Jace LaViolette has been selected in the MLB draft with the 27th overall pick, heading to the Cleveland Guardians— a franchise no doubt overjoyed to get such a talent so late in the first round. There was a lot of talk that LaViolette might head to his hometown Astros with the 21st pick, but Houston demurred at the prospect, leading LaViolette to continue his slide.
That slide, of course, is preciptated by LaViolette's down year in 2025. He entered the year as a guy highlighting a lot of mock drafts, given his prowess at the plate and in the field and proven contribution on some winning teams.
But the Aggies' skid during last season had far-reaching effects. Not only did the program's momentum grind to a complete halt with this past year, but LaViolette's personal slump seemed to cost him some major cache in the eyes of professional scouts.
Jace LaViolette slides late in first round, selected by Cleveland Guardians
I think fans are still resolutely convinced that Jace can be the same guy that he was when he was receiving number one-overall prognostications, but he'll have to prove himself to Cleveland and their fanbase now. He'll need a return to form after a year that saw him hit far below his averages and him be unable to lift the team out of their skid.
Of course, he had some big moments personally, especially in the SEC Tournament. However, the year-long issues clearly scared teams enough to where Jace slid down to this point in the draft.
Whatever reasons teams might give, I think all Aggie fans still believe he can tear it up in the league. Whether or not his issues this last year were entirely due to the changed coaching staff or other factors, his physical talents are undeniable.
Sooner or later, he'll be making an impact on a major-league roster. Don't be surprised if you see him make it by late next season.