Marek Houston has been a mainstay in Wake Forest’s lineup since his freshman season. Now a junior, the well-rounded shortstop has elevated his game to new heights this spring, showcasing his growth on both sides of the ball.
Houston played in a program-record 65 games as a freshman on Wake Forest’s College World Series team in 2023. He developed into one of the best shortstops in college baseball and a projected first-round pick in July’s MLB draft.
“It’s pretty cool to see the development I have made to be the player I am today,” Houston said. “It was just about things coming together. I think we knew the type of player I could be. It was just about figuring things out, letting the process develop and getting to this point. It’s pretty cool to see it.”
Houston is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitting shortstop known for his well-rounded toolset. He is a star defensively and will remain at the position in pro ball. He has a strong arm, moves well on the dirt and boasts plenty of range. Due to his status as a high-level defender, scouts believe he can play second base or third base in pro ball if necessary.
“Defense is definitely my strength,” Houston said. “It is something I have always been good at and is something that came naturally, unlike hitting. There have always been some things I have had to work on with hitting and fix in my swing to consistently produce numbers. Figuring out the bat last year is something that has helped me be where I am now.”
This spring, Houston has made notable strides at the plate. In the offseason, he added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame. He also tweaked his approach at the plate to impact the baseball at a higher level. The changes have led to noticeable improvement.
This spring, Houston is hitting .358 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 34 games. He hit .220 as a freshman and .326 as a sophomore. He also recorded 21 doubles, 12 home runs, 68 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 119 games across the two seasons. Despite showcasing more power, he hasn’t lost his feel at the plate. He has tallied 26 walks compared to 24 strikeouts this season.
“I was always good with hitting the ball, making contact,” Houston said. “Taking that step forward last year to go from just hitting the ball in play to hitting it with impact was a bit of a mindset switch. Another year of development, being in the weight room and maturing helped.”
The Demon Deacons currently sit fifth in the ACC and have fallen out of the top 25 after starting the season at No. 14. They still boast a ton of talent and might be hitting their stride at the right time, coming off a dominant series win against the then No. 4-ranked Florida State, outscoring the Seminoles 33-7.
Wake Forest made the College World Series in 2023 and hopes to return to that stage this season.
“The talent we have now is pretty crazy,” Houston said. “It’s just about coming together and finding the right keys to work. We are really excited about this year and feel like we have the keys to make it to Omaha and win it.”
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
