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*2024 ARKANSAS RAZORBACK SEC BASEBALL SEASON THREAD*
Posted on 1/16/24 at 9:51 am
Posted on 1/16/24 at 9:51 am
Historical Program Capsule
Total Years of Program: 101
All Time Record: 2,392-1,461-6
All Time Conference Record: 726-613
Conference Titles: 6(1989, 1990, 1999, 2004, 2021, 2023)
Division Titles: 8(1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Conference Tournament Titles: 2(1985, 2021)
NCAA Appearances: 34
Highest Finish: National Runner Up(1979, 2018)
Regional Titles: 10
Super Regional Appearances: 10
NCAA Tourney Record: 102-77
NCAA CWS Appearances: 11 (1979, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022)
CWS Record: 18-22
Dave Van Horn Resume
Years at Arkansas: 22
Head Coaching Record: 1,424-681
Record at Arkansas: 839-441
NCAAt Appearances: 22
NCAAt Appearances at Arkansas: 19
NCAA College World Series: 9
NCAA College World Series at Arkansas: 7
SEC Titles: 3
SEC West Titles: 7
SEC Tournament Titles: 1
SEC Coach of the Year: 2 (2004, 2021)
MLB Draft Picks: 146
2023 Season Capsule
Record: 43-18
SEC Record: 20-10
SEC Finish: SEC Champions
SEC West Finish: SEC West Champions
NCAA Tourney: Regional Host
NCAA Results: Lost in Regional
2024 Freshmen Class Rankings #1
2024 Top Transfer Classes #6
Series History vs. The Schedule
Alabama: Arkansas trails 49-55
Arkansas-PB: Arkansas leads 6-0
Arkansas State: Arkansas leads 4-0
Auburn: Arkansas leads 56-50
Central Arkansas: Arkansas leads 1-0
Florida: Arkansas leads 36-35
Grambling: Arkansas leads 11-0
James Madison: Arkansas leads 3-1
Kentucky: Arkansas leads 47-26
Little Rock: Arkansas leads 4-2
LSU: Arkansas trails 77-44
McNeese State: Arkansas leads 9-3
Michigan: Arkansas leads 1-0
Mississippi State: Series tied 57-57
Missouri: Arkansas leads 26-15
Missouri State: Arkansas leads 55-28
Murray State: Arkansas leads 8-0
Oklahoma State: Arkansas trails 21-27
Ole Miss: Arkansas leads 62-53
Oral Roberts: Arkansas leads 71-35
Oregon State: Arkansas leads 4-3
San Jose State: Arkansas leads 2-0
South Carolina: Arkansas leads 48-37
Texas A&M: Arkansas leads 50-47
Texas Tech: Arkansas leads 49-15
Hogs in the Polls
D1 Baseball: #2
USA Today/Coaches: #2
Baseball America: #2
NCBWA: #3
Perfect Game: #2
2024 Bottom Line
Record: 35-6
SEC Record: 14-4
SEC Series Record: 5-1
RPI: 2
ELO: 2
SOS: 17
Home Record: 27-1
Road Record: 5-4
Neutral Record 3-1
vs. RPI Group 1: 12-6
vs. RPI Group 2: 5-0
vs. RPI Group 3: 7-0
vs. RPI Group 4: 10-0
Team BA: .272
Team ERA: 2.95
Opponents BA: .201
Team HR's: 56
Field Pct.: .982
Errors: 25
The Top Hogs
Starters ERA: Smith (1.53), Tygart (2.64), Fisher (2.67), Molina (3.47)
Overall ERA: Foutch (1.42), Smith (1.53),Hewlett (1.80) - min of 9 inning
K's: Smith (100), Molina (68), Tygart (58), McEntire (53), Gaeckle (35)
Batting Average: Holt (.346), Stovall (.330), Sprague-Lott (.309), McLaughlin (.302) - min 50 AB's
Homeruns: Aloy (9), McLaughlin, Stovall, & Souza (7), Diggs (6)
RBI's: Aloy (37), McLaughlin (30), Stovall (24), Souza (23)
Saves: Gaeckle (6), McEntire & Hewlett (4)
SEC Standings
SEC WEST
1. Arkansas 14-4, 34-6
2. aTm 13-5, 35-5
3. Mississippi State 10-8, 26-14
