Leffew opts for another season at the Forty Acres
The Texas Longhorns will have a familiar arm back in their bullpen next season after left-hander Haiden Leffew announced he will return to Austin for the 2027 campaign following the conclusion of the Major League Baseball draft, sources reported Sunday.
The decision comes after Leffew went unselected through the first 19 rounds. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound pitcher has exhausted three seasons of collegiate eligibility but will rejoin the Longhorns program after transferring to Texas last summer.
Role and recent performance
Leffew pitched primarily in relief for Texas this past season, appearing in 17 games and compiling a 4-1 record with a 4.05 ERA while striking out 31 batters in 20 innings. Opponents managed just a .176 batting average against him, and he filled high-leverage situations out of the bullpen.
Throughout his college career Leffew has shown swing-and-miss potential but also lingering command issues. His time in prior seasons included:
- Freshman year: 38 strikeouts in 35.1 innings, opponent average .221 but a 6.11 ERA with a high number of walks and wild pitches.
- 2025 season: moved to relief, struck out 59 batters in 34.1 innings, a 4-1 record and 4.46 ERA, and led the team in appearances with 27.
- 2026 at Texas: served in a high-leverage relief role with the numbers noted above.
| Season | IP | Strikeouts | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 35.1 | 38 | 6.11 |
| 2025 | 34.1 | 59 | 4.46 |
| 2026 (Texas) | 20.0 | 31 | 4.05 |
Background and projection
Leffew originally entered college as a nationally ranked high school recruit, listed just outside the top-150 by Perfect Game when he signed with Wake Forest in the 2023 class out of Kannapolis, North Carolina. After spending time with Wake Forest, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to Texas in June as a highly regarded portal arm — rated No. 14 overall by 64Analytics — thanks in part to a mid-90s fastball and a changeup that generated significant whiff rates in scouting data.
Scouts have praised his ability to create swings and misses, but durability and command have been concerns. Leffew dealt with a late-season, undisclosed injury that limited his postseason availability; he made a single postseason appearance in the Austin Regional and failed to record an out in that outing.
What his return means for Texas
For Texas, Leffew’s return preserves bullpen depth and a proven late-inning option. The Longhorns used him in key situations this year, and his power stuff combined with his changeup could keep him in high-leverage roles if he tightens his control.
His decision also affects roster planning for coaching staff as they juggle incoming pitching recruits, potential draftees and transfer additions. For Longhorns fans and Texas baseball followers statewide, the news offers continuity in a relief corps that played an important role in the team’s season.
Leffew was listed as the No. 367 prospect in this year’s draft by Perfect Game before returning to the Forty Acres.
