Arkansas baseball 2023 MLB Draft Updates

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RHP Cody Adcock selected by Cincinnati Reds in 13th round

The second Arkansas pitcher to be selected by the Reds is Cody Adcock, who went 378th overall in the 13th round.

A former Ole Miss Rebel and JUCO transfer from Crowder College, Adcock spent one season in Fayetteville. He appeared in 26 games and started eight for the Diamond Hogs in 2023.

It was an up-and-down year for Adcock, who had a 5.88 ERA in 52.0 innings pitched. He struck out 46 batters and walked 25 during his lone year as a Diamond Hog.

The stuff is strong for Adcock, who can throw mid-to-upper-90s on the fastball.

3B Caleb Cali selected by Seattle Mariners in 16th round

After spending one season with the Razorbacks, Caleb Cali went 487th overall to the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the draft.

The junior college transfer from College of Central Florida appeared in 51 games and started 46 as a Hog. He slashed .308/.412/.512 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 37 RBIs. Cali committed six errors at third base and had a .950 fielding percentage.

Cali has been in college baseball for four seasons, so the decision to sign will weigh heavily.

RHP Gabe Gaeckle selected by Cincinnati Reds in 20th round

Right-handed pitcher Gabe Gaeckle out of Aptos High School in California was selected in the 20th round, but he previously told HawgBeat's Kevin Bohannon that he plans to make it to campus.

Ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 159 overall draft prospect, Gaeckle making it to campus in Fayetteville would be much-welcomed news for Van Horn and company.

"A bit undersized at 5-foot-11, Gaeckle is a strong and athletic right-hander with some interesting pitch ingredients," MLB Pipeline wrote. "His fastball has averaged around 92 mph this spring, up to 95, and he was up a tick or two higher over the summer. He has a live arm, and while the fastball tends to have a true plane, there’s a little hop to it. His hard curve, averaging around 76 mph, is his best pitch, and it could be plus, with high spin rates and a lot of depth."

LHP Hunter Hollan drafted No. 74 overall by Cincinnati Reds

After having one successful season as a starting pitcher for the Razorbacks, Hunter Hollan was the fourth player off the board on Day 2 of the MLB Draft.

The Cincinnati Reds decided to take Hollan with the 74th pick in the third round of the draft and they are getting a very talented lefty, who D1Baseball rated as the top left-handed college pitcher prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Hollan finished the 2023 season with a record of 8-2 and had an ERA of 4.13 in 80.2 innings pitched over 17 appearances. Hollan struck out 74 batters and walked 29 while allowing 37 earned runs on 82 hits.

OF Tavian Josenberger drafted No. 100 overall by Baltimore Orioles

After spending one season in Fayetteville as a transfer from Kansas, Josenberger was the 100th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Josenberger set career-highs with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs, 41 walks and 13 stolen bases with the Razorbacks in 2023 despite missing a portion of the season with a hamstring injury.

The outfielder out of Kansas City slashed .286/.414/.490 with the Diamond Hogs and he posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in centerfield.

RHP signee Dylan Questad drafted No. 150 overall by Minnesota Twins

The first Arkansas signee to go on Day 2 was right-handed pitcher Dylan Questad out of Waterford High School in Wisconsin.

Questad was rated as MLB Pipeline's No. 194 overall draft prospect as a righty who sits in the mid-90s on his fastball. The approximate slot value for Questad is $412,600.

"Questad leans heavily on his fastball, which sat at 92-94 mph and peaked at 97 last summer before dropping a tick or two this spring, albeit still with plenty of run and downhill plane coming out of his high arm slot," MLB Pipeline wrote. "He gets good depth on his upper-70s curveball and low-80s slider, though he's still learning to land them for strikes. He can impart some nasty late fade on his low-80s changeup but struggles to control it as well."

OF Jace Bohrofen drafted No. 184 overall by Toronto Blue Jays

Arkansas junior outfielder Jace Bohrofen was finally taken in the sixth round of the draft by Toronto after he had a career season in 2023 with the Diamond Hogs.

