Diamond Hogs add Russellville pitcher Newberry to loaded 2026 recruiting class

By DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – An Arkansas baseball program that has enjoyed an outstanding summer 2025 talent acquisition haul landed arguably the state’s best 2026 southpaw high school pitcher on Thursday.

Russellville and Arkansas Sticks junior left hander Trystan Newberry (6-2, 200) got an offer from Razorback pitching coach Matt Hobbs Thursday and committed soon afterwards.

Newberry was 9-2 as a high school sophomore last season with a 1.23 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings while throwing two no hitters for the Cyclones.

“I chose Arkansas just because it’s been my dream school since I have been playing baseball,” Newberry said. “…I got it (the offer) earlier this morning and I tried to stay as calm as possible while talking to him.

“He texted me at 7:30 this morning to set up a call and I was actually driving to practice. I said I could call right now. So he called and offered me I accepted right away because I have always wanted to go to Arkansas. I ended it right there.”

Newberry is excited about the chance to work in the future with Hobbs, just named D-1 Baseball’s Assistant Coach of the Year and play for Razorback head coach Dave Van Horn.

“I am really excited for that and how he could teach me and help me get better,” Newberry said. “Coach Van Horn, I think personally he is the best coach in the country. I just like the way he does it and how he helps Arkansas win ball games.”

Newberry has shined on the mound this summer for the Sticks 16U Slayton/White Sox Scout team per Sticks founder and coach Chase Brewster.

“Trystan has kind of been known as THE left hander in the class for the most part,” Brewster said. “He has added some velocity and was up to 90 at the Futures Game this past week.

“He’s done everything he needed to do to get bigger and stronger and to continue and keep separating himself.

“When Coach Hobbs saw him again in Atlanta this summer and this past week, I think that was like icing on the cake that he was good enough for Arkansas.”

Newberry’s Russellville head coach is Will McCrotty, who played professionally with the Los Angles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians organizations.

He is also high school teammates with Arkansas 2025 pledge Russ Martin, a right hander pitcher.

“He has had a lot of success at Russellville for Coach McCrotty and he has had a mentor in Razorback commit Russ Martin, who has kind of really taught him the ropes,” Brewster said.

“He’s been one we gave the ball to in the big games this summer and he has done really well for us.”

That included his final start of the summer with Hobbs on hand to watch.

“I felt like I started off the summer a little rocky, but I was able to find it and get it back together and finish up strong,” Newberry said.

“Our last tournament in Millington, I pitched the first game and went 3 2/3 (innings) with no hits, seven strikeouts and no walks. I felt like I did pretty good that game.”

That comes after a spring in which he also hit .322 with a home run, 30 RBIs and 7 doubles in addition to his mound for a surprising Russellville squad that went 21-7 and lost in the Class 5A state playoffs to eventual state champion Valley View (31-2).

“I had a lot of fun this high school season other then the loss in the quarterfinals,” Newberry said. “I think me and our high school team did way better people thought we would.

“We had 21 wins, which is a lot more than people thought we would have. We exceeded everybody’s expectations.”

Brewster lauded Arkansas’ 2026 recruiting class, which now includes eight pledges – split evenly between in state and out of state prospects.

Those include standout Valley View catcher Keaton Mathis, Benton shortstop Marcus Bates, El Dorado outfielder Bretaveon Brown and Newberrry.

The Razorbacks also have commit from rthe Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove duo of shortstop Spencer Browning and outfielder Hunter Rose, Raymore (Mo.) Peculiar left handed pitcher Johnny Carver and right handed pitcher Lincoln Boyle of Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas.

“The overall ’26 class for the Arkansas Razorbacks is shaping up to be one of the best that I have ever seen,” Brewster said. “…These are some of the best players in the Midwest and they are all committed to play for the same place, which is a good thing for Coach Van Horn and Coach Thompson and (Arkansas hitting) Coach Hobbs and they are not done.”

Photo courtesy of Arkansas Sticks