The Texas Longhorns baseball program has made a series of strategic moves ahead of the 2027 season, hiring veteran coaches Jack Marder and Caleb Longley to join the staff and adding right‑hander Gavin King from the transfer portal.
A boost for the bullpen
King arrives with a fastball that regularly reaches the upper 90s, giving the Longhorns a potent weapon in relief. In his most recent stint at Middle Tennessee State, he appeared in 19 games, starting three, and posted a 6.00 ERA with 59 strikeouts, though he struggled with control, walking 31 batters.
Working alongside one of the nation’s top pitching coaches, Max Weiner, King will look to refine his command and translate his raw velocity into consistent results. The coaching staff believes his skill set can immediately elevate the bullpen’s depth.
The roster reshuffle also includes potential transitions for Sam Cozart and Michael Winter into the starting rotation, while right‑hander Thomas Burns may test the MLB Draft market, adding further intrigue to the team’s talent pipeline.
These acquisitions come on the heels of the Longhorns’ recent College World Series appearance, a milestone that has set high expectations for the program. The front office says the moves are part of a broader effort to retool the 2027 squad and keep the team in contention for another national championship run.