HawgBeat - How Arkansas transfer newcomers performed during regular season
A look back at how Arkansas baseball transfers performed during the regular season.
arkansas.rivals.com
The No. 5 Arkansas baseball team's (43-12, 20-10 SEC) regular season officially came to a close on Saturday, and the Razorbacks are yet again in position to make a deep postseason run thanks to the contributions of transfer newcomers.
Head coach Dave Van Horn recruited one of the top transfer portal classes in the nation last offseason and all eight players made an impact in the Diamond Hogs' SEC West championship-winning campaign.
With the SEC and NCAA Tournaments on the horizon, HawgBeat takes a look at how each transfer performed throughout the regular season:
Wehiwa Aloy - Shortstop
2023 Stats (Sacramento State): .376/.427/.662, 88 hits, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs
2024 Stats: .276/.368/.495, 59 hits, 8 doubles, 13 home runs, 54 RBIs
Expectations were high for Aloy after his Freshman All-American season at Sacramento State. Although he may not have hit for a scorching average during his sophomore campaign, he more than made up for it with his team-leading home runs and RBIs.
Pairing alongside that is Aloy's defense, which was a cause for concern after the shortstop racked up 17 errors a year ago. That number has fallen drastically to six errors this season, good for a .959 fielding percentage.
The upcoming postseason won't be the last time Arkansas fans watch Aloy, as he still has an extra year of eligibility before he is draft-eligible.
Best Game (vs. Mississippi State, May 11): 3-for-5, 2 doubles
Jared Sprague-Lott - Third Baseman
2023 Stats (Richmond): .314/.440/.582, 61 hits, 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs
2024 Stats: .295/.439/.486, 43 hits, 7 doubles, 7 home runs, 23 RBIs
Penciled in as a utility man before the season, Sprague-Lott earned an early opportunity at third base while fellow infielder Peyton Stovall recovered from his foot injury in the dugout. He took full advantage and has been one of Arkansas' most consistent hitters.
Much like Aloy, Sprague-Lott's defense has also taken a major jump from his time at Richmond. After making 15 errors a season ago, Sprague-Lott cut that number in half to seven while making some electrifying plays to add the cherry on top.
Best Game (vs. Mississippi State, May 10): 3-for-4, RBI, home run
Hudson White - Catcher
2023 Stats (Texas Tech): .294/.395/.547, 50 hits, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 49 RBIs
2024 Stats: .288/.383/.489, 40 hits, 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBIs
Boy, did Arkansas need an offensive catcher in a big way after last season. White hasn't always been the most productive hitter, but he's raked the last few weekends.
"He’s been hot," Van Horn said on Friday. "He’s been hot for about a month it seems like, three weeks for sure. It’s good to have that bat, because we definitely needed it."
Since the start of the Florida series on April 26, White has hit for a .400 batting average with 14 RBIs, two doubles and five home runs. The catcher has only made two errors all season with three passed balls.
Best Game (vs. Mississippi State, May 10): 2-for-4, 4 RBIs, home run