4. Alabama 7-11, 25-15
5. Ole Miss 6-12, 21-18
6. LSU 5-13, 25-16
7. Auburn 2-16, 19-20
SEC EAST
1. Kentucky 15-3, 32-7
2. Tennessee 12-6, 33-7
3. Vanderbilt 10-8, 29-11
4. South Carolina 9-9, 27-13
4. Georgia 9-9, 29-10
6. Florida 8-10, 20-19
7. Missouri 6-12, 18-23
^ - Division Champion
* - Overall Conference Champion
$ - Conference Tournament Champion
SEC Tournament Seeding
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. aTm
4. Tennessee
5. Vanderbilt
6. Mississippi State
7. South Carolina
8. Georgia
9. Florida
10. Alabama
11. Ole Miss
12. Missouri
OUT - LSU 5-13
OUT - Auburn 2-16
THE SLATE
February
16th - 19th James Madison W, W, L, W
23rd #9 Oregon State (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) W
24th #19 Oklahoma State (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) L
25th Michigan (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) W
27th Grambling W
March
1st - 3rd Murray State W, W, W
5th UCA W
8th - 10th McNeese State W, W, W
12th Oral Roberts University W
15th - 17th Missouri W, W, W
21st - 23rd @ Auburn W, W, L
26th Little Rock W
28th - 30th LSU W, W, W
April
2nd Arkansas State W
4th - 6th Ole Miss W, W, W
9th - 10th San Jose State W, W
12th - 14th @ #23 Alabama W, L, L
16th - 17th Texas Tech W, W
19th - 21st @ #24 South Carolina W, L, W
23rd UAPB (North Little Rock) W
26th - 28th Florida
30th Missouri State
May
1st Missouri State
3rd - 5th @ #4 Kentucky
10th - 12th Mississippi State
16th - 18th @ #1 Texas A&M
21st - 26th SEC Tournament (Hoover)
30 - 31st NCAA Regionals
June
1st - 2nd NCAA Regionals
6th - 9th NCAA Super Regionals
14th - 24th College World Series
National/Regional TV Schedule
Thursday 3/21/2024 7 p.m. Arkansas-Auburn SECN
Thursday 3/28/2024 7 p.m. LSU-Arkansas ESPN2
Friday 3/29/2024 8 p.m. LSU-Arkansas SECN
Thursday 4/4/2024 7 p.m. Ole Miss-Arkansas SECN
Tuesday 4/16/2024 8 p.m. Texas Tech-Arkansas ESPN2
Wednesday 4/17/2024 5 p.m. Texas Tech-Arkansas SECN
Friday 4/26/2024 8 p.m. Florida-Arkansas SECN
Saturday 4/27/2024 1 p.m. Florida-Arkansas ESPN2
Sunday 5/12/2024 3 p.m. Mississippi State-Arkansas SECN
Total Years of Program: 101
All Time Record: 2,392-1,461-6
All Time Conference Record: 726-613
Conference Titles: 6(1989, 1990, 1999, 2004, 2021, 2023)
Division Titles: 8(1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Conference Tournament Titles: 2(1985, 2021)
NCAA Appearances: 34
Highest Finish: National Runner Up(1979, 2018)
Regional Titles: 10
Super Regional Appearances: 10
NCAA Tourney Record: 102-77
NCAA CWS Appearances: 11 (1979, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022)
CWS Record: 18-22
Dave Van Horn Resume
Years at Arkansas: 22
Head Coaching Record: 1,424-681
Record at Arkansas: 839-441
NCAAt Appearances: 22
NCAAt Appearances at Arkansas: 19
NCAA College World Series: 9
NCAA College World Series at Arkansas: 7
SEC Titles: 3
SEC West Titles: 7
SEC Tournament Titles: 1
SEC Coach of the Year: 2 (2004, 2021)
MLB Draft Picks: 146
2023 Season Capsule
Record: 43-18
SEC Record: 20-10
SEC Finish: SEC Champions
SEC West Finish: SEC West Champions
NCAA Tourney: Regional Host
NCAA Results: Lost in Regional
2024 Freshmen Class Rankings #1
