHP • R/R • 6-4 • 219 • Tomball, Texas / Tomball HSÂ
Igal helped Tomball High School capture the 2026 UIL Class 6A Division II state championship, posting a 5-0 pitching record as a junior.Â
He struck out 34 batters and walked 12 in 36.1 innings across 11 appearances, holding opponents to a .203 batting average.Â
Igal contributed on the mound during the Cougars' undefeated regular season before helping Tomball secure its third state title in program history. He played summer baseball with Houston Wildcatters Navy 2027.Â
Wood on Igal …Â
"Colton is a big-bodied RHP from powerhouse Tomball HS. He played a big role in their state run last year. He has a short arm stroke and hides the ball well. He works tirelessly and his stuff has been improving. It would not surprise me if he is touching a 94 or 95 here or there this spring. The best part about Colton is he has pitched in a multitude of roles. He knows how to start games and finish games."Â
Lucas Smith • C • R/R • 6-2 • 205 • McKinney, Texas / Lovejoy HSÂ
Smith was named the District 9-5A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2026 and earned third-team Class 5A all-state recognition from the Texas Sports Writers Association.Â
He hit .424 with nine home runs, helping Lovejoy capture the 2026 UIL Class 5A Division II state championship. Smith was also selected to the state all-tournament team at catcher and saw action at first base for the Leopards.Â
He will join the Bearkats alongside Lovejoy teammate and fellow signee Reed Blakely.Â
Wood on Smith …Â
"Lucas was our first 2027 commit last fall. He is an offense-first catcher but has improved tremendously behind the plate. He is a selfless kid. Never talks about himself. Only looking to help Sam Houston without even being here yet. He will be as close to game-ready offensively as any kid we bring in in this class."Â
Reed Blakely • OF • L/L • 6-1 • 192 • Lucas, Texas / Lovejoy HSÂ
Blakely earned first-team All-District 9-5A recognition in the outfield as a junior in 2026, helping Lovejoy win the UIL Class 5A Division II state championship.Â
He hit .381 with four home runs and was named to the state all-tournament team in the outfield. Blakely also contributed on the mound, carrying a 1-0 pitching record into the state tournament.Â
A teammate of fellow Bearkat signee Lucas Smith, Blakely played summer baseball with the Dulins Dodgers organization.Â
Wood on Blakely …Â
"Reed is coming to us from Lovejoy HS where they won state last year. He was committed to USC before they had a coaching change and once he came back on the market we knew it would be a great fit. He is an amazing kid with a great work ethic and will provide some needed depth on the left side of the plate. Just another proven winner in this 2027 class."Â
Brody Prather • RHP • L/R • 6-5 • 185 • Wolfforth, Texas / Frenship HSÂ
Prather earned first-team All-District 2-6A recognition as a pitcher in 2026, helping Frenship High School earn a share of the district championship and advance to the regional semifinals.Â
He recorded a 3.57 ERA and 58 strikeouts as a junior while also contributing offensively with a .473 on-base percentage. The Tigers finished the season with a 29-10 record.Â
Prather recorded a fastball of 90 mph at a Perfect Game event in June 2026 and played summer baseball with the Dulins Dodgers organization.Â
Wood on Prather …Â
"Brody is one of the higher-ceiling kids in this class. Tall and lanky with some serious levers but has shown the ability to have a lot of success from the left side and also thrown some big games on the mound. He is only scratching the surface. He will fill into his frame under Coach Hacker's guidance and we plan on him helping us as a TWP."Â
Alex Whittle • LHP • R/L • 6-3 • 185 • Sulphur Springs, Texas / Sulphur Springs HSÂ
Whittle posted a 7-1 record with a 1.22 ERA and 78 strikeouts as a junior at Sulphur Springs High School in 2026. His efforts helped the Wildcats finish 21-11 and advance to the area round of the state playoffs.Â
He was named the District 14-4A Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore in 2025 and has also contributed in the outfield for the Wildcats. Whittle played summer baseball with Performance Baseball 2027 Texas.Â
Wood on Whittle …Â
"Alex is the third LHP coming in so far in our 2027 class and can really spin the baseball. From our time seeing him we noticed he loves to throw his offspeed and commands it extremely well. He has some wide shoulders and in his 6-3 frame should be pitching his freshman year at about 200-205 pounds. His stuff will see a huge jump by that freshman spring."
