Island Takeover: New-look Hogs Feature Pair of Powerful Hawaiians
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's right around this time of year when people begin to seek refuge in Arkansas baseball. Now fans have an exciting group of transfers and freshman recruits to learn who are looking to play a part immediately.
Spearheading the new players fighting for infield spots are two middle infielders from Hawaii, Wehiva Aloy and Nolan Souza. With the departure of John Bolton, last year's starting shortstop, the position is for the taking. Aloy transferred in from Sacramento State where he hit .376 as a freshman with 14 home runs and was named to the Freshman All-America team by D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball.
Aloy also flashed his power throughout fall ball, finishing with five home runs in 39 at-bats and hitting .308 according to unofficial stats kept by Arkansas media members.
"He’s just getting better and better with the glove," coach Dave Van Horn said of Aloy in November. "Big kid. Got a lot of power. He’s very coachable. He’s letting us coach him and we’re watching him get better."
The Razorbacks have former infielder Rick Nomura, who played second base for the Hogs from 2015-16 to thank for pulling both Hawaiians to Fayetteville. Aloy is soaking up that he and Souza are on the same team.
"It's pretty cool," Aloy said in October. "Two Hawaiians on the same team is definitely rare."
Souza is part of the second-best freshman class nationally according to Perfect Game, and is the No. 70 overall prospect for the class of 2023 and brings some serious power of his own.
"He's [Souza] got incredible power,' Van Horn said after a scrimmage. "He's hitting balls over the Baum-Walker [sign]. Both of our kids from Hawaii are very strong."
Both are in the running for significant playing time as the weather slowly begins to warm up and the season edges ever closer. The Razorbacks open its 2024 campaign with a four-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium against James Madison in February.
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