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Baseball: St. Mary’s catcher Ian Armstrong commits to Texas

By Jeff Howe

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Jim Schlossnagle and the Texas baseball program secured a transfer portal commitment from St. Mary’s catcher Ian Armstrong on Saturday.

Armstrong’s commitment, which he announced on Instagram, fills one of the Longhorns' most significant roster needs with one of the top prospects available in the portal. After Carson Tinney’s All-American season at (.326/.483/.688 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI) and behind the plate (ABCA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove winner) in 2026, and Rylan Galvan’s an All-American campaign during Schlossnagle’s debut, Texas couldn’t afford to take a significant step back at a position upon which Schlossnagle puts a high value when building his roster.

Tinney is expected to be an early-round selection in the 2026 MLB Draft, paving the way for Armstrong, who visited campus late in the week ahead of the current dead period (runs through Monday), to bring his two-way talent to the Forty Acres.

As a sophomore for the Gaels, the 6-foot-1-inch Armstrong hit .351 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI and a 1.070 OPS en route to first-team All-West Coast Conference honors. According to D1Baseball and Synergy, Armstrong is fifth in Division I in defensive runs saved and seventh in defensive wins above replacement (1.33, which currently ranks fourth among SEC catchers).

Armstrong is the second transfer portal commitment the Longhorns have landed in the current cycle, joining Texas Tech infielder Linkin Garcia. With the futures of Casey Borba and Ethan Mendoza uncertain as the two starters from a team that won 46 games and reached the College World Series await the upcoming draft, Armstrong and Garcia give Schlossnagle two key pieces of the 2027 infield, along with returning postseason standout Adrian Rodriguez.

On Texas Football expects up to two more infielders, two outfielders and three pitchers to be what Texas tries to add in the portal. The baseball transfer portal window will close on June 30.

As of Saturday, the Longhorns have lost five players to the transfer portal: right-handed pitchers Jadyn Ferguson and Cooper Rummel, catchers Presley Courville and Andrew Ermis (the only catchers other than Tinney on the 2026 roster) and outfielder Will Hill.

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    Jeff Howe

    Moderators
    • Moderators
    5 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

     

    Not surprised. We'll see what the staff does for a backup catcher with Ermis and Presley Courville gone.

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    Sophomore

    Texansarebetter

    Supporters
    10 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

    Not surprised. We'll see what the staff does for a backup catcher with Ermis and Presley Courville gone.

    Maybe there’s a juco guy out there. We also have 2 freshman catchers coming in .. 

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    .45s

    Members

    Sorry to see Courville go, but the 2 incoming freshman might work out.  It wouldn't hurt to take another backup in the portal.

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    MBHORNSFAN

    Supporters

    Bad day for the panicans 

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    First Round Pick

    Here for the Wins

    Supporters
    1 hour ago, MBHORNSFAN said:

    Bad day for the panicans 

    I find this funny yet solid phrasing.

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    bourbasted

    Supporters

    Is it possible this is a telling clue for Cain's replacement?  In Blake's update he mentioned the coach from Oregon also works with the catchers (I think that's who it was).  Wondering if Armstrong may have been given some advice on who would be working with him.

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    CoachBobbyFinstock

    Supporters
    2 hours ago, bourbasted said:

    Is it possible this is a telling clue for Cain's replacement?  In Blake's update he mentioned the coach from Oregon also works with the catchers (I think that's who it was).  Wondering if Armstrong may have been given some advice on who would be working with him.

    We can hope. The Oregon coach would be a really strong hire.

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    AusMOJO

    Members

    Great stuff and glad to hear it. With Tinney leaving, this slots in very nicely for Texas. Great pick up by the staff. 

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    Sophomore

    No13Seed Jim

    Supporters
    6 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

    Not surprised. We'll see what the staff does for a backup catcher with Ermis and Presley Courville gone.

    Reese Atwood

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    Jeff Howe

    Moderators
    • Moderators
    7 hours ago, Texansarebetter said:

    Maybe there’s a juco guy out there. We also have 2 freshman catchers coming in .. 

