Arizona Lands Major Addition for its 2026 Recruiting Class

Arizona and head coach Chip Hale have been busy during the offseason filling out its 2026 roster and making additions to the recruiting class.

Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Arizona Head Coach Chip Hale looks on during the third inning of the Super Regionals game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

The 2025 college baseball season is well over and Arizona’s success getting to the College World Series, which featured a Super Regional 2-1 series win over No. 5 seed North Carolina is a massive stepping stone and tone setter for the program moving forward under head coach Chip Hale.

Like we have talked about before, Hale has done a great job of keeping the talent on the roster following the trip to the CWS. Outside of graduating players and players taking the next step to the MLB draft, Arizona will have key players returning, making for an interesting 2026 season.

The starting rotation will have talent coming back in Smith Bailey and Owen Kramkowski set to take on bigger roles after ending the season on a high note with the two combining for 11 innings of work in the CWS and struck out 11 batters while giving up just five runs.

Jun 15, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Louisville Cardinals shortstop Alex Alicea (0) slides safe to second against Arizona Wildcats shortstop Mason White (24) during the third inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Even with things going in the right direction, that hasn’t stopped Hale from looking across the country and seeing what players the Wildcats can snag in the portal to improve the 2026 roster.

In all, Arizona has been able to bring in eight transfers ahead of the window closing, which has officially closed for the time being.

The players that Arizona has added are pitchers RHP JT Drake (Texas Tech), LHP Luc Fladda (Tulane), RHP Corey Kling (South Florida), LHP Patrick Morris (Western Kentucky). RHP Nolan Straniero (Elon)

Off the mound, the Wildcats have added three position players in INF Tyler Bickers (Milwaukee), C Beau Sylvester (Oklahoma State) and OF Carson McEntire (Oregon State).

Recently, Arizona received a commitment for its 2026 recruiting class in right-handed pitcher and third baseman Jack Byers from Artesia, N. M., who has been heavily recruited by Hale and his coaching staff.

Byers is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound pitcher that also has done some work as an infielder during his time in high school.

On Perfect Game, they have tracked his fastball and have it radared at 92 MPH, which was recorded last on June 26, during the travel ball time of the season.

The average fastball speed for his recruiting class is 75 MPH with his sitting at 92, this puts Byers in the 99% of his class.

Since the 2022 season, Byers has seen his fastball increase 11 MPH making him a power-throwing right-handed pitcher.

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