2024 Top Transfer Classes #6
Series History vs. The Schedule
Alabama: Arkansas trails 49-55
Arkansas-PB: Arkansas leads 6-0
Arkansas State: Arkansas leads 4-0
Auburn: Arkansas leads 56-50
Central Arkansas: Arkansas leads 1-0
Florida: Arkansas leads 36-35
Grambling: Arkansas leads 11-0
James Madison: Arkansas leads 3-1
Kentucky: Arkansas leads 47-26
Little Rock: Arkansas leads 4-2
LSU: Arkansas trails 77-44
McNeese State: Arkansas leads 9-3
Michigan: Arkansas leads 1-0
Mississippi State: Series tied 57-57
Missouri: Arkansas leads 26-15
Missouri State: Arkansas leads 55-28
Murray State: Arkansas leads 8-0
Oklahoma State: Arkansas trails 21-27
Ole Miss: Arkansas leads 62-53
Oral Roberts: Arkansas leads 71-35
Oregon State: Arkansas leads 4-3
San Jose State: Arkansas leads 2-0
South Carolina: Arkansas leads 48-37
Texas A&M: Arkansas leads 50-47
Texas Tech: Arkansas leads 49-15
Hogs in the Polls
D1 Baseball: #2
USA Today/Coaches: #2
Baseball America: #2
NCBWA: #3
Perfect Game: #2
2024 Bottom Line
Record: 35-6
SEC Record: 14-4
SEC Series Record: 5-1
RPI: 2
ELO: 2
SOS: 17
Home Record: 27-1
Road Record: 5-4
Neutral Record 3-1
vs. RPI Group 1: 12-6
vs. RPI Group 2: 5-0
vs. RPI Group 3: 7-0
vs. RPI Group 4: 10-0
Team BA: .272
Team ERA: 2.95
Opponents BA: .201
Team HR's: 56
Field Pct.: .982
Errors: 25
The Top Hogs
Starters ERA: Smith (1.53), Tygart (2.64), Fisher (2.67), Molina (3.47)
Overall ERA: Foutch (1.42), Smith (1.53),Hewlett (1.80) - min of 9 inning
K's: Smith (100), Molina (68), Tygart (58), McEntire (53), Gaeckle (35)
Batting Average: Holt (.346), Stovall (.330), Sprague-Lott (.309), McLaughlin (.302) - min 50 AB's
Homeruns: Aloy (9), McLaughlin, Stovall, & Souza (7), Diggs (6)
RBI's: Aloy (37), McLaughlin (30), Stovall (24), Souza (23)
Saves: Gaeckle (6), McEntire & Hewlett (4)
SEC Standings
SEC WEST
1. Arkansas 14-4, 34-6
2. aTm 13-5, 35-5
3. Mississippi State 10-8, 26-14
4. Alabama 7-11, 25-15
5. Ole Miss 6-12, 21-18
6. LSU 5-13, 25-16
7. Auburn 2-16, 19-20
SEC EAST
1. Kentucky 15-3, 32-7
2. Tennessee 12-6, 33-7
3. Vanderbilt 10-8, 29-11
4. South Carolina 9-9, 27-13
4. Georgia 9-9, 29-10
6. Florida 8-10, 20-19
7. Missouri 6-12, 18-23
^ - Division Champion
* - Overall Conference Champion
$ - Conference Tournament Champion
SEC Tournament Seeding
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. aTm
4. Tennessee
5. Vanderbilt
6. Mississippi State
7. South Carolina
8. Georgia
9. Florida
10. Alabama
11. Ole Miss
12. Missouri
OUT - LSU 5-13
OUT - Auburn 2-16
THE SLATE
February
16th - 19th James Madison W, W, L, W
23rd #9 Oregon State (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) W
24th #19 Oklahoma State (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) L
25th Michigan (Arlington/Kubota College Baseball Series) W
27th Grambling W
March
1st - 3rd Murray State W, W, W
5th UCA W
8th - 10th McNeese State W, W, W
12th Oral Roberts University W
15th - 17th Missouri W, W, W
21st - 23rd @ Auburn W, W, L
26th Little Rock W
28th - 30th LSU W, W, W
April
2nd Arkansas State W
4th - 6th Ole Miss W, W, W
9th - 10th San Jose State W, W
12th - 14th @ #23 Alabama W, L, L
16th - 17th Texas Tech W, W