    They found Ermis late, so JUCO is an option.

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    Texansarebetter

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    59 minutes ago, No13Seed Jim said:

    Reese Atwood

    She hit 3 home runs today in a game. 2 were off Canady😂😂🤘🏻🤘🏻

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    All-Conference

    Aspann85

    Supporters
    9 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

    This is one of the big portal targets we’ve been talking about for a few days. Arguably the biggest positional need for Texas in the transfer portal has been filled by one of the best catchers available.

    Apparently he is trash according to aggie so that must mean he’s legit af. I’m stoked!

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    Sophomore

    Texansarebetter

    Supporters
    1 hour ago, Aspann85 said:

    Apparently he is trash according to aggie so that must mean he’s legit af. I’m stoked!

    He’s the #30 prospect in the 27’ draft so if aggies think he’s trash they’re dumber than we all thought 🤘🏻

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    AusMOJO

    Members
    1 hour ago, Aspann85 said:

    Apparently he is trash according to aggie so that must mean he’s legit af. I’m stoked!

    He's not uh "SEC ready" although apparently neither are the Aggies. 

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    PaulieD

    Supporters
    17 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

    Not surprised. We'll see what the staff does for a backup catcher with Ermis and Presley Courville gone.

    Jeff, guess I missed the memo, can you fill me in on Ian's strengths etc?  Thanks!

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    PaulieD

    Supporters
    7 hours ago, Texansarebetter said:

    He’s the #30 prospect in the 27’ draft so if aggies think he’s trash they’re dumber than we all thought 🤘🏻

    Entirely possible

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    Sell Mortimer Sell

    Supporters
    19 minutes ago, PaulieD said:

    Entirely possible

    Yet, unpossible.

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    Blake Munroe

    Moderators
    • Moderators
    18 hours ago, .45s said:

    Sorry to see Courville go, but the 2 incoming freshman might work out.  It wouldn't hurt to take another backup in the portal.

    They like the incoming guys a lot. 

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    Sophomore

    Texansarebetter

    Supporters
    10 hours ago, AusMOJO said:

    He's not uh "SEC ready" although apparently neither are the Aggies. 

    Robbins played for Seton Hall and look how that turned out.. Just look at what Armstrong did against UCLA in the regional. Guy can really hit and he’s elite defensively.. 

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    Junior

    TrouperG

    Supporters
    (edited)

    Who will be our backup and emergency catchers, High School Prospects or are there other portal targets?  Sorry if this has been addressed already.  Nevermind,  I see the incoming freshmen comments...

    tenor.gif

     

     

    Edited by TrouperG

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    .45s

    Members
    3 hours ago, Blake Munroe said:

    They like the incoming guys a lot. 

    Yeah, both of those incoming freshman catchers look pretty good.

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    Here for the Wins

    Supporters
    2 hours ago, Texansarebetter said:

    Robbins played for Seton Hall and look how that turned out.. Just look at what Armstrong did against UCLA in the regional. Guy can really hit and he’s elite defensively.. 

    Robbins and Armstrong had multiple good years with year 2 better than year 1.  Armstrong has quite a bit of experience and against some decent competition.

    A great get.

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    Sophomore

    Texansarebetter

    Supporters
    8 minutes ago, Here for the Wins said:

    Robbins and Armstrong had multiple good years with year 2 better than year 1.  Armstrong has quite a bit of experience and against some decent competition.

    A great get.

    Agreed. Armstrong also hit .364 with 5 home runs as a freshman. I honestly think he’s a better fit for us than Savoie bc he’s so good defensively. Savoie hasn’t even been a full time catcher. He’s played OF in his first 2 years of college ball. 

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    Sophomore

    Texansarebetter

    Supporters
    Just now, Texansarebetter said:

    Agreed. Armstrong also hit .364 with 5 home runs as a freshman. I honestly think he’s a better fit for us than Savoie bc he’s so good defensively. Savoie hasn’t even been a full time catcher. He’s played OF and catcher in his first 2 years of college ball. 

     

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