The 2026 season is over for Texas Longhorns senior right-hander Max Grubbs after undergoing arm surgery, the school announced on Saturday before the series finale against the Missouri Tigers.
The 6’1, 220-pounder started in the final midweek game against UTSA on May 5, his second start of the season during which Grubbs allowed one run over the first two innings before giving up three one-out singles and dealing with a throwing error at second base, ultimately giving up five runs, four earning, on four hits
with three strikeouts and a walk.
For the Arlington Martin product, the outing ended a season in which Grubbs made fewer high-leverage appearances or starts for the Horns than he had in previous years, posting a 2-0 record with a 5.52 ERA that was his highest since eight appearances as a freshman.
Over the previous two years, Grubbs had emerged as a key part of the Texas pitching staff, surging into the No. 1 starter role in 2024 amidst injuries in the rotation, serving as one of the few bright sports for head coach David Pierce’s final team on the Forty Acres with a 6-4 record and 3.67 ERA.
Grubbs improved in a big role out of the bullpen in 2025 when Jim Schlossnagle took over and the right-hander added a cutter and split-finger pitch to his sinker-slider arsenal, striking out 61 batters in 57 innings to go 6-2 with a career-best 2.84 ERA. With five saves and just 14 walks, Grubbs improved his strikeout rate combined with an ability to effectively work in the zone with less hard contact.
And so even though the Texas bullpen improved around Grubbs in 2026, limiting his high-leverage outings, he was still an important part of the pitching staff after returning to the Forty Acres. With the Texas coaching staff anticipating the passage of a five-for-five eligibility rule, it’s possible that Grubbs could return to the Longhorns, although the length of his recovery period could impact that decision.