Bohrofen slashed .318/.436/.612 with a team-best 16 home runs and 15 doubles. He drove in 51 runs, scored a team-high 54 runs and he was hit by a team-best 16 pitches.

The 184th pick carries a slot value of approximately $304,700, according to MLB Pipeline.

LHP signee Tucker Holland will make it to campus

Perfect Game's No. 12 left-handed pitcher in the 2023 class will play for Arkansas as Tucker Holland announced via Twitter that he plans to play for the Diamond Hogs.

“Hog nation!! I’m home," Holland said in a tweet.

Holland is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound lefty who throws mid-90s on his fastball. The Burlington, North Carolina, native posted a 1.67 ERA with 96 strikeouts and 20 walks as a senior for The Burlington School.

RHP signee Barrett Kent drafted by Los Angeles Angels in 8th round

The Angels took right-handed pitcher signee Barrett Kent with the 234th overall pick in the eighth round of the draft on Monday. Kent was rated as MLB Pipeline's No. 126 draft prospect out of Pottsboro High School in Texas.

MLB Pipeline approximates Kent's draft slot value at $206,500.

"Kent's fastball typically ranged from 91-94 mph and peaked at 96 with downhill plane and armside run last summer, but he has only flashed that kind of velocity as a senior and hasn't maintained it for more than an inning or two when he has," MLB Pipeline wrote. "His most reliable secondary pitch is an 81-84 mph slider with two-plane break and he also owns an upper-70s curveball with bigger shape, though both have lacked consistency in 2023. He hasn't had much need or feel for a changeup yet, but his low-80s cambio has nice fade at times."

Indiana transfer RHP Craig Yoho drafted by Milwaukee Brewers in 8th round

Another tough blow for the Hogs in the eighth round as Indiana transfer right-hander Craig Yoho, who committed on June 28, was taken 242nd overall by the Brewers.

Yoho made 18 relief appearances and finished with a 3.41 ERA across 37.0 innings pitched for Indiana in 2023. Yoho gave up just 14 earned runs on 33 hits, he walked 19 batters and struck out 63 hitters. Opponents hit .232 against him and he also posted one save on the year.

The career path was an interesting one for Yoho, who played his first full season in his fifth year of college baseball in 2023. He told HawgBeat that he was going to seriously consider the draft after his commitment and with an approximate slot value of $196,700, it's safe to say Yoho won't make it to Fayetteville.

OF Jared Wegner drafted by New York Yankees in 9th round

A transfer from Creighton, outfielder Jared Wegner was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 282nd pick in the draft after he spent one season in Fayetteville.

Despite having a thumb injury hold him out from April 14-May 18, Wegner still managed to rack up four doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 51 RBIs as a Razorback. He slashed .313/.457/.673 during the 2023 season.

The approximate slot value for Wegner is $173,100, according to MLB Pipeline.

LHP signee Adam Hachman withdraws from draft

Arkansas left-handed pitcher signee Adam Hachman withdrew his name from the MLB Draft on Sunday, according to Carlos Collazo of Baseball America. Hachman is rated as MLB Pipeline's No. 101 draft prospect.

Hachman announced in late April that he needed Tommy John surgery, but the 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefty has the stuff to be special. A product of Timberland High School in Wentzville, Missouri, Hachman sits 94-97 miles per hour on his fastball and he tops out at nearly triple digits.

"Primarily a fastball pitcher at this point, Hachman also owns a rudimentary mid-80s changeup," MLB Pipeline wrote. "The Arkansas recruit didn't have the smoothest delivery even before he altered it, and the hope is that he'll develop average control once he gets healthy, fixes his arm action and adds more strength and experience. He comes with a lot of reliever risk but also a legitimate swing-and-miss fastball."

