Arkansas survives MLB Draft with talented prep class almost intact

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft turned out to be much more friendly to the Arkansas diamond program in terms of recruits than than the previous one.

A year after seven Diamond Hog signees were taken in the 2023 event, only two future Razorbacks were selected in the this year’s 20-round draft.

Omaha (Neb.) Millard West shortstop Tyson Lewis – the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year – was taken Sunday night by Cincinnati in the second round with the 51st overall pick.

Lewis, whose pick’s slot value is 1.8 million, announced shortly afterwards that he plans to sign with the Reds and begin his professional career right away.

“I think we are going to sign,” Lewis told KETV’s Matt Scottile. “The Reds gave me a pretty good chunk of money and they met what I was looking for. I think we are going to ge the pro career going. It’s pretty cool. The next few days I will get sent down to their spring training place, sign my contract and then we will get going, start playing and start the grind.”

The other signee taken was Blue Valley (Kan.) West outfield Eli Lovich (6-4, 175), a prep standout the Chicago Cubs took in the 11th round with the 332nd overall selection.

Lovich, the Maxpreps Kansas Player of the Year, hit .414 and also had a 1.22 ERA his senior season and is brother of former Razorback Ross Lovich and current Missouri first baseman Jackson Lovich.

The Razorbacks signed 17 high school stars, including pitchers Cason Wiggins of Roland, Okla., and Cole Gibler of Blue Springs, Mo., two top 150 MLB Draft prospects that both now will be at Arkansas next season.

Westminster (Calif.) Orange Lutheran shortstop Gabe Fraser announced on Monday night that he was pulling his name out of the draft and has plans to play for the Razorbacks next season.

The Razorbacks did have 8 current Razorbacks chosen led by pitcher Hagen Smith going fifth overall to the Chicago White Sox.

Arkansas second baseman Peyton Stovall went in the fourth round to Cincinnati and pitcher Mason Molina was selected by Milwaukee in the seventh round of round.

A trio of Razorbacks were taken in the ninth round on Monday with third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott (Oakland), catcher Hudson White (Boston) and first baseman Ben McLaughlin (Arizona) all getting their names called.

There were two others taken on Tuesday with Jake Faherty chosen by Miami in the 11th round and Brady Tygart going to Boston in the 12th.

Arkansas had added a total of 35 signees via high school, junior college and the transfer portal before the draft.

Photo courtesy of Razorbacks Communications

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Arkansas transfer portal additions (12):

• Kuhio Aloy, 1B-DH, 6-1, 200, BYU
• Michael Anderson, 1B, 6-3, 227, Rhode Island

• Landon Beidelschies, LHP, 6-3, 225, Ohio State
• Carson Boles, OF, 5-11, 190, Lincoln Memorial (Division II)

• Charles Davalan, OF-2B, 5-10, 180, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Carson Hansen, OF, 6-2, 220, Milwaukee
• Aiden Jimenez, RHP, 6-3, 216, Oregon State
• Camden Kozeal, 2B, 5-11, 207, Vanderbilt
• Maximus Martin, SS-OF, 6-1, 185, Georgia State
• Logan Maxwell, OF, 5-10, 175, TCU
• Rocco Peppi, OF, 5-11, 200, Fresno State

• Zach Root, LHP, 6-1, 177, East Carolina

Arkansas junior college signees (6):

• Brent Iredale, 3B, 6-2, 220, Hobbs (NM) New Mexico JC
• Kolton Reynolds, OF, 6-2, 215, Neosho (Mo.) Crowder CC
• Trenton Rowan, INF, 6-2, 200, Liberal (Kan.) Seward County CC

• Carson Schrack, IF, 5-9, 170, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC
  • Justin Thomas, OF, 6-0, 190, Florida Southwestern State (Georgia)
  • Elliott Peterson, C, 6-1, 200, Beatrice (Neb.) Southeast Community College

Arkansas high school signees (17):

• Tag Andrews, RHP, 6-0, 185, Maumelle
  • Zane Becker C, 6-0, 185, Flower Mound, Texas
  • Kel Busby, RHP, 6-2, 200, Pulaski Academy
  • Brenton Clark, OF, 6-0, 190 Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove
• Eli Crecelius, RHP, 6-2, 210, Valley View
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• Lance Davis, RHP, 6-4, 205, Valley View
  • Steele Eaves, RHP, 6-0, 195, Lonoke
• Jackson Farrell, LHP, 6-3, 210, Owasso (Okla.) Jenks
  • Ross Felder, RHP, 6-3, 190, Springdale Har-Ber
  • Gabe Fraser, INF, 6-2, 185, Westmister (Calif.) Orange Lutheran
  • Cole Gibler, LHP, 6-0, 175, Blue Springs, Mo.
• Sam Lee, OF, 5-011, 175, Montgomery, Texas, Lake Creek
• Tyson Lewis, INF, 6-2, 195, Omaha (Neb.) Millard West
• Eli Lovich, OF, 6-4, 175, Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley West
• Wade Mountz, RHP, 6-7, 230, Morgan Hills (Calif.) Bellarmine College Prep
  • Carson Wiggins, RHP, 6-5, 210, Roland, Okla.
• Carson Willis, C, 5-11, 195, Rogers P27 Academy

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