Scouting grades 20–80
60Fastball
50Curveball
50Changeup
55Cutter
55Control
Riojas was draft-eligible following the 2025 season, but elected to stay at the University of Texas for another year. Now a senior, Riojas has looked like one of the best pitchers in the SEC out of the Friday night role for the longhorns. Not only have the box scores been impressive, but the stuff looks improved, now generating more swing-and-miss than it ever has.
Riojas is now comfertably sitting in the mid 90's in games with his fastball, reaching back for 98 mph at his peak. The pitch has plenty of carry, and can get on hitters quickly at the top of the zone. His best secondary is a shorter upper 80's to low 90's cutter that he tunnels fantastically off the heater with tight, biting life. Riojas has also started mixing in a low 80's curveball and a tummbling changeup that can show it's flashes aswell. This is a really solid 4 pitch mix, with multiple offerings that could end up as plus. Riojas's command has also shown strides forward. He's posting the lowest walk rates of his career.
The one thing that will hold back Riojas's stock will be his age. As a senior, he will be 23 years old, in some cases 2 years older than some of his fellow draftees. Still, Riojas has looked like an arm that will be hard to pass up on day one.
