Image Courtesy: Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics
Arkansas baseball looks primed and ready to go after their first national championship ever. Following the disaster in the 2018 College World Series Finals, the Razorbacks have made it to Omaha in 2019 and 2022. The pitching rotation of junior ace Hagen Smith, the wild card Brady Tygart, and terrific Texas Tech transfer Mason Molina help Razorback fans believe Dave Van Horn has his best group since the team that appeared in the national title series. Joining Molina from Lubbock is Hudson White, who caught for Texas Tech over the last seasons. He will be huge in giving the Razorbacks production from a position they have not gotten real offensive production from the catcher position since Michael Turner in 2022. Arkansas’ offense should continue to produce with outfielder Kendall Diggs, third baseman Peyton Holt back in the lineup, and Sacramento State transfer Wehiwa Aloy in Fayetteville. Once star second baseman Peyton Stovall returns from a foot injury, which should sideline him for four to six weeks, the Razorback offense will be at its peak. Watch out for Missouri transfer Ty Wilmsmeyer and designated hitter Jack Wagner from Tarleton State to give Arkansas help with the bat, too. If the Razorbacks do not make it to Omaha and give them a chance to win it all this June, fans need to be questioning if Dave Van Horn’s title window is running out on “The Hill”.
Projected Opening Day Starters:
Catcher: Hudson White, Junior
Starting Pitchers:
Friday: Hagen Smith, Junior
Saturday: Mason Molina, Junior
Sunday: Brady Tygart, Junior
1B: Ben McLaughlin, Senior
2B: Peyton Stovall, Junior (Out for 4-6 weeks with broken foot)
SS: Wehiwa Aloy, Sophomore
3B: Peyton Holt, Sophomore
RF: Kendall Diggs, Junior
CF: Ty Wilmsmeyer, Graduate
LF: Jayson Jones, Sophomore
DH: Jack Wagner, Graduate
2023 Class (Rankings according to Perfect Game):
(Players not selected in 2023 MLB Draft)
46.C Ryder Helfrick Discovery Bay, CA Clayton Valley High School
51.RHP Gabe Gaeckle Aptos, CA Aptos High School
57.LHP Hunter Dietz Trinity, FL Calvary Christian High School
58.LHP Adam Hachman Wentzville, MO Timberland High School
70.SS Nolan Souza Honolulu, HI Punalou High School
74.3B Nazzan Zanetello Florissant, MO Christian Brothers College Prep
87.LHP Tucker Holland Burlington, NC The Burlington School
90.C Ty Waid Texarkana, AR Texarkana High School
246.LHP Jack Smith Moulton, AL Hartselle High School
272.RHP Josiah Condradt Greenville, WI P27 Academy
276.RHP Diego Ramos Vian, OK Vian High School
333.3B Kade Smith Searcy, AR Harding Academy
409.LHP Colin Fisher Noble Noble High School
414.RHP Tate McGuire Kansas City, MO Liberty North High School
500.RHP Jaewood Cho Bradenton, FL IMG Academy
501.C Nate Franco Westlake Village, CA Westlake High School
Entered Transfer Portal (New School):
INF Harold Coll (Houston)
INF/OF Isaac Webb (Eastern Oklahoma State)
OF Mason Neville (Oregon)
LHP Sean Fitzpatrick (Arizona State)
LHP Zack Morris (TCU)
Transfer Additions:
C Hudson White Former School: Texas Tech
OF Ty Wilmsmeyer Former School: Missouri
1B/DH Jack Wagner Former School: Tarleton State
LHP Stone Hewlett Former School: Kansas
INF Wehiwa Aloy Former School: Sacramento State
RHP Craig Yoho Former School: Indiana
OF Ross Lovich Former School: Missouri
OF Lincoln Riley Former School: Eastern Illinois
INF Jared Sprague-Lott Former School: Richmond
LHP Mason Molina Former School: Texas Tech
OF William Edmunson Former School: Hutchinson CC
INF Carson Schrack Former School: Coffeyville CC
Razorbacks selected in 2023 MLB Draft:
RHP Jaxon Wiggins – Round 2, Pick 68 – Chicago Cubs
LHP Hunter Hollan – Round 3, Pick 74 – Cincinnati Reds
OF Tavian Josenberger – Round 3, Pick 100 – Baltimore Orioles
OF Jace Bohrofen – Round 6, Pick 184 – Toronto Blue Hays
OF Jared Wegner – Round 9, Pick 282 – New York Yankees
RHP Cody Adcock – Round 13, Pick 378 – Cincinnati Reds
3B Caleb Cali – Round 16, Pick 487 – Seattle Mariners
Razorback signees selected in 2023 MLB Draft:
3B Aidan Miller – Round 1, Pick 27 – Philadelphia Phillies
OF Kendall George – Round 1, Pick 36 – Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Nazzan Zanetello – Round 2, Pick 50 – Boston Red Sox
SS Walker Martin – Round 2, Pick 52 – San Francisco Giants
RHP Dylan Questad – Round 5, Pick 150 – Minnesota Twins
RHP Barrett Kent – Round 8, Pick 234 – Los Angeles Angles
RHP Craig Yoho – Round 8, Pick 242 – Los Angeles Angels
RHP Gabe Gaeckle – Round 20, Pick 588 – Cincinnati Reds
*Rankings below are based on D1 Baseball’s 2o24 Pre-Season Top 25*
2024 Schedule Predictions
2/16-2/19 James Madison
Projected Record: 3-1
2/23 7.Oregon State (Arlington; College Baseball Series)
2/24 Oklahoma State (Arlington; College Baseball Series)
2/25 Michigan (Arlington; College Baseball Series)
Everyone knows about Arkansas’ history with Oregon State in the 2018 College World Series Finals. That would be a huge win to open up the season. Arkansas also has postseason history with Oklahoma State. The Razorbacks went to Stillwater and won the highest scoring regional of all-time versus the Cowboys in June of 2022. Michigan should also be a tough matchup for Arkansas. I expect at least a 2-1 record for weekend 2 in Arlington.
