Through the Longhorns’ first four games of the 2026 campaign, their offense has looked unstoppable, scoring 41 runs. While they have gotten contributions from everyone, Ethan Mendoza is one player who has stood out. The Texas native was one of the Longhorns’ best hitters last season and has picked up where he left off. 

As Texas has gotten off to an undefeated start, Mendoza has posted a .375 batting average in 16 at-bats. In that stretch, the Southlake Carroll alum has added two home runs and seven RBI to his resume. While it is only a small sample size, Mendoza has shown great plate discipline, drawing four walks. 

While Mendoza has made headlines with his bat, he has caused some chaos on the basepaths. The Longhorns infielder has two stolen bases after finishing last season with 15. If he can continue to add speed to his game to go with above-average power, he will be a matchup nightmare for pitchers. For the Longhorns, that would be a welcome development as they chase a national title. 

After breaking onto the scene during the 2025 campaign, Mendoza is showing that his success as a sophomore was no fluke. He finished his first season in the Forty Acres with a .333 batting average in 56 games. The Longhorns’ star also drove in 35 runs and recorded five home runs and four triples. 

With the regular season far from over, Mendoza will have plenty of time to build on his success. He is an elite hitter and is drawing the attention of scouts for MLB teams with every line drive he hits. Although the Longhorns have high expectations this year, Mendoza is showing early on that he can be a catalyst for a team looking to bring a title to Austin. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns baseball star Ethan Mendoza is off to hot start at plate

Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire

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