19th - 21st @ #24 South Carolina W, L, W
23rd UAPB (North Little Rock) W
26th - 28th Florida
30th Missouri State
May
1st Missouri State
3rd - 5th @ #4 Kentucky
10th - 12th Mississippi State
16th - 18th @ #1 Texas A&M
21st - 26th SEC Tournament (Hoover)
30 - 31st NCAA Regionals
June
1st - 2nd NCAA Regionals
6th - 9th NCAA Super Regionals
14th - 24th College World Series
National/Regional TV Schedule
Thursday 3/21/2024 7 p.m. Arkansas-Auburn SECN
Thursday 3/28/2024 7 p.m. LSU-Arkansas ESPN2
Friday 3/29/2024 8 p.m. LSU-Arkansas SECN
Thursday 4/4/2024 7 p.m. Ole Miss-Arkansas SECN
Tuesday 4/16/2024 8 p.m. Texas Tech-Arkansas ESPN2
Wednesday 4/17/2024 5 p.m. Texas Tech-Arkansas SECN
Friday 4/26/2024 8 p.m. Florida-Arkansas SECN
Saturday 4/27/2024 1 p.m. Florida-Arkansas ESPN2
Sunday 5/12/2024 3 p.m. Mississippi State-Arkansas SECN
This post was edited on 4/23/24 at 8:20 pm
35
Posted on 1/16/24 at 9:51 am to Hawgeye
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.
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.
This post was edited on 2/15/24 at 10:25 am
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:08 am to Hawgeye
Glue Guys: The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior Peyton Holt is the consummate glue guy — a “tough nut” who can play all over the field, as Dave Van Horn put it. He hit .392 in limited action last spring and kept on hitting this fall, and he should help make this team go with his on-base ability, energy and aggressiveness on the basepaths. Right now, he looks like the favorite for the third base job, but he could also wind up wherever Arkansas has a hole to fill. Veteran RHP Will McEntire is the glue guy on the mound — a proven winner who has succeeded in just about every role over the course of his Arkansas career. He gives the Hogs so much peace of mind in case one of the projected weekend starters should falter.
Picks to Click: Four emerging sophomores will help form the backbone of the Arkansas bullpen: expected closer Gage Wood plus fellow righties Christian Foutch and Ben Bybee can all run their fastballs into the mid-90s or better (Foutch bumped 98 and Bybee touched 97 this fall), while lefthander Paker Coil made the biggest improvement of the bunch, showing off advanced feel for his three-pitch mix in the summer and fall. Expect big things from that group of arms.
Top Newcomers: Lefthander Mason Molina had a very good year as Texas Tech’s Friday night starter last spring, and now he fortifies a Arkansas rotation that essentially has three aces. Molina is a warrior whose fastball plays way above its 91-93 mph velocity, and he worked hard this fall to improve his changeup, giving him a fourth weapon along with his curveball and slider. Aloy was a freshman All-American after hitting for average and power at Sacramento State last year, and he’ll be counted upon to step into the heart of the Arkansas order. Helfrick plus fireballing righty Gabe Graeckle (an electric 6-foot righty in the JB Bukauskas mold) and big-bodied power lefty Hunter Dietz are the crown jewels of Arkansas’ No. 1 ranked freshman class, and all three should contribute in a big way from the outset of their careers.