Projected Record: 5-2
2/27 Grambling
Projected Record: 6-2
3/1-3/3 Murray State
Projected Record: 9-2
3/5 Central Arkansas
Projected Record: 10-2
3/8-3/10 McNeese State
Projected Record: 13-2
3/12 Oral Roberts
Projected Record: 14-2
3/15-3/17 Missouri
Arkansas should be able to get out to a hot start in SEC play against Missouri.
Projected Record: 17-2 (3-0) SEC
3/22-3/24 @ Auburn
The Razorbacks have had many entertaining series against Auburn on the road and this should be another one. Arkansas wins a close series that will require a rubber match to decide it.
Projected Record: 19-3 (5-1) SEC
3/26 Little Rock
Projected Record: 20-3 (5-1) SEC
3/28-3/30 4.LSU
A lot of history has come between the Razorbacks and Tigers. The two pre-season top five teams should have another great three game battle this season. In five games between the two teams last season, LSU won three games and Arkansas won two. But, LSU went onto win another national championship while the hogs did not get out of their own regional. I think the Razorbacks defeat LSU in a series of the year type setting.
Projected Record: 22-4 (7-2) SEC
4/2 Arkansas State
Projected Record: 23-4 (7-2) SEC
4/5-4/7 Ole Miss
Having LSU and Ole Miss at home in back to back weekends will be a big stretch for this Razorback team. I believe they will win both series against their rivals.
Projected Record: 25-5 (9-3) SEC
4/9-4/10 San José State
Projected Record: 26-5 (9-3) SEC
4/12-4/14 @ 19.Alabama
Tuscaloosa has been a tough place to play for the Razorbacks over the past few seasons. They lose their first conference series against the Crimson Tide.
Projected Record: 27-7 (10-5) SEC
4/16-4/17 21.Texas Tech
This two game series versus the Texas Tech should be interesting as former Red Raiders Mason Molina (pitcher) and Hudson White (catcher) face their former team. The most notable out of conference match up not early in the season in Arlington should be split between the Razorbacks and Red Raiders.
Projected Record: 28-8 (10-5) SEC
4/19-4/21 @ 25.South Carolina
South Carolina should have a great offense this season and will use it to avenge a series loss they had the last time Arkansas came to Columbia in 2021. The former Razorback reliever threw in two games in the series, shutting the Gamecocks down on the way to winning the series for Arkansas and a Golden Spikes Award.
Projected Record: 29-10 (11-7) SEC
4/23 UAPB (North Little Rock)
Projected Record: 30-10 (11-7) SEC
4/26-4/28 2.Florida
In what could be another potential series of the year, Razorback ace Hagen Smith faces Florida ace Jac Caglianone in a battle between potential first round picks in the 2024 MLB Draft. Arkansas should win what will be a tight series.
Projected Record: 32-11 (13-8) SEC
4/30-5/1 Missouri State
Arkansas has had trouble with Missouri State in the past, including falling to the Bears in the 2017 regionals and as recently in nonconference play over the past two seasons. Arkansas and Missouri State split the two game series.
Projected Record: 33-12 (13-8) SEC
5/3-5/5 @ Kentucky
The Razorbacks get their first road conference series against Kentucky, who was a top sixteen national seed last summer in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Record: 35-13 (15-9) SEC
5/10-5/12 Mississippi State
Arkansas’ success against Mississippi State will continue in the final SEC series at home this season. The Razorbacks have dominated the Bulldogs over the last three seasons.
Projected Record: 38-13 (18-9) SEC
5/16-5/18 @ 8.Texas A&M
Arkansas will go into the SEC Tournament as a top seed following a tough series loss to Texas A&M, who joins the hogs ranked in the pre-season top ten.
Projected Record: 39-15 (19-11) SEC
5/21-5/26 SEC Tournament (Hoover)
The Razorbacks will go 3-1 in Hoover and secure a top 16 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, looking for their first national title in program history.
Projected Record: 42-16 (19-11) SEC
5/31-6/3 NCAA Regionals
6/7-6/10 NCAA Super Regionals
6/14-6/24 NCAA College World Series
