re: *2024 ARKANSAS RAZORBACK SEC BASEBALL SEASON THREAD*

Pre-Season All Americans
Hagen Smith: NCBWA, Baseball America, D1 Baseball
Wehiwa Aloy: NCBWA
Mason Molina: NCBWA

Pre-Season All SEC
Hagen Smith
Kendall Diggs

Golden Spikes Watch List
Hagen Smith
Wehiwa Aloy

Top 25 Breakdown: No. 3 Arkansas

2023 Record: 43-18 (20-10 in SEC).
Coach (Record at school): Dave Van Horn (839–440 in 21 seasons).
Ballpark: Baum-Walker Stadium (Capacity: 10,737).
Postseason History: 34 regionals (active streak: 6), 11 CWS trips (last in 2022).
2024 Early-Season Tournament Action: College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field (Feb. 23-25)

Grading The Razorbacks
Hitting: 60
Power: 65
Speed: 50
Defense: 50
Starting Pitching: 70
Bullpen: 65
Experience/Intangibles: 60
Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

Team Breakdown

Strengths: From top to bottom, Arkansas might have the best pitching staff in college baseball. On paper, only Wake Forest can rival the Hogs in the weekend rotation — and Arkansas has more depth in the bullpen, with power arms galore and a variety of different looks from both sides. But starting pitching will be Arkansas’ greatest strength, and the biggest reason the Razorbacks look like a strong national title favorite. The offense has plenty of new faces but should remain a strength as well — particularly the power potential of this unit.

Question Marks: The biggest question mark is the defense, though the Hogs have plenty of movable pieces that should allow them to find a solid combination. A huge key is Sacramento State transfer Wehiwa Aloy, a physical player with exciting power — but he committed 17 errors en route to a .928 fielding percentage last year, so he needs to prove himself as an SEC-caliber shortstop. The battle for the catching position feels wide open between transfer Hudson White, veteran Parker Rowland and blue-chip freshman Ryder Helfrick. White might be a slight favorite thanks to his bat, but defense has been a knock on him in the past, so he must show that the progress he made in fall ball is sustainable. If not, the Hogs might lean more on the steady Rowland, or hand the keys to Helfrick early. We are bullish on the Arkansas offense, but it’s fair to acknowledge that this position group is light on proven SEC run producers, so some former part-time players (like Ben McLaughlin and Jayson Jones) will be expected to assume bigger roles, and another outstanding group of transfers must acclimate to the step up in competition. Spending all fall facing Arkansas arms should help prepare the newcomers for the rigors of the spring.

Star Power: Junior lefthander Hagen Smith has a very real chance to be college baseball’s premier ace in 2024. Extremely physical with two years of high-pressure experience under his belt, Smith looked better than ever this fall, running his heater up to 100 mph and commanding the pitch more consistently, while also mixing in a newly developed splitter to go along with his slider. Projected Saturday starter Brady Tygart has been electrifying when healthy over his first two seasons, and the Hogs need him to avoid the injury bug and hold down a rotation job this year, after logging just 25.1 innings last year. He certainly has star-caliber stuff, with four quality pitches that include a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a filthy breaker. The most established star in the lineup is junior outfielder Kendall Diggs, a disciplined lefthanded hitter who should hit for power and average in the heart of the lineup.