From @RileyMcFerran
arkansas.rivals.com
The Arkansas baseball team has added nine offseason commitments since the opening of the transfer portal June 3, but how will the Razorbacks address their remaining needs in the coming weeks, and more importantly, what are those needs?
So far, the Diamond Hogs have received Division I transfer commitments from two pitchers and six position players. A major focus has been placed on the outfield, as Peyton Holt, Ty Wilmsmeyer and Kendall Diggs are all expected to move on.
RELATED: Arkansas Baseball 2024 Offseason Roster Tracker
In their place, transfers such as Fresno State transfer Rocco Peppi, TCU transfer Logan Maxwell and Milwaukee transfer Carson Hansen will all have a shot at claiming a spot. Florida Gulf Coast infielder Charles Davalan and Georgia State shortstop Maximus Martin both have outfield experience as well, making it pretty clear that Arkansas is set at the position going forward.
The Razorbacks also added Division II transfer outfielder Carson Boles, a DII First Team All-American, on Wednesday.
What isn't clear, though, is how Arkansas will produce power in its lineup. College World Series finalists Tennessee (184 HRs) and Texas A&M (136 HRs) both finished top-5 nationally in long ball production this season, while the Hogs finished 60th (87 HRs).
RELATED: Arkansas Injury Report: Updates on Kendall Diggs, key pitchers
"It’s not like you’re going to have a lineup of really good runners that are more run scorers than producers," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said Wednesday. "You’ve seen it just watching the games through the tournament. You’ve got to be able to hit it over their heads, you’ve got to hit some home runs, you’ve got to have some power."
While none of Arkansas' Division I transfer commitments are pure home run hitters, three of them hit double-digit bombs in 2024 and the group combined for 49. That doesn't necessarily jump off the page, but the Razorbacks also have power within their JUCO commitments.
RELATED: Tennessee’s Vitello credits Van Horn, Arkansas after national championship
New Mexico J.C. infielder Brent Iredale (25 HRs) and Florida Southwestern State outfielder Justin Thomas (14 HR) are two of four future Hogs out of the junior college ranks to hit 10+ home runs last season.
Hitting deep fly balls isn't the only priority for Van Horn, as he said he wants his team to make things happen around the base paths when the weather is bad or when the opposing team has a dominant pitcher on the mound.
"But you need some athletes in there that can steal a bag and steal a bag when everybody knows you’re going to steal," Van Horn said. "We’re working on that so it’s definitely something like we feel we’re addressing. Again, we’ve got to get these kids to show up and then we’ve got to deal with, in some cases, the draft, because some of these kids are older. For the most part it looks like we’re going to get these new guys and some of these young guys and a couple of JUCO guys."
As for other positions, Arkansas has to feel good about its pitching staff with so many talented returners and the additions of Ohio State transfer LHP Landon Beidelschies and Oregon State transfer RHP Aiden Jimenez. Ideally, pitching coach Matt Hobbs will add one more on the mound whether in the form of a starter or bullpen reliever.
In the field, landing a corner infielder (or two) and a catcher make the most sense for the Hogs. If Iredale foregoes the MLB Draft and makes it to campus, don't be surprised to see him at third base, leaving first base open for an experienced transfer to come in. The Hogs do have a commitment from BYU transfer designated hitter Kuhio Aloy, brother of shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. Kuhio played at first sparingly in 2024 for the Cougars.
Don't doubt soon-to-be sophomore Ryder Helfrick at the catcher position, but adding competition through the portal only benefits the team and provides depth after the expected exit of Hudson White and graduations of Parker Rowland and Hudson Polk.
"We’re still pretty active, honestly, but I can’t put a number on it because there’s getting ready to be a lot more movement," Van Horn said. "You’re going to see some movement from a couple teams in Texas, and some of them might jump from one team to the other. Or, maybe this is their time to get out and do something else. There will be some big names, but you’re talking a lot of money for some of these kids that are going to be out, and I mean a lot (of money).
"I don’t think people realize what’s going on in the NIL scene in college baseball when you’re talking two, three, $450,000 to get a player," Van Horn said. "Again, there’s some that can do it a lot, some that can do it a little. It’s never over because of that draft that should have been last week, or the week before, which would have been nice. Because it affects everybody. It trickles down all the way to the incoming high school senior that’s coming to school."
Van Horn and his staff will continue to build up the 2025 roster, and HawgBeat provides unmatched coverage of all the movement, so stay tuned to The Trough premium message board.
HawgBeat - How will Arkansas finish its transfer portal class?
