Texas RF Austin Todd announces return for another season

He’ll be back.

Following the completion of the five-round 2020 MLB Draft and facing the prospect of signing as an undrafted free agent for $20,000, Texas Longhorns right fielder Austin Todd announced on Thursday that he’ll return for a second chance at a senior season.

Todd was off to a hot start after 17 games when the baseball season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic — he was leading the team with a .375 batting average, a .500 slugging percentage, 27 hits, 36 total bases, and 14 runs. His 15 RBIs ranked second on the team. In all 17 games he reached base and also had an eight-game hitting streak.

It was the first time that Todd was able to consistently play to his considerable potential after starting 39 games as a freshman in 2017, hitting .276, third on the team. As a sophomore, Todd battled through an injury that hampered him so much at the plate that he only hit .219. In 2018, Todd rebounded, hitting .256 and leading the team with 38 RBIs, but it also seemed like there was another level of potential into which he hadn’t yet tapped.

He’ll now provide Texas with an unusually-experienced right fielder in 2021, the chance to show more power in an extended season, and a chance to continue playing defense at a high level.

More big news for the Horns on Thursday night following Tanner Witt’s announcement that he’ll play college baseball.