Outlook: Arkansas enters just about every season as a strong contender to go to the College World Series, and this year is no different. An elite pitching staff and a powerful lineup give the Hogs a real chance to finally capture their first national title in 2024.
Projected Lineup
C Hudson White
1B Jack Wagner
2B Peyton Stovall
3B Peyton Holt
SS Wehiwa Aloy
LF Jayson Jones
CF Ty Wilmsmeyer
RF Kendall Diggs
DH Ben McLaughlin
SP1 Hagen Smith JR LHP
SP2 Brady Tygart JR RHP
SP3 Mason Molina JR LHP
SP4 Ben Bybee SO RHP
Closer Gage Wood SO RHP
- D1 Baseball
Picks to Click: Four emerging sophomores will help form the backbone of the Arkansas bullpen: expected closer Gage Wood plus fellow righties Christian Foutch and Ben Bybee can all run their fastballs into the mid-90s or better (Foutch bumped 98 and Bybee touched 97 this fall), while lefthander Paker Coil made the biggest improvement of the bunch, showing off advanced feel for his three-pitch mix in the summer and fall. Expect big things from that group of arms.
Top Newcomers: Lefthander Mason Molina had a very good year as Texas Tech’s Friday night starter last spring, and now he fortifies a Arkansas rotation that essentially has three aces. Molina is a warrior whose fastball plays way above its 91-93 mph velocity, and he worked hard this fall to improve his changeup, giving him a fourth weapon along with his curveball and slider. Aloy was a freshman All-American after hitting for average and power at Sacramento State last year, and he’ll be counted upon to step into the heart of the Arkansas order. Helfrick plus fireballing righty Gabe Graeckle (an electric 6-foot righty in the JB Bukauskas mold) and big-bodied power lefty Hunter Dietz are the crown jewels of Arkansas’ No. 1 ranked freshman class, and all three should contribute in a big way from the outset of their careers.
Outlook: Arkansas enters just about every season as a strong contender to go to the College World Series, and this year is no different. An elite pitching staff and a powerful lineup give the Hogs a real chance to finally capture their first national title in 2024.
Projected Lineup
C Hudson White
1B Jack Wagner
2B Peyton Stovall
3B Peyton Holt
SS Wehiwa Aloy
LF Jayson Jones
CF Ty Wilmsmeyer
RF Kendall Diggs
DH Ben McLaughlin
SP1 Hagen Smith JR LHP
SP2 Brady Tygart JR RHP
SP3 Mason Molina JR LHP
SP4 Ben Bybee SO RHP
Closer Gage Wood SO RHP
- D1 Baseball
This post was edited on 1/19/24 at 8:05 am
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:08 am to Hawgeye
Hell yeah. Let's ride fellas. Omaha finals win or bust. 
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:08 am to Hawgeye
Baseball America 2024 College Top 25 Preview: No. 3 Arkansas
Last season: 43-18 (20-10), lost in Fayetteville Regional
Final ranking: No. 16
Coach (record at school): Dave Van Horn (839-441, 21 seasons)
The good news: It starts on the mound for the Razorbacks. Lefthander Hagen Smith, a first-team all-SEC starter last season, returns to lead the rotation. Backing him in the rotation will be righthander Brady Tygart, who last season pitched well down the stretch as a starter, and lefthander Mason Molina, who last season was Texas Tech’s top starter before transferring to Arkansas. Righthander Gage Wood returns to anchor the bullpen, which received additional reinforcements through the Razorbacks’ second-ranked recruiting class. With Smith leading the way, Arkansas could have the best pitching staff in the conference.
