While the No. 2 Arkansas Razorbacks’ season begins to heat up in SEC play, several former Hogs are continuing to make their mark in the professional ranks. Arkansas currently has eight former players in the MLB, along with 35 more vying for spots at various minor-league levels.
Following this summer’s MLB Draft, several players on Arkansas’ current squad will join the list and begin their professional careers, and we’ll keep track of their progress for you while they chase their dreams of making it to The Show.
We’re going to go level by level and take a look at where each former Diamond Hog is at and who is making the strongest cases for promotions at the moment.
MLB (8 ProHogs)
Frankly, there aren’t a ton of notable developments taking place in the big leagues for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs have a nice group that includes some veterans looking to extend their stay in the majors as well as some young up-and-comers looking to find a permanent home.
After starting 68 games on the mound over the last three years, 35-year-old Drew Smyly has transitioned to a bullpen role nicely for the Cubs, as has Ryne Stanek with his new team in Seattle. In his first full season at the Major League level, Dominic Fletcher has begun to settle in nicely as the everyday center fielder with the White Sox, posting five hits in his last five games.
Jalen Beeks (Colorado Rockies) – 8 G, 1-1, 3.86 ERA, 7 IP, 5 K/5 BB
Andrew Benintendi (Chicago White Sox) – 15 G, .169/.222/.186, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Isaiah Campbell (Boston Red Sox) – 7 G, 0-1, 12.79 ERA, 6.1 IP, 5 K/2 BB
Dominic Fletcher (Chicago White Sox) – 14 G, .256/.341/.333, 0 HR, 4 RBI
James McCann (Baltimore Orioles) – 7 G, .238/.238/.286, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Drew Smyly (Chicago Cubs) – 6 G, 3.72 ERA, 9.2 IP, 10 K/5 BB
Ryne Stanek (Seattle Mariners) – 6 G, 3.38 ERA, 5.1 IP, 7 K/3 BB
Trevor Stephan (Cleveland Guardians) – 0 G (60-Day IL)
AAA (8 ProHogs)
While the Orioles do have one of the most talented rosters in all of baseball, they haven’t gotten a ton of production from their corner outfield spots. Nobody wants to call up a top prospect only for him to be in and out of the lineup, but Kjerstad is making it tough for the organization to keep him off the MLB roster.
Former Razorback relievers Kevin Kopps and Matt Cronin are on strict big-league debut watch. Neither are on their respective teams’ 40-man rosters, and Cronin hasn’t even pitched this season as he recovers from a back surgery last summer, but both are right on the doorstep of the majors and could be called on to get big leaguers out at some point this summer.
The Razorbacks also have a trio of established big leaguers looking to get another crack in The Show in Brian Anderson, Zach Jackson and Dallas Keuchel. This level will continue to be one to keep an eye on as former Hogs move up and down in their respective farm systems.
Brian Anderson (SEA) – 13 G, .152/.235/.196, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Jax Biggers (TEX) – 11 G, .212/.325/.364, 0 HR, 7 RBI
Matt Cronin (WSH) – 0 G (IL)
Zach Jackson (OAK) – 4 G, 0-1, 15.00 ERA, 3 IP, 3 K/8 BB
Dallas Keuchel (SEA) – 2 G, 0.90 ERA, 10 IP, 7 K/2 BB
Heston Kjerstad (BAL) – 15 G, .361/.438/.771, 7 HR, 27 RBI
Grant Koch (PIT) – 5 G, .167/.167/.444, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Kevin Kopps (SD) – 6 G, 0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 9 K/7 BB
AA (13 ProHogs)
The AA level is always a key test for any pro ballplayer. You’re no longer facing as many young prospects trying to figure things out or guys with no shot at seeing The Show. And in this particular season, there’s a prominent former Razorback in just about every game you see.
On the hitting side, Robert Moore and Casey Martin have been reunited in the Phillies organization after spending one season together (2020) at Arkansas. They’re joined in AA by a group of Hogs making their first appearances at the level, with Jared Wegner finding the most early success with two home runs.
