Razorbacks' Slim Shot at MLB Draft History Sunday Night

Arkansas Baseball Players Prepare for MLB Draft

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The day has finally arrived for Arkansas baseball players to take the next step in their careers, transitioning from college to professional baseball. The MLB Draft is set to begin on Sunday night, marking a pivotal moment for the Razorbacks.

Historically, the Razorbacks have never had more than one first-round pick in a single year. This makes the upcoming draft an opportunity for the program to make history. Four players—shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, left-handed pitcher Zach Root, right-handed pitcher Gage Wood, and outfielder Charles Davalan—are considered potential first-round selections.

This would be a significant achievement, as the Razorbacks have never had back-to-back seasons with a first-round pick. If any of these players are selected, they would follow Hagen Smith, who was chosen fifth overall by the Chicago White Sox in 2024. Prior to that, the program saw first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 with Ryne Stanek and Andrew Benintendi, respectively.

The likelihood of all four players being selected in the first round is rare, given that the Razorbacks have only had four first-round picks since 2013. Stanek was the last right-handed pitcher taken in the first round. If all four are drafted in the first round, it would mark the first time in the 60-year history of the MLB Draft that four players from the same school are selected in the first round in the same year.

While three players from the same school being selected in the first round is not uncommon—such as Wake Forest in 2024 and LSU in 2023—no school has ever had four. Several factors can influence a player’s draft position, including their desired signing bonus. The slot value assigned by the league is just a suggestion, and teams can choose to go over or under the amount.

For example, Hagen Smith signed for roughly $300,000 above his slot value last year. Most mock drafts suggest that Aloy and Wood will be selected in the first round, likely between the late teens and early twenties. The Athletic, MLB.com, and ESPN all have the duo in the first round, which could create school history.

ESPN has Root going in the competitive balance portion of the first round at 35th overall to the Seattle Mariners. Davalan is projected to fall to the second round. However, The Athletic is the only mock draft that has all four Razorbacks in the first round. It features three straight Razorback picks from No. 25-27, with Root going first to the San Diego Padres, followed by Gage Wood to the Philadelphia Phillies, and Charles Davalan to the Cleveland Guardians.

The MLB Draft will start at 5 p.m. on Sunday on ESPN. The network will cover the first 43 picks before shifting coverage to MLB Network. Rounds 4-20 will be streamed live on MLB.com starting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

With the anticipation building, the Razorbacks are poised to make a historic impact in this year's draft. Whether or not all four players are selected in the first round, the program is entering an exciting chapter in its baseball legacy.