No. 20 A&M-Victoria Baseball opens practice Monday ready to build more history

UHV's Jonathan Jones (right) and Roberto Olguin (left) celebrate a 3-0 win over Central Methodist University at Riverside Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Hayli Nichols/UHV Athletics)

January 9, 2026

Texas A&M University-Victoria baseball team isn't shy about their goals heading into 2026.

The No. 20-ranked Jaguars (38-17) won more games than any team in program history last year, finished second in the Red River Athletic Conference regular season standings (highest in program history) and advanced to the NAIA Opening Round for the fifth time and second in the last three seasons.

The 100 wins over the last three years have elevated the team's expectations and they're ready to get back to work Monday with the start of practice for the 2026 season.

Despite the graduation of Mason Longoria and Julian Garcia who are both playing in the Pioneer League, and departure Brady Parker who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies, the Jaguars return the lion's share of their pitching staff which ranked sixth nationally in ERA at 3.93.

Jonathan Jones is back after setting the school's single-season strikeout record with 113 in 16 starts last year en route to All-Conference honors. Jacob Baker is also back after posting the second most saves in the RRAC (5) and Texas Collegiate League Co-Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a sub-1.00 ERA with the Acadiana Cane Cutters.

In addition to those returners, Justin Mireles and Matthew Mejia return as veterans out of the bullpen. But the Jaguars also bolstered their pitching stable with the additions of Blane Zeplin (Stephen F. Austin State) and Castendios Demetriou (Alvin Community College).

Headlining the offensive returners for the Jaguars are 2025 All-RRAC first teamer and Gold Glover Terry Burrel III and outfielder Jackson Purcell.

Last year, Burrel terrorized opponents on the basepath with a single-season record 33 steals while also hitting .355 with a team-leading three triples in 55 games. His batting average is the top among all returners.

Purcell quietly hit .300 in 54 games in 2025 with an OBP of .413 and slugging percentage of .394. The Moses Lake, Washington, native hit three home runs last year but two of those were go-ahead home runs, including a walk-off solo shot on March 30 against Huston-Tillotson.

A&M-Victoria opens the season on the road with a three-game set at Texas Wesleyan Jan. 23-24 before returning home to face Huston-Tillotson in the home opener at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.