Connor Noland spent all of his first full pro season at the High-A level in the Cubs’ organization, and he put together a strong first start at the AA level over the weekend. Patrick Wicklander had a solid season after getting promoted to AA in 2023, and he’s taken his game to a new level in the bullpen for the Montgomery Biscuits while waiting on his former Arkansas teammate Jalen Battles to get back from injury.
If you’ve missed watching Cayden Wallace play baseball, you don’t have to go far to find him as he continues to get acquainted with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Springdale. He’s calmed down a bit after a fast start, and he’s got a chance to work his way quickly through the Royals’ organization if he can build on a solid campaign in 2023. He could also be joined by one of his former Arkansas teammates soon, as well…
Jalen Battles (TBR) – 0 G (7-day IL)
Christian Franklin (CHC) – 7 G, .217/.280/.348, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Jacob Kostyshock (COL) – 0 G (7-day IL)
Lael Lockhart (DET) – 2 G, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 6 IP, 11 K/2 BB
Casey Martin (PHI) – 5 G, /.067/.177/.133 0 HR, 0 RBI
Robert Moore (PHI) – 6 G, .357/.500/.357, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Connor Noland (CHC) – 1 G, 2.25 ERA, 4 IP, 8 K/1 BB
Jake Reindl (CHC) – 2 G, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 4 K/0 BB
Cody Scroggins (BOS) 1 G, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 0 K/0 BB
Michael Turner (CWS) – 6 G, .158/.238/.211, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Cayden Wallace (KC) – 8 G, .188/.257/.313, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Jared Wegner (NYY) – 9 G, .226/.294/.548, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Patrick Wicklander (TBR) – 3 G, 0.00 ERA, 5.1 IP, 9 K/3 BB
High-A (8 ProHogs)
The High-A level serves as a nice proving ground for prospects looking to launch their way up the farm system, and the Hogs have a few notable names looking to cement an upward trajectory to begin the 2024 season.
Former Razorback catcher Casey Opitz is on firm promotion watch after spending time in A+ a year ago and getting off to a strong start this spring. Left-handed pitcher Evan Taylor is also on a nice track after a really strong campaign in Low-A last season.
Two of Arkansas’ starting outfielders from last year, Jace Bohrofen and Tavian Josenberger, are looking to make some noise in their age-22 season after being selected in last year’s draft. This level could become one of the more intriguing to follow as the sample sizes grow.
Jace Bohrofen (TOR) – 9 G, .280/.486/.320, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Tavian Josenberger (BAL) – 7 G, .250/.438/.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Chris Lanzilli (CWS) – 8 G, .208/.333/.333, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Evan Lee (WSH) – 2 G, 40.50 ERA, 1.1 IP, 1 K/4 BB
Caden Monke (KC) – 0 G (60-Day IL)
Casey Opitz (CHC) – 5 G, .294/.368/.647, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Peyton Pallette (CWS) – 1 G, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 3 IP, 7 K/1 BB
Evan Taylor (MIA) – 2 G, 1 Save, 3.00 ERA, 3 IP, 4 K/0 BB
Low-A (4 ProHogs)
Go ahead and throw Caleb Cali on Promotion Watch since he probably should be in High-A already. The Montverde (Fla.) native played well in his first 13 games as a pro last year after hitting over .300 as a Razorback, and he’s picked up right where he left off to start the year in the Mariners’ system.
While Cali is the only former Hog making waves in Low-A at the moment, this level could quickly become one to keep an eye on after the draft, which will be right around the same time that two more former Razorbacks are set to return from injury.
Right-hander Jaxon Wiggins missed all of the 2023 season for the Razorbacks after undergoing Tommy John surgery in February, but he was still selected in the 2nd round by the Chicago Cubs. Left-hander Hunter Hollan was taken in the 3rd round by the Cincinnati Reds and will make his professional debut later this season following a much-needed procedure in the offseason after battling through injury during his time in Fayetteville.
Mark Adamiak (OAK) – 2 G, 16.20 ERA, 1.2 IP, 1 K/0 BB
Cody Adcock (CIN) – 2 G, 2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3 K/3 BB
Caleb Cali (SEA) – 3 G, .500/.769/1.167, 0 HR, 2 RBI
Zebulon Vermillion (NYM) – 0 G (60-Day IL)