With the MLB Draft Combine underway, the best players in the nation will be busy showcasing their skills until June 26th. That group will include six Longhorns: Aiden Robbins, Carson Tinney, Thomas Burns, Hayden Leffew, Ethan Mendoza, and Ruger Riojas. Following stellar careers in the burnt orange, the Longhorn stars will be looking to prove why an MLB team should take a chance on them.
Leading off the sextet is Robbins, who put together an unforgettable 2026 campaign. In 60 games, the Pennsylvania native posted a .333 batting average while driving in 64 runs. He also showcased his power with 24 home runs and 10 doubles. After joining the Longhorns through the portal, Robbins became an irreplaceable part of the offense.
Like Robbins, the 2026 season marked Tinney’s first in the Forty Acres. In 61 games, the former Notre Dame backstop posted a .326 batting average and drove in 58 runs. Although Tinney made headlines with his bat, he was stellar in the field. Less than a week ago, the talented junior won a Rawlings Gold Glove.
Rounding out the hitters is Mendoza, who has been a model of consistency. Over the past two seasons, the Texas native has posted a .305 batting average in 116 games. In that stretch, the Holy Ghost High alum has driven in 85 runs and set a new career-high this past season in home runs with 10. For MLB teams in need of infield depth, Mendoza could be an intriguing option.
On the mound, Riojas took his game to another level. In 17 appearances during his senior season, Riojas posted a 3.97 ERA and struck out 120 batters. He also held opponents to a .235 batting average and thrived in conference play. After finishing with a 5.61 ERA, Riojas showed he could make adjustments in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
As Riojas worked out of the rotation, Leffew was a reliable option out of the bullpen. In 17 games, the North Carolina native posted a 4.05 ERA and struck out 31 batters. He was also had to barrel up as opponents hit .176 against him. That helped keep the Longhorns in a lot of games as they fell just a few wins short of a national title.
The player on this list is Burns, who posted a 5.64 ERA in his second year in Austin. While struggling at times, the talented righty did strike out 43 batters in 22.1 innings of work. His ability to miss bats could draw the interest of many teams looking for relief options.
Regardless of how the combine goes, this group should give fans plenty of reasons to celebrate when the draft finally arrives.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Six Longhorns showcasing their skills at MLB Draft Combine
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