The bad news: Arkansas is rebuilding its lineup after losing six regulars. While this spring’s lineup will look different, it won’t be lacking for talent. The Razorbacks again hit the transfer portal hard to reload, bringing in a mix of veterans—slugger Jack Wagner (Tarleton State) and outfielder Ty Wilmsmeyer (Missouri) —and high-end prospects—shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (Sacramento State) and catcher Hudson White (Texas Tech). Those newcomers will need to hit the ground running, especially with White, Alloy and Wilmsmeyer expected to take on up-the-middle positions, but Arkansas consistently found a way to reload the offense on the fly.
Last season: 43-18 (20-10), lost in Fayetteville Regional
Final ranking: No. 16
Coach (record at school): Dave Van Horn (839-441, 21 seasons)
The good news: It starts on the mound for the Razorbacks. Lefthander Hagen Smith, a first-team all-SEC starter last season, returns to lead the rotation. Backing him in the rotation will be righthander Brady Tygart, who last season pitched well down the stretch as a starter, and lefthander Mason Molina, who last season was Texas Tech’s top starter before transferring to Arkansas. Righthander Gage Wood returns to anchor the bullpen, which received additional reinforcements through the Razorbacks’ second-ranked recruiting class. With Smith leading the way, Arkansas could have the best pitching staff in the conference.
The bad news: Arkansas is rebuilding its lineup after losing six regulars. While this spring’s lineup will look different, it won’t be lacking for talent. The Razorbacks again hit the transfer portal hard to reload, bringing in a mix of veterans—slugger Jack Wagner (Tarleton State) and outfielder Ty Wilmsmeyer (Missouri) —and high-end prospects—shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (Sacramento State) and catcher Hudson White (Texas Tech). Those newcomers will need to hit the ground running, especially with White, Alloy and Wilmsmeyer expected to take on up-the-middle positions, but Arkansas consistently found a way to reload the offense on the fly.
This post was edited on 1/31/24 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:10 am to Hawgeye
BA Preview Cont'd
Player to know: Hagen Smith, SP. Smith has been a critical piece of the Razorbacks’ pitching staff since he stepped on campus and is 15-4, 3.64 with 199 strikeouts in 149 career innings. While Arkansas experimented with him as a relief ace early in 2023 when the pitching staff was struggling with injuries, there’s now no question about his role at the front of the rotation. He’s also one of the best pitching prospects in the country and has a chance to be the highest drafted pitcher in program history.
Path to Omaha: Arkansas last season had a stellar regular season, despite being beset by injuries. Those injuries—and a great TCU team—eventually caught up to them in regionals, and the season ended with a disappointing showing in regionals. Avoiding the injury bug in 2024 will be important, but Arkansas might be deeper if its newcomers, especially the freshmen, can quickly adjust to the new level. Just as importantly, the Razorbacks must find the right answers in the lineup. As the season begins, they don’t have a lineup anchor, equivalent to Smith on the pitching staff. Such a player may emerge as the season goes on or Arkansas may need to rely on the depth of its offense. Either way, the Razorbacks need to find their 2024 identity.
Player to know: Hagen Smith, SP. Smith has been a critical piece of the Razorbacks’ pitching staff since he stepped on campus and is 15-4, 3.64 with 199 strikeouts in 149 career innings. While Arkansas experimented with him as a relief ace early in 2023 when the pitching staff was struggling with injuries, there’s now no question about his role at the front of the rotation. He’s also one of the best pitching prospects in the country and has a chance to be the highest drafted pitcher in program history.
Path to Omaha: Arkansas last season had a stellar regular season, despite being beset by injuries. Those injuries—and a great TCU team—eventually caught up to them in regionals, and the season ended with a disappointing showing in regionals. Avoiding the injury bug in 2024 will be important, but Arkansas might be deeper if its newcomers, especially the freshmen, can quickly adjust to the new level. Just as importantly, the Razorbacks must find the right answers in the lineup. As the season begins, they don’t have a lineup anchor, equivalent to Smith on the pitching staff. Such a player may emerge as the season goes on or Arkansas may need to rely on the depth of its offense. Either way, the Razorbacks need to find their 2024 identity.
