Razorbacks Finish with Baseball America's No. 2 Recruiting Class
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ 2023 recruiting class finished ranked No. 2 in the country, the program’s highest-ranked class in the 24-year history of Baseball America’s rankings.
The Razorbacks had Baseball America’s No. 1 class on signing day last fall, but dropped to No. 2 after losing a nation-leading six high school recruits in the MLB draft.
Baseball America’s recruiting rankings take into account all players from the high school and junior college ranks and were compiled following conversations with coaches and scouts. Four-year transfers were not considered for the ranking.
2. Arkansas
Recruiting coordinator: Nate Thompson
Top recruit: Adam Hachman, LHP
Overview: Arkansas last fall signed the No. 1 class but suffered some significant losses in the draft as four of its recruits were drafted in the first 52 picks. That knocked the Razorbacks out of the top spot, but they still end up with their highest-ranked class in the 24-year history of the rankings.
Hitters: Catcher Ryder Helfrick (143) is a good athlete and a solid defender behind the plate, showing off a plus arm and good hands. The right-handed hitter has an aggressive approach at the plate and shows solid power potential. Infielder Nolan Souza (287) has a disciplined approach at the plate, a short left-handed swing and solid power potential. His offensive upside stands out the most, but he’s a versatile defender who can play anywhere on the infield. Ty Waid has a powerful right-handed swing and gets to his power well. He has a lot of experience catching, but his bat would play well at first base or in an outfield corner. Outfielder Will Edmunson comes to Arkansas after a stellar offensive year in the junior college ranks. The right-handed hitter stands out for his feel at the plate and his above-average speed makes him a threat on the bases. Kade Smith has a strong right-handed swing and two-way potential thanks to his arm strength.
Pitchers: Hachman was ranked as a top-100 prospect in the draft class before he formally removed himself from consideration. Listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he had one of the biggest arms in the prep class and offers significant promise, but he suffered an elbow injury that required surgery (not Tommy John) that will likely sideline him through at least the fall. When he’s healthy, his fastball reaches the upper 90s with a high spin rate and riding life up in the zone. He has some feel for spinning his curveball and mixes in a changeup, as well. Like most young power pitchers, he needs to further refine his control, but the upside is easy to see. Right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (101) is undersized at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds but has high-end stuff. He was drafted in the 20th round by the Reds but did not sign. His fastball works in the mid 90s with riding action up in the zone. He has a big, high-spin curveball and can mix in a changeup. He’ll need to refine his control but has upside as a weekend starter. Left-hander Colin Fisher (223) was a standout high school quarterback and his football responsibilities meant he was a little under the radar going into his senior year. That changed in the spring when he showed a tick more velocity with more to come as he focuses on baseball and fills out his 6-foot-3 frame. He attacks hitters with a fastball that gets into the low 90s and a promising changeup. Left-hander Hunter Dietz has a big build at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and an advanced feel for pitching. His fastball works in the low 90s and he pairs it with a hard slider and a promising changeup. Left-hander Tucker Holland has a big, physical build at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. He has a long track record as a performer and his velocity has ticked up, getting into the low 90s. He throws two breaking balls and a changeup, giving him a starter profile. Right-hander Jonah Conradt has a projectable build at 6-foot-3, 173 pounds. He has a quick arm and runs his fastball into the low 90s. Right-hander Tate McGuire doesn’t have as big stuff as some of his classmates but stands out for his athleticism and pitchability. His fastball works in the upper 80s and he mixes in a good changeup and slider. Right-hander Jaewoo Cho is a native of South Korea who came to the United States in middle school. He has a solid four-pitch mix with a fastball that sits in the upper 80s and good feel for his secondary offerings. His feel for pitching and control should help him quickly carve out a role. Right-hander Diego Ramos, whose older brother Javier pitched at Oklahoma, runs his fastball up to 94 mph but has flown a bit under the radar so far.
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