Owls Add Six for 2027
11/17/2025 4:35:00 PM | Baseball
Pierce's first signing class includes four from Texas
HOUSTON- Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach David Pierce announced Monday the signing of five high school standouts and one from the junior college ranks who will join the Owls for the 2027 season.
"We are excited to announce these additions to our 2026-2027 baseball roster," Pierce said. "This signing class gives us a core foundation built on a history of high performance and athleticism. Along with their baseball attributes, these student-athletes are equally competitive in the classroom.
"These intangibles make them perfect fits to be 'Rice Guys'. We look forward to having each of these signees playing a significant part in the future of Rice Baseball," he added.
Four of the six come from the state of Texas, in addition to one each from Florida and Hawai'i.
Brandon Creek SS 6-0 195 R/R Liberty Hill, Texas/Liberty Hill/Grayson JC
Selected to the TX/NM Juco Baseball All-Star game after hitting .340 with four homers, 32 RBI, 17 steals, and walking 30 times and striking out just 26 times for the Vikings in his freshman season for coach Cal Hernandez... Played for his father at Liberty Hill HS… Named the Austin American-Statesman Newcomer of the year, first team All-District 25-6A, and district defensive player of the year, but missed his senior year with an injury.. Hit .395 during his high school career.
Kahaku Harrison SS 6-2 2-5 R/R Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou
The fourth member of his family to sign with a D1 baseball school, Harrison will be entering his fourth year as a starter at Punahou in the spring… Oldest brother K.J. was a starter at Oregon State from 2014-17, his second brother, Kalae, played at Texas A&M and North Carolina State, and his third, Kaikea, will be a senior at Tulane. Their father, Kenny, was a standout at Hawai'i from 1991-93.
Oliver Minyard C 6-0 195 R/R Dallas, Texas/Wilson
A three-time all-district selection for coach Cody Nelson at Wilson High, leading the Wildcats to the 5A-D2 regional quarterfinals as a sophomore and the area championship as a junior… Has a career average of .420 with four homers and 108 RBI heading into his senior season.
Parker Mitzel RHP/OF 6-0 190 R/R Tampa, Florida/Berkeley Prep
Helped lead Berkeley Prep to the semifinals of the Florida 2A State Championship as a junior, hitting .367 with seven homers and 41 RBI at the plate and posting a 4-1record and 1.03 ERA on the mound while striking out 51 in 34 innings for coach Richie Warren...Team offensive MVP and named second-team All-State as a two-way player.
Ethan Rivers RHP 6-2 190 R/R The Woodlands, Texas/Concordia Lutheran
Posted a 5-0 record and 1.80 ERA over 35 innings for the Crusaders and coach Royce Kennedy last spring as the team took district honors… Named first-team all-district and second-team TAPPS All-State.
Isaac Robles RHP/3B 6-3 220 R/R Cypress, Texas/Cy Fair
Named the MVP of District 17-6A, VYPE's All-Houston team, and honorable mention All-State (TSWA) as a sophomore for coach Billy Hardin at Cy Fair… Selected to play in the GHBCA All-Star game… Worked his way back from an injury in his junior year… Heads into his senior season with a career batting average of .398, along with a 1.52 ERA and .944 WHIP on the mound.
"We are excited to announce these additions to our 2026-2027 baseball roster," Pierce said. "This signing class gives us a core foundation built on a history of high performance and athleticism. Along with their baseball attributes, these student-athletes are equally competitive in the classroom.
"These intangibles make them perfect fits to be 'Rice Guys'. We look forward to having each of these signees playing a significant part in the future of Rice Baseball," he added.
Four of the six come from the state of Texas, in addition to one each from Florida and Hawai'i.
