The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Power 25 and much more.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Houston 
Head Coach: Lane McCarter
Classification: 4A
District + Region Number: District 15 + Region 8
2023 Record (Finish): 31-11

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Houston had a really impressive season in 2023 with a 31-11 record that saw them win District 15 out right in the regular season before being upset by rivals Arlington and Collierville in the tournament, thus ending their season shorter than many expected. The team goes into the 2024 season with a gauntlet of a schedule with defending D2-1 state champions Northpoint, while also playing Alabama powerhouses Cullman, Grissom, Auburn and Hoover and Mississippi powerhouses Hernando and Starkville. The Mustangs will also travel down to Hoover to play a few out of state power teams from Illinois and Arkansas, while heading down to LakePoint in early April to play powerhouse Georgia teams. It is safe to say that Coach McCarter wants to test his team as early and often as possible and should be a major factor in getting them ready for what I believe to be the strongest high school baseball district in the state. The club return 6 starters on defense, while also welcoming back 5 pitchers on the mound with varsity experience. The Mustangs are extremely talented on paper but do lack some experienced depth, but they are experienced on the offensive side with a deep pitching staff that should be able to navigate their difficult schedule. Georgia Tech commit and Prep Baseball Tennessee’s number one player in the 2025 class Ryan Mitchell looks to be back in the leadoff spot where he has a rare blend of speed, hitting and power ability from the left-side. He will have a chance to hit double digit home runs this season, while also being a consistent doubles presence. In the 2-hole will be Tennessee signee and senior shortstop Robinson Martin. The dude can flat out hit and sprays balls all over the field and should run into his fair share this season. In the 3-hole will be top-20 junior Chandler Day. The dual-sport athlete comes in with serious D1 2-way potential with upside as a left-handed pitcher and a serious left-handed bat. He likely slides in as their ace on the mound where he comes in with a fastball in the upper 80’s. In the 4-hole will be senior South Alabama signee Donovan Mitchell. He will be looked at as a serious pro-prospect where he comes in with sub 6.6 speed and power potential at the plate (71+ plus bat speed). He will also hold down center field where he has plus range in the outfield. The 5-hole looks to belong to Prep Baseball Tennessee Future Games participant sophomore Collin Bland. The left-handed stick gets serious leverage through the zone and will be looked upon to provide loft with guys on base. He is also a standout athlete, even coming in already physically advanced. Junior Xander Pettus will be getting his first extended look on varsity where he will likely hold down the hot corner and be a middle of the order bat. Senior Catawaba Valley signee Adam Kidder likely finds himself back in the DH spot where he has the potential to hit doubles in the bottom half of the lineup. At the catching position, the Mustangs likely look to junior Grayson Youmans where he continues to get better and better. Rounding out their lineup will be senior blazing outfielder James Fenton. He is a speedster on the basepaths and a threat to steal with sub 6.5 speed. He will also be an above average defender in a corner spot, while being able to handle center field duties when needed. In their district rotation will be a pair of seniors in South Alabama signee Brady Moffitt and Southwest Community College Scotty Young. Moffitt comes in with a fastball in the mid to upper 80’s, while Young comes in from the left-side with low to mid 80’s. The Mustangs also have uber talented sophomore right-handed pitcher Joshua Hull. His biggest issue has just been with consistency on the mound throwing strikes but comes in with 90+ velocity. They also have unsigned senior Luke Minor, who can run it into the mid 80’s from the right side and should find a home at the next level. Houston will be a fun team to follow this spring and will be battle tested throughout their season. Their district has only gotten stronger this season and it really could be anyone's guess who will win it outright. However,  at the end of the day, it is the district tournament that matters and where they look to make up for last season’s early exit. Expect a deep run in the postseason, and ultimately a chance on returning to Murfreesboro come May. They have the all-around squad to do it. 

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