Diamond Hogs 2026 roster to have mix of mainstays and numerous newcomers

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – When Arkansas’ baseball program takes the field in September for fall practice, there will likely be a core group of position players back and a number of quality of pitchers.

But with likely numerous losses to the Major League Baseball Draft on July 13-14, at least 8 reserves already in the transfer portal and exhausted eligibility, there will once again be a bevy of new faces as well.

Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, outfielder Charles Davlan and pitchers Zach Root and Gage Wood are all projected first or second-round draft picks while Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn expects a few more to be selected in the 20-round event.

“I’ll have a lot of good memories from this team,” Van Horn said after Wednesday’s season-ending to LSU at the College World Series. Van Horn said. “And that’s what I’m going to try to think about most of the time. Obviously there’s a little bit of what-ifs and heartbreak.

“But I’m excited for these kids in about a month to get drafted because there’s going to be a lot of them leave our program. I’d say eight to 10 of them will be drafted pretty high. So that’s exciting. Makes you proud.”

Catcher Ryder Helfrick, second baseman Cam Kozeal, shortstop/second baseman Nolan Souza, first baseman Reese Robinett and designated hitter/outfielder Kuhio Aloy are expected to return.

Helfrick and Kozeal both had 15 home runs this season while Aloy’s 70 RBIs led the SEC in that category.

“It’s a pleasure,” Helfrick said about playing for Van Horn. “Every day you show up, you know what you’re going to get. He’s by far the best coach I’ve ever been coached by. Excited for next year.”

Robinett, who became a starter late in the season after Souza got hurt and Kozeal moved from first to second, is draft eligible but only batted 18 of the 32 games he played this season.

Arkansas sophomore pitcher Gabe Gaeckle (4-2, 4.42 ERA) is set to be a mainstay on the mound next season.

“Yeah, this coaching staff is the reason I came here, Gaeckle said. “Greatest head coach that’s ever coached baseball. And we’ve got an unbelievable staff. Every day
we get to show up and work with him we’re super grateful. And I couldn’t thank him enough.”

Others pitchers slated to return right now are pitchers Cole Gibler, Carson Wiggins, Colin Fisher, Tate McGuire, Steele Eaves and Hunter Deitz.

Wiggins is hopeful to be ready for the start of next season after having elbow surgery late in this campaign while the highly-regarded Deitz, who has made just two appearances in each of the last two seasons, hopes to be finally be fully healthy next season.

What is left to be seen is will draft eligible Razorbacks such as third baseman Brent Iredale, outfielder Justin Thomas, pitchers Aiden Jimenez, Landon Beidelschies, Parker Coil, Ben Bybee and Christian Foutch will be taken high enough to forego another year in college.

Arkansas freshman infielder Gabe Fraser, back up catcher Zane Becker and first baseman Michael Anderson have announced their intention to get into the transfer portal in the last few days.

Fraser started 13 of the 28 games he played in this season before getting injured.

He hit .250 while having a homer, a double, a triple and scored 14 runs.

Becker hit .258 in 20 games while Anderson was 0 of 8 in four games.

Razorback pitchers Jackson Ferrell, Ross Felder, Tag Andrews (Little Rock) and Luke Williams – all who redshirted this season – have also entered the portal per the D1Baseball transfer tracker.

Also on this season’s roster were outfielder Brenton Clark, who shined in 2024 fall baseball scrimmages, outfielder Carson Boles, catchers Carson Willis and Elliott Peterson and pitchers Lance Davis and Tyler Holland.

Boles hit .310 with 2 homers and 16 RBIs while starting 15 game and playing 29.

Clark, Peterson, Davis and Holland did not play in any games this season.

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Arkansas has a 19-member 2025 signing class that is ranked fourth nationally by Baseball America.

The Razorbacks have already added two portal pitching pick ups in Little Rock right hander Jackson Wells and Vanderbilt left hander Ethan McElvain.

The Razorbacks are expected to host North Dakota State Univeresity freshman left hander Danny Lachenmayer (6-3, 195) and Lamar outfielder Damian Ruiz among several others in the next couple of weeks.

Lachenmayer (2-4, 2.37 ERA, 9 saves) pitched 38 innings in 24 games – all in relief – this past season as North Dakota State’s closer.

He had 56 strikeouts and 18 walks while holding hitters to a .192 batting average.

Lachenmayer pitched twice in NDSU’s appearance in the Fayetteville Regional earlier this month.

He tossed 3 1/2 innings in two games while not allowing a run and getting a save against Kansas, but giving up three against Creighton.

Lachenmayer did not pitch in his team’s 6-2 loss to eventual Regional champion Arkansas.

Ruiz is coming off a season in which he was named the Southland Conference’s Hitter of the Year with a .388 average.


He also hit 7 home runs, had 46 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, scored 76 runs and had 50 walks and just 27 strikeouts.

Photo by John D. James