Arkansas Razorbacks: 2026 Season Preview
Dave Van Horn's program is a machine. The Hogs reload every year with elite talent and compete for SEC titles. This team has the arms to pitch deep into June and a lineup that can match anyone in the conference.
The Program
2025 Season Results
Season Highlights
Reached the Super Regional behind dominant pitching
Hagen Smith: 11-2, 2.05 ERA — SEC Pitcher of the Year finalist
Peyton Stovall hit .312 with 15 stolen bases from the leadoff spot
Team ERA of 3.38 ranked second in the SEC
Won 21 SEC games — third-best in the conference
2026 Roster Breakdown
Key returnees and transfer portal additions
Key Returnees
Peyton Stovall
2B · Jr.Haughton, LA product. Elite contact hitter and table-setter. His on-base ability and baserunning instinct make him one of the most complete offensive players in the SEC.
Hagen Smith
LHP · Jr.Bullard, TX product. The best left-handed pitcher in the SEC. Three plus pitches, elite command, and a competitiveness that rises in big moments.
Jace Bohrofen
OF · Sr.Veteran outfielder with consistent production. Power-speed combination in right field. Anchors the middle of the order.
Hudson White
C · Jr.Strong defensive catcher who improved his bat in SEC play. Plus arm and game-calling ability. The staff trusts him.
Brady Slavens
1B/DH · R-Sr.Veteran power bat. 14 home runs with the ability to hit the ball out to any field. Provides lineup protection around the top-of-the-order hitters.
Ben Bybee
RHP · Jr.Saturday starter with a power sinker. Gets groundballs at an elite rate and pitches deep into games.
Transfer Portal Additions
Thad Ector
OF · Jr.Power-speed outfielder from a Big 12 program. Adds middle-of-the-order thump and defensive range.
Will McEntire
RHP · R-Sr.Experienced SEC arm who knows conference hitters. Adds rotation depth behind Smith and Bybee.
Gabe Swansen
INF · Jr.Versatile infielder from a Big 12 contender. Professional approach and defensive versatility.
Max Rajcic
RHP · R-Sr.Sunday starter or long reliever. Fills innings and competes deep into games.
Pitching Staff Analysis
The Headline
Hagen Smith is the best left-handed pitcher in the SEC. An 11-2 record with a 2.05 ERA and 148 strikeouts — his slider is the single best pitch in college baseball. Friday nights at Baum-Walker belong to him.
The Rotation
Ben Bybee (3.28 ERA, 91 K) is the Saturday workhorse with a power sinker that generates groundballs at an elite rate. Will McEntire (from Missouri) fills the Sunday spot with SEC experience. Max Rajcic (from Stanford) gives Van Horn a fourth option for midweek starts or long relief.
The Depth
Arkansas develops arms better than anyone in the SEC. The bullpen pieces are homegrown — hard-throwing right-handers who pound the zone and do not walk hitters. Van Horn has built a culture where pitchers compete for every inning. The depth shows in April and May when other staffs thin out.
Lineup Analysis
The Engine
Peyton Stovall (.312, 15 SB) is the catalyst. His on-base ability from the leadoff spot creates run-scoring opportunities every inning. He takes pitches, draws walks, and once he reaches base, he is a threat to steal at any time.
The Middle
Jace Bohrofen (.285, 11 HR) and Brady Slavens (.275, 14 HR) provide the power. Bohrofen drives the ball to all fields. Slavens is a pure run producer. Thad Ector (from Oklahoma State, 13 HR) adds another power-speed element to the middle of the order.
The Supporting Cast
Hudson White (.262, 8 HR) improved as the season progressed. Gabe Swansen (from TCU) gives Van Horn lineup flexibility. The Hogs have always been a team that manufactures runs when power is not there — that small-ball DNA is in the program.
2026 Schedule Highlights
Scouting Verdict
20–80 scouting scale
BSI Projection
Arkansas is the program that always reloads. Van Horn has built something in Fayetteville that produces competitive teams year after year regardless of who leaves. Hagen Smith is the best pitcher in the conference, Stovall is one of the best table-setters, and the portal additions fill every gap. The Hogs have the arms to pitch deep into June. If the lineup clicks, this team can get back to Omaha.