3B signee Aidan Miller drafted No. 27 overall by Philadelphia Phillies

Arkansas' top signee prospect Aidan Miller from J.W. Mitchell High School in Florida was drafted No. 27 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect has an approximate pick value of $2.97 million, according to MLB Pipeline. A broken hamate bone in his senior season was cause for a drop to late in the first round.

"Miller is a corner infielder with the kind of offensive profile pro teams want at that spot," MLB Pipeline wrote. "The right-handed hitter has easily plus raw power and has shown he can get to it in games against good competition, showing no difficulty in turning around elite velocity. He already has a lot of strength."

OF signee Kendall George drafted No. 36 overall by Los Angeles Dodgers

Arkansas outfielder signee Kendall George was the second signee off the board as the Los Angeles Dodgers took him No. 36 overall in the Competitive Balance Round A.

George was rated as the No. 65 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline's draft prospects board out of Atascocita High School in Texas.

"As fast as any high school player in the Draft, George draws repeated comparisons to Vanderbilt outfielder Enrique Bradfield, a no-doubt first-round pick," MLB Pipeline wrote. "George went from the left side of the plate to first base in 3.4 seconds on a bunt at the PDP League last July and can get there in less than four seconds with a normal swing. The center fielder on the U.S. national team that won the 18-and-under World Cup last September, he reached base 10 times in 18 trips to the plate and stole five bases at the event."

SS signee Nazzan Zanetello drafted No. 50 overall by Boston Red Sox

Arkansas shortstop signee Nazzan Zanetello was selected 50th overall in the second round by the Boston Red Sox. The approximate slot value for Zanetello is $1.70 million, according to MLB Pipeline.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound infielder built his draft stock with a strong showcase circuit, which featured MVP honors at the Breakthrough Series in June.

"While Zanetello has clocked run times that earn grades from anywhere from 45 to 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, the consensus is that he'll probably have solid speed once he's physically mature," MLB Pipeline wrote. "His athleticism and strong arm help him make plays at shortstop, where he projects as an average defender. The Arkansas commit has looked solid in stints in center field and should provide similar glovework if he shifts to third base."

SS signee Walker Martin drafted No. 52 overall by San Francisco Giants

Arkansas shortstop signee Walker Martin was selected No. 52 overall by the San Francisco Giants int he 2023 MLB Draft. His approximate slot value is $1.62 million, according to MLB Pipeline.

"A two-sport standout who serves as Eaton High School’s quarterback, Martin had football obligations that previously kept him from showing what he could do against good competition," MLB Pipeline wrote. "Now scouts think he has the chance to hit, with plenty of power, from the left side of the plate. He has a good swing with excellent rhythm at the plate, showing no difficulty in squaring up balls against elite competition, albeit in a very small sample size. The 6-foot-2 infielder has a lean build with plenty of room to add more strength and power."

RHP Jaxon Wiggins drafted No. 68 overall by Chicago Cubs

Though he did not play in the 2023 season due to a torn UCL that require Tommy John surgery before the season, Wiggins was selected No. 68 overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 MLB Draft.

At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Wiggins is a hard-throwing righty who has plenty of potential. The Roland, Oklahoma, native started in 15 games and appeared 17 times during the 2022 season for Arkansas. He posted a 6.55 ERA across 66.0 innings pitched. Wiggins struck out 82 batters and walked 43 as a sophomore in 2022.

As a true freshman in 2021, Wiggins appeared in 17 games for Arkansas. He posted a 5.91 ERA and struck out 28 batters in 23.0 innings pitched.

"Wiggins has flashed first-round stuff since his days as an Oklahoma high schooler and looked ready to take a step forward after pitching for the U.S. collegiate national team following his freshman season in 2021," MLB Pipeline wrote. "Instead, he struggled as Arkansas' Sunday starter last year and barely pitched in the last month while giving up 12 runs in his final five innings. He looked like a frontline starter this fall but his elbow began bothering him in January, and he'll miss the entire season after getting diagnosed with a torn ligament that required Tommy John surgery."

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