With the book closed on the 2023 MLB Draft, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn has a slightly more clear picture of his 2024 roster outlook.
Van Horn said after the season-ending loss to TCU in the Fayetteville Regional that he knew the Diamond Hogs would get "smoked" in the draft and that surely happened. Seven players, seven signees and one incoming transfer heard their name called in the 20-round event.
"The guys that come back, they’ve got a lot of experience and we’ve got to get the right other guys," Van Horn said. "The grad transfers, portal guys. We’ve got to get just the right ones. It’s not about getting the superstars all over the country. It’s about getting guys that are good players and good teammates."
Players will be coming and some will be going, as the transfer portal is open until Thursday for undergraduate players and the deadline to sign with an MLB team is July 25.
Just one of the drafted signees — right-handed pitcher Gabe Gaeckle — is not expected to sign with the team that selected him (Reds). Of the seven players drafted, the two Day 3 selections — right-handed pitcher Cody Adcock (13th round, Reds) and third baseman Caleb Cali (16th round, Mariners) — are the ones who could potentially not sign, but expect the rest to move on.
Per an NCAA one-year waiver, Arkansas can have a 40-man roster and spread 11.7 scholarships between a maximum of 32 players for the 2023-24 roster. These numbers are different than the usual 35-man roster and 11.7 scholarships spread between 27 players. Returning super seniors do not count towards roster numbers, as was displayed this season with Brady Slavens for Arkansas.
With all of that said, below is an in-depth breakdown of the roster, including who the top draft prospects are, who is out of eligibility and who still has eligibility. The year classification for each player is based on what Arkansas Athletics lists them as on the official roster.
This is a fluid story that will be updated as roster changes are made. For the latest intel on Arkansas baseball roster news, subscribe to HawgBeat for access to The Trough premium message board.
Out of eligibility
~ OF Jared Wegner
~ INF John Bolton
~ INF Brady Slavens
Entered transfer portal (*UPDATED on Aug. 9*)
*Players that were part of the 2023 roster*
~ INF Harold Coll
~ INF/OF Isaac Webb
~ OF Mason Neville
~ LHP Sean Fitzpatrick
~ LHP Zack Morris
Incoming transfers (*UPDATED on Aug. 9*)
~ C Hudson White - Texas Tech transfer
~ OF Ty Wilmsmeyer - Missouri transfer
~ 1B/DH Jack Wagner - Tarleton State transfer
~ LHP Stone Hewlett - Kansas transfer
~ INF Wehiwa Aloy - Sacramento State transfer
~ OF Ross Lovich - Missouri transfer
~ OF Lincoln Riley - Eastern Illinois transfer
~ LHP Mason Molina - Texas Tech transfer
~ INF Jared Sprague-Lott - Richmond transfer
Players/Signees Drafted
Drafted players
RHP Jaxon Wiggins - Round 2C, Pick 68 to Chicago Cubs
LHP Hunter Hollan - Round 3, Pick 74 to Cincinnati Reds
OF Tavian Josenberger - Round 3, Pick 100 to Baltimore Orioles
OF Jace Bohrofen - Round 6, Pick 184 to Toronto Blue Jays
OF Jared Wegner - Round 9, Pick 282 to New York Yankees
RHP Cody Adcock - Round 13, Pick 378 to Cincinnati Reds
3B Caleb Cali - Round 16, Pick 487 to Seattle Mariners
Drafted signees
3B Aidan Miller - Round 1, Pick 27 to Philadelphia Phillies
OF Kendall George - Round 1B, Pick 36 to Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Nazzan Zanetello - Round 2, Pick 50 to Boston Red Sox
SS Walker Martin - Round 2, Pick 52 to San Francisco Giants
RHP Dylan Questad - Round 5, Pick 150 to Minnesota Twins
RHP Barrett Kent - Round 8, Pick 234 to Los Angeles Angels
RHP Craig Yoho* - Round 8, Pick 242 to Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Gabe Gaeckle^ - Round 20, Pick 588 to Cincinnati Reds
* - incoming transfer from Indiana
^ - announced he doesn't intend on signing and will play for Arkansas