Arkansas adds Vanderbilt second baseman Camden Kozeal via transfer portal

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – The 12-player Arkansas portal transfer haul now includes a player from another SEC school.

Former Vanderbilt second baseman Camden Kozeal (5-11, 207) announced Friday afternoon via his social media that he would be playing for the Razorbacks next season.

“Excited for the next chapter,” Kozeal said on his Instagram.

Kozeal, a switch-hitter who throws right handed, hit .284 with 5 home runs and 28 RBIs as a freshman last season while playing in 43 games around an injury for the Commodores.

D1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers had praise for the Arkansas pick up.

“Cam Kozeal was No. 4 on my top available uncommitted players available,” Rogers said via the social media platform X. “He’s now committed to @RazorbackBSB. Really like this pick up for the Hogs.”

Kozeal was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week on March 3 after leading the NCAA with 14 hits in five games and the SEC in RBIs with 11.

The former Omaha (Neb.) Millard South prep star was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023, an honor that went to Arkansas shortstop signee Tyson Lewis of Millard West this season.

Lewis is expected to be an early round selection in the three-day 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, which begins Sunday night at 6 p.m.

Kozeal is currently playing summer ball for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League while hitting .242 with a home run, 6 RBIs, 9 runs, a league-leading 8 doubles and 3 steals in 17 games.

He had a double Friday in Bourne’s 6-0 win over Hyannis for the team’s third straight victory.

“Just attacking fast balls, going up there with a competitive mindset, ready to attack good strikes and take balls,” Kozeal said in an interview on Pregame Tomahawk last week.

He becomes the 11th Division I portal transfer and the 35th new roster addition overall for Arkansas this off-season.

That list also includes a Division II portal transfer, 17 high school signees and six junior college ones.

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Arkansas transfer portal additions (12):

• Kuhio Aloy, 1B-DH, 6-1, 200, BYU
• Michael Anderson, 1B, 6-3, 227, Rhode Island


• Landon Beidelschies, LHP, 6-3, 225, Ohio State
• Carson Boles, OF, 5-11, 190, Lincoln Memorial (Division II)


• Charles Davalan, OF-2B, 5-10, 180, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Carson Hansen, OF, 6-2, 220, Milwaukee
• Aiden Jimenez, RHP, 6-3, 216, Oregon State
• Camden Kozeal, 2B, 5-11, 207, Vanderbilt
• Maximus Martin, SS-OF, 6-1, 185, Georgia State
• Logan Maxwell, OF, 5-10, 175, TCU
• Rocco Peppi, OF, 5-11, 200, Fresno State


• Zach Root, LHP, 6-1, 177, East Carolina

Arkansas junior college signees (6):

• Brent Iredale, 3B, 6-2, 220, Hobbs (NM) New Mexico JC
• Kolton Reynolds, OF, 6-2, 215, Neosho (Mo.) Crowder CC
• Trenton Rowan, INF, 6-2, 200, Liberal (Kan.) Seward County CC

Carson Schrack, IF, 5-9, 170, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC
• Justin Thomas, OF, 6-0, 190, Florida Southwestern State (Georgia)
• Elliott Peterson, C, 6-1, 200, Beatrice (Neb.) Southeast Community College

Arkansas high school signees (17):

Tag Andrews, RHP, 6-0, 185, Maumelle
• Zane Becker C, 6-0, 185, Flower Mound, Texas


 Kel Busby, RHP, 6-2, 200, Pulaski Academy
• Brenton Clark, OF, 6-0, 190 Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove

Eli Crecelius, RHP, 6-2, 210, Valley View


 Lance Davis, RHP, 6-4, 205, Valley View
• Steele Eaves, RHP, 6-0, 195, Lonoke


 Jackson Farrell, LHP, 6-3, 210, Owasso (Okla.) Jenks
• Ross Felder, RHP, 6-3, 190, Springdale Har-Ber
• Gabe Fraser, INF, 6-2, 185, Westmister (Calif.) Orange Lutheran
• Cole Gibler, LHP, 6-0, 175, Blue Springs, Mo.


 Sam Lee, OF, 5-11, 175, Montgomery, Texas, Lake Creek

Tyson Lewis, INF, 6-2, 195, Omaha (Neb.) Millard West


 Eli Lovich, OF, 6-4, 175, Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley West

Wade Mountz, RHP, 6-7, 230, Morgan Hills (Calif.) Bellarmine College Prep
• Carson Wiggins, RHP, 6-5, 210, Roland, Okla.


• Carson Willis, C, 5-11, 195, Rogers P27 Academy