This post was edited on 1/31/24 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:14 am to Hawgeye
2023-2024 D1 Baseball's Top Freshman Class
1. Arkansas
RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Nate Thompson
Arkansas
HEADLINERS: The Hogs hit the jackpot with a remarkable collection of freshman arms buttressed by a blue-chip catcher and some nice positional building blocks. LHP Hunter Dietz (No. 6 on the Prep Baseball Report list of the top 150 incoming freshmen) is the top-ranked prospect in this group, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound ox who ran his heater up to 96 this fall along with an excellent splitter and a good slider. He figures to be a rotation mainstay over the course of his Arkansas career and stands a good chance to depart campus as a first-round pick. RHP Gabe Gaeckle (No. 26) also has a high ceiling, and he was even more electric than Dietz in our fall look, showcasing an exciting four-pitch arsenal and the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches. He came out of the chute firing 95-96 mph heat with excellent carry in the first inning, when he struck out the side, and then settled in at 92-94 for the next two innings. An athletic, live-bodied 6-foot, 190-pound righty with an over-the-top slot, Gaeckle also features a 12-to-6 hammer at 77-79 with tight spin into the 3000 rpm range, as well as an 82-84 slider spinning in the 2800-2900s, and a promising mid-80s changeup. He has future star written all over him. The same is true of catcher Ryder Helfrick (No. 49), who stood out this fall for his innate knack for finding the barrel, emerging righthanded power, and superb catch-and-throw skills. Don’t be surprised if he wins a fierce battle against several older veterans and winds up leading the Hogs’ catching corps as a freshman.
CONTRIBUTORS: The coaches are also excited about freshman righthander Tate McGuire (No. 123) and freshman lefty Colin Fisher. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound McGuire has the ability to sink or ride his 92-96 mph fastball, and he’s already improved his slider to accompany his filthy changeup. The 6-3, 215-pound Fisher is a “throwback lefty” who attacks at 90-93 with a true lateral slurve with good depth and a useful changeup. He generates steep angle and isn’t afraid to pitch in against righties. A few other freshmen provide additional depth on the mound. Bazooka-armed 6-foot-5 lefty Adam Hachman (No. 35) spent the fall working his way back from the internal brace surgery he had in high school, but he should be 100 percent by the start of the season. He ran his heater up to 99 or 100 mph in high school, though his control is a work in progress. On the other end of the spectrum, Korean freshman Jaewoo Choo is a funky pitchability righty who uses an exaggerated pause in his delivery to mess with hitters’ timing, then relies upon the arm-side run on his 87-89 fastball along with the ability to mix in three solid offspeed pitches. Six-foot-6 lefty Tucker Holland (No. 104) and 6-4 lefty Jack Smith are longer-term projects with upside, giving Arkansas more building blocks for the future. Infielder Nolan Souza (No. 44) was a well known prep prospect who could wind up as an offensive second baseman or third baseman as his career unfolds.
— Aaron Fitt
1. Arkansas
RECRUITING COORDINATOR: Nate Thompson
Arkansas
HEADLINERS: The Hogs hit the jackpot with a remarkable collection of freshman arms buttressed by a blue-chip catcher and some nice positional building blocks. LHP Hunter Dietz (No. 6 on the Prep Baseball Report list of the top 150 incoming freshmen) is the top-ranked prospect in this group, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound ox who ran his heater up to 96 this fall along with an excellent splitter and a good slider. He figures to be a rotation mainstay over the course of his Arkansas career and stands a good chance to depart campus as a first-round pick. RHP Gabe Gaeckle (No. 26) also has a high ceiling, and he was even more electric than Dietz in our fall look, showcasing an exciting four-pitch arsenal and the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches. He came out of the chute firing 95-96 mph heat with excellent carry in the first inning, when he struck out the side, and then settled in at 92-94 for the next two innings. An athletic, live-bodied 6-foot, 190-pound righty with an over-the-top slot, Gaeckle also features a 12-to-6 hammer at 77-79 with tight spin into the 3000 rpm range, as well as an 82-84 slider spinning in the 2800-2900s, and a promising mid-80s changeup. He has future star written all over him. The same is true of catcher Ryder Helfrick (No. 49), who stood out this fall for his innate knack for finding the barrel, emerging righthanded power, and superb catch-and-throw skills. Don’t be surprised if he wins a fierce battle against several older veterans and winds up leading the Hogs’ catching corps as a freshman.