HawgBeat takes a look at how Arkansas might finish its transfer portal class.
arkansas.rivals.com
The Arkansas baseball team has added nine offseason commitments since the opening of the transfer portal June 3, but how will the Razorbacks address their remaining needs in the coming weeks, and more importantly, what are those needs?
So far, the Diamond Hogs have received Division I transfer commitments from two pitchers and six position players. A major focus has been placed on the outfield, as Peyton Holt, Ty Wilmsmeyer and Kendall Diggs are all expected to move on.
RELATED: Arkansas Baseball 2024 Offseason Roster Tracker
In their place, transfers such as Fresno State transfer Rocco Peppi, TCU transfer Logan Maxwell and Milwaukee transfer Carson Hansen will all have a shot at claiming a spot. Florida Gulf Coast infielder Charles Davalan and Georgia State shortstop Maximus Martin both have outfield experience as well, making it pretty clear that Arkansas is set at the position going forward.
The Razorbacks also added Division II transfer outfielder Carson Boles, a DII First Team All-American, on Wednesday.
What isn't clear, though, is how Arkansas will produce power in its lineup. College World Series finalists Tennessee (184 HRs) and Texas A&M (136 HRs) both finished top-5 nationally in long ball production this season, while the Hogs finished 60th (87 HRs).
RELATED: Arkansas Injury Report: Updates on Kendall Diggs, key pitchers
"It’s not like you’re going to have a lineup of really good runners that are more run scorers than producers," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said Wednesday. "You’ve seen it just watching the games through the tournament. You’ve got to be able to hit it over their heads, you’ve got to hit some home runs, you’ve got to have some power."
While none of Arkansas' Division I transfer commitments are pure home run hitters, three of them hit double-digit bombs in 2024 and the group combined for 49. That doesn't necessarily jump off the page, but the Razorbacks also have power within their JUCO commitments.
RELATED: Tennessee’s Vitello credits Van Horn, Arkansas after national championship
New Mexico J.C. infielder Brent Iredale (25 HRs) and Florida Southwestern State outfielder Justin Thomas (14 HR) are two of four future Hogs out of the junior college ranks to hit 10+ home runs last season.
Hitting deep fly balls isn't the only priority for Van Horn, as he said he wants his team to make things happen around the base paths when the weather is bad or when the opposing team has a dominant pitcher on the mound.
"But you need some athletes in there that can steal a bag and steal a bag when everybody knows you’re going to steal," Van Horn said. "We’re working on that so it’s definitely something like we feel we’re addressing. Again, we’ve got to get these kids to show up and then we’ve got to deal with, in some cases, the draft, because some of these kids are older. For the most part it looks like we’re going to get these new guys and some of these young guys and a couple of JUCO guys."
As for other positions, Arkansas has to feel good about its pitching staff with so many talented returners and the additions of Ohio State transfer LHP Landon Beidelschies and Oregon State transfer RHP Aiden Jimenez. Ideally, pitching coach Matt Hobbs will add one more on the mound whether in the form of a starter or bullpen reliever.
In the field, landing a corner infielder (or two) and a catcher make the most sense for the Hogs. If Iredale foregoes the MLB Draft and makes it to campus, don't be surprised to see him at third base, leaving first base open for an experienced transfer to come in. The Hogs do have a commitment from BYU transfer designated hitter Kuhio Aloy, brother of shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. Kuhio played at first sparingly in 2024 for the Cougars.
Don't doubt soon-to-be sophomore Ryder Helfrick at the catcher position, but adding competition through the portal only benefits the team and provides depth after the expected exit of Hudson White and graduations of Parker Rowland and Hudson Polk.
"We’re still pretty active, honestly, but I can’t put a number on it because there’s getting ready to be a lot more movement," Van Horn said. "You’re going to see some movement from a couple teams in Texas, and some of them might jump from one team to the other. Or, maybe this is their time to get out and do something else. There will be some big names, but you’re talking a lot of money for some of these kids that are going to be out, and I mean a lot (of money).
"I don’t think people realize what’s going on in the NIL scene in college baseball when you’re talking two, three, $450,000 to get a player," Van Horn said. "Again, there’s some that can do it a lot, some that can do it a little. It’s never over because of that draft that should have been last week, or the week before, which would have been nice. Because it affects everybody. It trickles down all the way to the incoming high school senior that’s coming to school."
Van Horn and his staff will continue to build up the 2025 roster, and HawgBeat provides unmatched coverage of all the movement, so stay tuned to The Trough premium message board.
