Arkansas’s 2024 Recruiting Outlook: Less Draft DecimationArkansas’s 2024 Recruiting Outlook: Less Draft Decimation Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn expressed frustration after the 2023 season, where several high school signees opted for professional baseball rather than joining the Razorbacks. This decimation of the recruiting class contributed to another early exit in the NCAA Tournament. However, the picture looks brighter for the 2024 class. Only two Razorbacks were selected in the MLB Draft’s third and final day: pitchers Jake Faherty (11th round) and Brady Tygart (12th round). Additionally, only two signees were drafted, with shortstop Tyson Lewis expected to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. Another positive sign is that the rest of the incoming transfer and freshman classes went undrafted, including Carson Wiggins, the brother of former Arkansas pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Wiggins was ranked among MLB.com’s top 100 prospects. Kendall Diggs also went undrafted, indicating he will likely play a fourth year in a Hog uniform. Arkansas 2024 Signing Class (18) * Tag-Andrews * Zane Becker * Brenton Clark * Eli Crecelius * Lance Davis * Steel Roof Edges * Jackson Farrell * Ross Felder * Gabe Fraser * Cole Gibler * Brent Iredale * Sam Lee * Tyson Lewis (expected to sign) * Eli Lovich (drafted, potential to sign) * Wade Mountz * Justin Thomas * Carson Wiggins * Carson Willis Transfer class 2024 (11) * Camden Kozeal (Vanderbilt) * Zach Root (East Carolina) * Michael Anderson (Rhode Island) * Aiden Jimenez (Oregon State) * Rocco Peppi (Fresno State) * Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State) * Logan Maxwell (TCU) * Maximus Martin (Georgia State) * Carson Hansen (Milwaukee) * Charles Davalan (FGCU) * Kuhio Aloy (BYU)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn lamented how the 2023 signing class was decimated by the MLB Draft, with four high school players opting to go pro ball instead of being Razorbacks. Turning a top-ranked 2023 recruiting class, according to Perfect Game, into another early exit in the NCAA Tournament.
“Last year, the draft killed us,” Van Horn said after losing for the second straight year at the Fayetteville Regional. “Absolutely killed us. Last year, we lost four freshmen that would have been freshmen on this team. They got $11 million total for all four of them.”
This year, there should be no such problem. The third and final day of the 2024 MLB Draft ended with only two Razorbacks selected. Two pitchers were selected in the later rounds. Jake Faherty was selected in the 11th round with the 334th overall pick by the Miami Marlins. Brady Tygart was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round with the 357th overall pick.
Also, only two signees have been drafted. Shortstop Tyson Lewis, who was drafted in the second round, has already announced his intention to sign with the Cincinnati Reds.
#BREAK: Tyson Lewis (@Tlewi212) tells me he plans to sign with the Cincinnati Reds.
The @MWCatsBaseball Shortstop was selected 51st overall in the MLB Draft with an estimated closing value of $1.8 million.
Hear more from Lewis at 6pm and 10am on @KETV.
photo.twitter.com/EqnJ0rkXUJ
— Matt Sottile (@MSottileTV) July 15, 2024
Eli Lovich, the younger brother of Arkansas outfielder Ross Lovich, was also drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round. A good round to spend the money a team saved by underdrafting in the first 10 rounds. The rest of both the incoming transfer class and the freshman class went undrafted, including another younger sibling of a former Razorback. Carson Wiggins, the brother of Jaxon Wiggins, was a pitcher ranked in MLB.com’s top 100 prospects but ended the draft as the third-highest prospect still on the board.
Kendall Diggs also went undrafted, almost certain to see him play a fourth year in a Hog uniform and likely earn a spot as an infielder.
Arkansas 2024 Signing Class (18):
Tag-Andrews
Zane Becker
Brenton Clark
Eli Crecelius
Lance Davis
Steel Roof Edges
Jackson Farrell
Ross Felder
Gabe Fraser
Cole Gibler
Brent Iredale
Sam Lee
Tyson Lewis (expected to sign)
Eli Lovich (drafted, potential to sign)
Wade Mountz
Justin Thomas
Carson Wiggins
Carson Willis
Transfer class 2024 (11):
Camden Kozeal (Vanderbilt)
Zach Root (East Carolina)
Michael Anderson (Rhode Island)
Aiden Jimenez (Oregon State)
Rocco Peppi (Fresno State)
Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State)
Logan Maxwell (TCU)
Maximus Martin (Georgia State)
Carson Hansen (Milwaukee)
Charles Davalan (FGCU)
Kuhio Aloy (BYU)
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