CONTRIBUTORS: The coaches are also excited about freshman righthander Tate McGuire (No. 123) and freshman lefty Colin Fisher. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound McGuire has the ability to sink or ride his 92-96 mph fastball, and he’s already improved his slider to accompany his filthy changeup. The 6-3, 215-pound Fisher is a “throwback lefty” who attacks at 90-93 with a true lateral slurve with good depth and a useful changeup. He generates steep angle and isn’t afraid to pitch in against righties. A few other freshmen provide additional depth on the mound. Bazooka-armed 6-foot-5 lefty Adam Hachman (No. 35) spent the fall working his way back from the internal brace surgery he had in high school, but he should be 100 percent by the start of the season. He ran his heater up to 99 or 100 mph in high school, though his control is a work in progress. On the other end of the spectrum, Korean freshman Jaewoo Choo is a funky pitchability righty who uses an exaggerated pause in his delivery to mess with hitters’ timing, then relies upon the arm-side run on his 87-89 fastball along with the ability to mix in three solid offspeed pitches. Six-foot-6 lefty Tucker Holland (No. 104) and 6-4 lefty Jack Smith are longer-term projects with upside, giving Arkansas more building blocks for the future. Infielder Nolan Souza (No. 44) was a well known prep prospect who could wind up as an offensive second baseman or third baseman as his career unfolds.
— Aaron Fitt
This post was edited on 1/16/24 at 10:18 am
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:27 am to Hawgeye
Pre-Season Polls
#2 Perfect Game
#3 D1 Baseball
#3 Baseball America
#4 NCBWA
#4 USA Today/Coaches
#2 Perfect Game
#3 D1 Baseball
#3 Baseball America
#4 NCBWA
#4 USA Today/Coaches
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 11:07 am
Posted on 1/16/24 at 11:43 am to Hawgeye
Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:39 pm to Hawgeye
Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:46 pm to Hawgeye
quote:
2024 ARKANSAS RAZORBACK SEC BASEBALL SEASON THREAD
Posted on 1/16/24 at 8:35 pm to Arkapigdiesel
In
Posted on 1/16/24 at 8:36 pm to BallHawg10
Get my hopes up to be crushed, but at least that won’t happen until June and not the first month.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 8:00 am to Hawgeye
D1 Baseball released it's breakdown of Arkansas. That is on the two posts following the OP for anyone interested.
Posted on 1/19/24 at 9:09 am to Hawgeye
Posted on 1/19/24 at 9:14 am to Pygthagorean Theorem
Posted on 1/19/24 at 3:40 pm to Pygthagorean Theorem
Scheduled post…Dietz had surgery and will be out to start season. Expected back some time in spring.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 6:41 am to Hawgeye
Draft Kings odds to win CWS
Wake Forest +650
LSU +750
Florida +1000
Arkansas + 1100
Tennessee +1300
Vanderbilt +1600
TCU +2000
Wake Forest +650
LSU +750
Florida +1000
Arkansas + 1100
Tennessee +1300
Vanderbilt +1600
TCU +2000
Posted on 1/20/24 at 9:33 am to Hawgeye
I'll take the Hogs +1100 sir.
Posted on 1/20/24 at 5:10 pm to Hawgeye
February can't get here fast enough! Crazy that 6 of the top 10 and 8 of the top 25, in the D1 poll, are SEC. Gonna be a fun season.
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