Rylan Renteria

Jordan Ballin

UTSA baseball’s 2025 campaign put the university on the map, the same way UTSA football’s historic 2021 season did. At the heart of the program that earned its first Super Regional appearance is a 5-foot-9 true freshman from Boerne, who played his way into a starting role and a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman team. 

Jordan Ballin didn’t join UTSA until last season, but he’s been a Roadrunner for life. His parents, Melissa and Ryan Ballin, graduated from UTSA. Ballin’s uncle, Justin Chavez, donned the blue, orange and white as a member of the football team back in 2013. With UTSA in his DNA, Ballin’s decision to join the ‘Runners wasn’t much of a decision at all. 

“UTSA was my first offer in high school as a freshman,” Ballin explained. “You don’t really forget your first offer. They stuck with me throughout high school. Knowing that my family had been through the UTSA process and have been ‘Runners since I was born, it was a given that UTSA is where I wanted to be.

“I could have gone to some other bigger schools but it didn’t seem like they were going to invest in me. At UTSA, with coach [Ryan] Aguayo and coach [Pat] Hallmark, it just felt like they were family. Easy choice to make.” 

The larger teams that Ballin lockered for the Roadrunners include the likes of University of Houston, Duke University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Oregon and University of Virginia. While Ballin noted the named universities were great teams to play for, he felt UTSA presented the best situation for him to grow and develop in — and develop he did. Ballin posted a .333 batting average and a .914 OPS at the plate for the Roadrunners’ historic run. 

Most of the players on the ‘Runners’ 2025 squad may never have to pay for a drink in San Antonio again, but Ballin remains humble about his status.

“I don’t know if I’m a legend yet,” Ballin joked. “That kind of just gives me a little more motivation to be a role model for the little ones and everyone else around me. I’m just working as hard as I can to do what’s best for my team.” 

Though he humbly brushes off his potential legend status, Ballin is well on his way to going down as one of the greatest Roadrunners ever, not solely due to his play, but his character and backstory as well: an undersized Hispanic hometown hero who leads his Hispanic Serving Institution to new heights — remarkable. Ballin knows it too. Whether it’s his walk-up song choice or him pushing for UTSA Hispanic Heritage jerseys, Ballin proudly represents his culture with the hopes of bringing together the City of San Antonio. 

“It’s really cool seeing your own people give you that support,” he said. “Having our fellow Hispanics out here  — whenever that Latino music comes on, it gets them pumped up. That’s half the reason I have my walk-up songs as the ones I do. I feel it brings the city together and it brings a family vibe to the stands and the city. 

“I tried pushing for a Hispanic Heritage jersey this year and [Hallmark] said, ‘That’s not a bad idea. I’ll see what I can do.’ It all revolves around family. No matter what family we’re from or who we are, what we do — we’re all family.” 

Family means everything to Ballin. His grandfather from Mexico is a defining influence on him and a large part of why he takes so much pride in his culture. It wasn’t that long ago that discrimination infected professional and collegiate athletics. Moments like these between grandfather and grandson offer a chance to reflect not just on what was, but on how far the nation has come.

“My grandpa tells me stories about playing baseball, and what he went through when he did,” he explained. “Seeing his dream and what he couldn’t do through me, it makes him happy.” 

As a 5-foot-9 Hispanic baseball player from Texas, Ballin’s favorite player growing up seems like an obvious one. He confirmed his fandom of Houston Astros legend Jose Altuve, while naming another current Astro as a favorite of his. 

“[Altuve] is who I kind of look up to,” Ballin said. “He’s small, Hispanic and I think that keeps pushing me a little bit more to say, ‘Hey, I can do this no matter my ethnicity, size or what I do. If I put my mind to it, I can make it to the next level.’ 

“Another guy I followed was Maurico Dubón. When I was 12 years old,  I watched him play all throughout Double-A for the San Antonio Missions and snagged a couple pictures with him.” 

After enjoying a picture-perfect freshman year, a challenge was inevitable. Hallmark and UTSA underwent a contract dispute, despite all the momentum garnered from the team’s playoff performance. At the height of the dispute, a report that San Diego State University was eyeing Hallmark to fill its coaching vacancy was released. While Roadrunner fans held their breaths waiting for the contract extension announcement, so did Ballin. Hallmark’s exit from the program would have left Ballin torn. Luckily, for both fans and players alike, Hallmark and UTSA inked a deal that keeps him in San Antonio through 2029. 

“I was sweating. I was like, ‘Where is this going to take me?’ I want to be at UTSA. I want to play with coach Hallmark. I was quiet. My mom was asking ‘What’s wrong with you?’  Ultimately, I think wherever he and the coaching staff went is probably where I would’ve gone. But I knew the whole time he wanted to stay,” Ballin said. 

With the offseason drama subsided, Ballin is focused on the 2026 season. The Roadrunners earned a spot in the Astros Foundation College Classic, where they’ll face off against Baylor University, Ohio State University and Coastal Carolina University — the latter are coming off of a College World Series appearance. 

The ‘Runners’ expectations are heightened and the opponents are tougher, but Ballin and the Roadrunners will stick with their guns going forward. 

“Obviously we’re going to work hard, and at the end of the day, we’re just going to control what we control,” he said. “We’re going to play each pitch like we did last year, hard and passionate. What got us to where we were last year is playing with that chip on our shoulder. We’re going to have that red dot on our backs. We’re going to have people circle us on their schedules. 

“It’s going to be an exciting season. I’m excited. I’m ready to get back on the field, play with the guys and compete for another conference championship.” 

Ballin and the Roadrunners are ready for whatever awaits them in 2026. They’re not the biggest, fastest or most expensive roster in the nation, but they are a team that plays for the love of the game, their coach and the City of San Antonio.