Arkansas is getting ready to lose some of its top talent to the 2024 MLB Draft and is preparing to start from scratch with the roster. The Razorbacks hadseven of their players selected in last year's draft, with six being taken in the first nine rounds.
Left-handed ace Hagen Smith had one of the most dominant seasons in college baseball history as a pitcher after putting up a 9-2 record with an ERA of 2.04 across 84 innings while striking out 161 batters. He is projected to be selected in the first round as the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, according to MLB.com. The Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year is the all-time career strikeout leader in Hog history with 360 and set an NCAA record for most strikeouts per nine innings in a single season at 17.25 during his junior year.
"You take Hagen Smith away from us and we're just pretty average," Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. "We fielded the ball really good this year. I think we probably fielded .982, which is probably in the top three or four in the country. We didn't make very many mistakes.
"He's one of the best pitchers I've ever had.He's such a difference-maker for our team."
Second baseman Peyton Stovall is projected as the No. 74 overall pick after leading the team in batting average at .340 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team along with shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, despite missing the first 12 games of the season with a broken foot that he suffered in February. Stovall was going to be a selection in the 2021 MLB Draft after being rated the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana but withdrew from the draft to develop his skills at Arkansas.
Right-hander Brady Tygart is predicted to be the No. 180 overall pick after he appeared in 14 games (13 starts) this seasonwhile posting a record of 4-3 and an ERA of 3.94 across 59.1 innings with 69 punch outs. The Hernando (Miss.) native did not appear in the Fayetteville Regional due to an injury to his right shoulder. The injuryoccurred in a 9-6 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats inthe SEC Tournament on May 23.
Fellow righty Mason Molina was invited to the MLB Combine on Friday afternoon. He made 15 appearances on the mound (13 starts) after transferring in from Texas Tech and registered a 4-2 record with a 4.47 ERA in 58.1 innings while striking out 81 hitters. Molina struggled as a starter later in the year but was a huge help out of the bullpen for the Razorbacks.
Hudson White is another transfer from Texas Tech who got an invite to the combine. He was the team's starting catcher and hit for .297 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 46 games (43 starts) while committing just three errors. White slashedfor .404 with seven moonshots and 19 RBIs in his last 13 games of the season.
"Going to lose your second baseman," Van Horn said. "I don't think the first baseman will be back. Starting catcher's gone. Starting third baseman graduates. Your whole rotation will probably go if they get an opportunity. I could go on and on. I think about it every day. It's just the way it is. It's the way it is these days."
Outfielder Kendall Diggs swung for a .229 average but hit seven dingers and drove in 34 runs while putting together an on-base percentage of .346. He was banged up for most of the year in right field but still earned an invite to the combine due to his great plays on defense.
Right-hander Jake Faherty is a dark horse who could get his name called by a pro team after finishing the year with a 1.84 ERA through 14.2 innings of work in 16 relief appearances while carving up 26 batters. He is currently pitching for the Wareham Gateman in the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer while brandishing a fastball that maxes out at 99 miles per hour.
The 2024 Draft Combine will take place from June Wednesday to Sunday at Chase Field for invited draft-eligible players. The 2024 MLB Draft will follow from July 14-16 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth (Texas).