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | B/T | HOMETOWN / HS / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Brandon Creek | SS | 6-0 | 195 | R/R | Liberty Hill, Texas/ Liberty Hill/ Grayson JC |
| Kahaku Harrison | SS | 6-2 | 215 | R/R | Kailua, Hawai'i/ Punahou |
| Oliver Minyard | C | 6-0 | 195 | R/R | Dallas, Texas/ Wilson |
| Parker Mitzel | RHP/OF | 6-0 | 190 | R/R | Tampa, Florida/ Berkeley Prep |
| Ethan Rivers | RHP | 6-2 | 190 | R/R | The Woodlands, Texas/ Concordia Lutheran |
| Isaac Robles | RHP/3B | 6-3 | 220 | R/R | Cypress, Texas/ Cy Fair |
Brandon Creek SS 6-0 195 R/R Liberty Hill, Texas/Liberty Hill/Grayson JC
Selected to the TX/NM Juco Baseball All-Star game after hitting .340 with four homers, 32 RBI, 17 steals, and walking 30 times and striking out just 26 times for the Vikings in his freshman season for coach Cal Hernandez... Played for his father at Liberty Hill HS… Named the Austin American-Statesman Newcomer of the year, first team All-District 25-6A, and district defensive player of the year, but missed his senior year with an injury.. Hit .395 during his high school career.
- Pierce on Creek: "Brandon is a versatile shortstop that hits in the middle of the order and can really defend. He's coming off a great spring from Grayson College and brings a mature presence to the plate with good bat-to-ball skills, hitting .340 last year with more walks than strikeouts. As a TX/NM Juco All Star, his experience at the collegiate level brings a great presence."
Kahaku Harrison SS 6-2 2-5 R/R Kailua, Hawai'i/Punahou
The fourth member of his family to sign with a D1 baseball school, Harrison will be entering his fourth year as a starter at Punahou in the spring… Oldest brother K.J. was a starter at Oregon State from 2014-17, his second brother, Kalae, played at Texas A&M and North Carolina State, and his third, Kaikea, will be a senior at Tulane. Their father, Kenny, was a standout at Hawai'i from 1991-93.
- Pierce on Harrison: "Kahaku is an exciting future talent. He has an uncanny baseball IQ that comes from having three brothers and a father who have competed at the college/professional level. He is a four-year starter at Punahou High School, with an athletic build that will immediately impact our roster."
Oliver Minyard C 6-0 195 R/R Dallas, Texas/Wilson
A three-time all-district selection for coach Cody Nelson at Wilson High, leading the Wildcats to the 5A-D2 regional quarterfinals as a sophomore and the area championship as a junior… Has a career average of .420 with four homers and 108 RBI heading into his senior season.
- Pierce on Minyard: "Oliver is one of the top defensive catchers in the state and brings a track record of success as a four-year starter at Woodrow Wilson High School. With his athleticism behind the plate and in the batter's box, he possesses a strong work ethic, maturity, and leadership abilities that make those around him better.
Parker Mitzel RHP/OF 6-0 190 R/R Tampa, Florida/Berkeley Prep
Helped lead Berkeley Prep to the semifinals of the Florida 2A State Championship as a junior, hitting .367 with seven homers and 41 RBI at the plate and posting a 4-1record and 1.03 ERA on the mound while striking out 51 in 34 innings for coach Richie Warren...Team offensive MVP and named second-team All-State as a two-way player.
- Pierce on Mitzel: "Parker is a two-way player from Tampa, Florida. With a fastball up to 95 and a strong bat, he is an exciting arm that has the ability to compete at the Division 1 level today. We are thrilled to have him on campus next fall to compete for a role both on the mound and at the plate."
Ethan Rivers RHP 6-2 190 R/R The Woodlands, Texas/Concordia Lutheran
Posted a 5-0 record and 1.80 ERA over 35 innings for the Crusaders and coach Royce Kennedy last spring as the team took district honors… Named first-team all-district and second-team TAPPS All-State.
- Pierce on Rivers: "We are excited to add Ethan from the tradition-rich program at Concordia Lutheran. With an ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes and a fastball up to 93, Ethan is just scratching the surface of his future potential. His ceiling on the mound brings tremendous upside to our pitching staff."
Isaac Robles RHP/3B 6-3 220 R/R Cypress, Texas/Cy Fair
Named the MVP of District 17-6A, VYPE's All-Houston team, and honorable mention All-State (TSWA) as a sophomore for coach Billy Hardin at Cy Fair… Selected to play in the GHBCA All-Star game… Worked his way back from an injury in his junior year… Heads into his senior season with a career batting average of .398, along with a 1.52 ERA and .944 WHIP on the mound.
- Pierce on Robles: "Isaac is the latest in a long line of two-way players from the city of Houston. He adds immediate impact as a pitcher and hitter. As a sophomore, Issac was the MVP in a very competitive District 17-6A, facing some high-level competition. His development as both a pitcher/hitter will be fun to watch in the future."
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