2020 LHP Dalton Porter commits to Texas

David Pierce is putting the final touches on his 2017 and 2018 classes, but there is still plenty of Longhorn pledges to be had when it comes to younger prospects. Just when you thought the Texas baseball recruiting momentum was slowing down, 2020 left handed pitcher announced his commitment via Twitter Thursday night.

Porter is a local product, as he hails from the Austin suburb of Leander. The 15-year old is a freshman at Rouse High School, and plays first base and outfield in addition to pitching. The lefty is 5’11, 160 pounds — not small for his age, but he’s clearly not done developing his frame.

But make no mistake about it, though Porter is fresh faced, he’s a blue chip prospect. The youngster’s fastball already reaches 82 miles per hour, which is the 95 percentile for his class. Porter is ranked as the 7th-best player in the state of Texas for the class of 2020, and the best overall left-handed pitcher.

Porter received an 8.5 grade out of 10 by Perfect Game. The popular baseball recruiting website praised Porter for his pitching repertoire of an effective fastball, curve, and change, and for driving through the ball at the plate.

Porter plays for the Austin wing of the prestigious “Banditos” program, and is also a member of the Southwest Elite.

Believe it or not, Porter isn’t the first 2020 commit for Texas. The Longhorns already have the pledge of fellow Texas top prospect Aaron Nixon, a shortstop. We didn’t give Nixon nearly enough coverage here at Burnt Orange Nation, but the fellow Banditos stud is ranked as the fourteenth best overall prospect for all high school freshmen, and the second best for the state of Texas.

It’s unclear how the 2020 class will pan out, as the two Longhorn pledges aren’t even eligible for a driver’s license yet. Porter and Nixon could turn into obvious MLB draftees out of high school, or they could develop into athletes who would be better suited for the college game before the pros. Regardless, it’s a fantastic sign that David Pierce has been able to acquire some of the best talent the state of Texas has to offer for 2020.