Diamond Hogs turn in historic 2025 MLB Draft performance

Image Courtesy: Southwest Times Record

After the first 25 picks of Sunday’s MLB Draft, Arkansas had yet to produce a single selection. Later that night, their fortunes changed, as four Razorbacks came off the board in quick succession. Just one pick later, the Philadelphia Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Gage Wood, who threw only the third no-hitter in Men’s College World Series history three weeks ago against Murray State. Five picks after that, the Baltimore Orioles drafted shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, the winner of the Golden Spikes Award—given to the best amateur baseball player in the country—as the Men’s College World Series wrapped up in June.

Then, at picks 40 and 41, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Arkansas ace Zach Root and outfielder Charles Davalan with back-to-back picks. Both Root and Davalan earned All-America and All-SEC honors following outstanding 2025 seasons. The four selections bring Arkansas baseball’s all-time total to 14 players chosen on Day 1 of the MLB Draft.

Arkansas tied SEC rival Tennessee with four selections on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft. It also marked the first time multiple Arkansas players were selected in the first round of the same draft.

On Day 2, Dave Van Horn’s club saw several more players drafted. At pick 148, the Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Christian Foutch. Ten picks later, the Kansas City Royals picked another right-handed pitcher, Aiden Jimenez. Later, with the 187th pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves selected left-handed pitcher Landon Beidelschies. At pick 203, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected third baseman Brent Iredale. Another right-hander, Ben Bybee, went off the board at pick 236 to the San Francisco Giants. Outfielder Justin Thomas was selected with the 336th pick by the Houston Astros.

The Razorbacks had to wait until pick No. 400 for an incoming player to be selected. Ball State transfer shortstop Dylan Grego was taken by the San Diego Padres with that pick. Earlier news that Arkansas’ top incoming freshman recruit, shortstop Landon Schaefer (who was later selected by the Phillies in the 20th round), had withdrawn from the MLB Draft now carries even more significance as Grego weighs his decision between signing with the Padres or heading to the Hill. In the 15th round, Fort Smith Northside right-handed pitcher and Razorback commit McLane Moody was drafted with the 443rd overall pick. Shortly after, Arkansas’ second-ranked incoming freshman and top pitching recruit, Jordan Martin, announced his decision to withdraw from the draft and head to campus.

After Martin’s decision was made, another Hog was drafted in the 16th round, as the Milwaukee Brewers selected right-handed pitcher Parker Coil with the 485th pick. With 11 players drafted following Coil’s selection, the Razorbacks tied the program’s single-season record set originally in 2013 and later matched in 2018. That number tied Florida State for the most in the country. Razorback right-handed pitcher Dylan Carter signed a free agent deal with the San Francisco Giants, while outfielder Logan Maxwell did the same with the New York Yankees. Additionally, according to multiple reports, Little Rock transfer pitcher Jackson Wells has opted to sign a free agent contract with the Houston Astros instead of heading to Fayetteville.

Another successful MLB Draft for Dave Van Horn’s Arkansas Razorbacks means reloading will once again be necessary through the transfer portal and high school ranks—something he’s already been working on. The Razorbacks will set their sights on the program’s first national championship when they open the season in Arlington at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

More college baseball content will return to the blog this coming spring.