Trio of Razorbacks Rack Up Preseason Accolades
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ potential starters continue to bring in preseason accolades. Newcomer Wehiwa Aloy, a transfer short stop from Sacramento State, is being touted as Top 10 at his position by D1 Baseball.
As a freshman in California, Aloy lit up opposing pitchers with a .376 batting average and found himself on base .427 percent of the time. The right-hander hit for 15 doubles and showed blazing speed with five triples. Aloy can clear the yard showing solid pop with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs.
The Hawaiian native was in high demand in the transfer portal with 30+ offers, but chose the Razorbacks over LSU, Cal and Oregon State. Aloy wanted to play in arguably the toughest baseball conference in America with one of the best players next to him at second base, Peyton Stovall.
“I watched SEC ball growing up and while at Sacramento State,” Aloy said. “Once I saw [Peyton Stovall] at Arkansas, I said ‘Yeah, I really want to work with him because he’s one of the best in the nation and he gets me better everyday."
Aloy has continued to receive other preseason accolades. Tuesday, the NCBWA offered the transfer second team praise alongside teammate Hagen Smith to add to freshman All-American honors following an electric season in 2023.
Smith was a consensus All-American a season ago. The rising junior made 18 appearances with 11 starts last season during his sophomore campaign.
The lefty posted an 8-2 record with a 3.64 ERA, a team-leading 109 strikeouts and two saves in 71 2/3 innings of work. Smith was a semifinalist for last year’s Golden Spikes Award and the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award. The Bullard, Texas product was one of two starting pitchers, along with LSU’s Paul Skenes, to receive All-SEC first-team honors.
D1Baseball and Perfect Game have both tabbed the Razorbacks’ star as their SEC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Texas Tech pitching transfer Mason Molina was awarded preseason third team honors. The All-Big 12 performer started 16 games last season, finishing with a 6-2 record and a 3.67 ERA over 83 and 1/3 innings. The lefty from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., tallied a team-leading 108 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .208 batting average.
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