As the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team pushes through the heart of their SEC schedule, excitement is also building around the upcoming MLB Draft. The No. 2-ranked Razorbacks are right in the thick of the conference title race, sitting just one game behind No. 1 Texas. Other strong contenders, including Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU, are also within three games of the top, making every series crucial from here on out.
Adding to the energy around the team is the buzz surrounding Arkansas’ MLB Draft prospects. With fewer than four months remaining until the draft, scouts and front office personnel have their eyes locked on potential draftees—and the Razorbacks have three players listed among the top 50 prospects according to noted draft analyst Keith Law. The trio includes left-handed starting pitcher Zach Root (No. 17), shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (No. 19), and outfielder Charles Davalan (No. 28). Additionally, Mason Neville, who began his college career at Arkansas but now plays for Oregon, is ranked No. 30.
Arkansas is one of only three programs with multiple players in the Top 50, joining Florida State and Tennessee. The Volunteers match Arkansas with three players as well, including Liam Doyle, a left-handed pitcher who is considered the top college player on Law’s list, ranked No. 2 overall. Doyle and Root are expected to face off in what could be a high-stakes Friday night pitching duel when Tennessee visits Fayetteville on May 15.
Zach Root – No. 17 Overall
Zach Root has emerged as a vital piece of Arkansas’ weekend rotation since transferring from East Carolina. While his fastball doesn’t draw a lot of swings and misses—his whiff rate on the pitch is only 9%—he relies on a deep arsenal of five pitches that he can throw for strikes in virtually any count. Law notes that his fastball may be the weakest of the group, yet Root uses it sparingly, choosing instead to keep hitters guessing with an unpredictable mix.
Even though the fastball doesn’t generate a ton of whiffs, Root’s strikeout numbers have actually improved significantly since joining Arkansas. During his time at ECU, Root struck out 76 batters in 68 1/3 innings, which works out to a solid 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Since arriving in Fayetteville, he’s fanned 67 batters in just 49 2/3 innings—an impressive 12.3 K/9 ratio that highlights how effective his complete repertoire has become.
Wehiwa Aloy – No. 19 Overall
Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy has also drawn significant draft buzz, and Law believes he could develop into an above-average defender at the position. Aloy brings quick reflexes and notable athleticism to the infield, traits that help him stay locked in at short. Offensively, his swing is built for power, but he’s had some trouble with high fastballs and generally struggled when facing elite SEC pitching this spring.
Despite that, Aloy’s numbers show a big leap in offensive production this year compared to last season. Over 15 SEC games this season, his batting average and slugging percentage have climbed sharply. In 2024, Aloy slashed .283/.429/.566 with a 19.4% walk rate and a 20.6% strikeout rate. In 2025, he’s hitting .324/.410/.647. However, those gains have come at a cost: his walk rate has dipped to 11.5%, and his strikeout rate has climbed slightly to 24.4%.
His overall profile suggests a player with serious upside if he can make adjustments to handle velocity better and regain some plate discipline. The draft community is watching closely to see if he can maintain his power production while tightening up his swing decisions.
Charles Davalan – No. 28 Overall
Outfielder Charles Davalan has put together a standout season, both in terms of performance and approach at the plate. Law praises his elite plate discipline, noting that Davalan has struck out just 11 times in his first 170 plate appearances, which translates to a minuscule 6.5% strikeout rate. His whiff rate is equally impressive at just 9%.
Davalan hasn’t just been making contact—he’s doing serious damage. He currently sports a scorching .396/.485/.688 line, with 12 home runs to his name. That kind of production is drawing first-round buzz, though Law notes that with a wood bat, Davalan might trend more toward doubles power at the pro level and project as a 10-12 home run per year guy.
Defensively, Davalan has spent more time in left field than center, and scouts remain divided on whether he can handle center field long-term. That’s a significant factor in his draft evaluation. Law believes that if Davalan were seen as a surefire center fielder, he’d be a top-10 pick. As things stand, he’s viewed as a likely first-rounder, thanks to his well-rounded offensive skill set and contact ability.
Early in the season, Davalan started all four games of the Washington State series in center field. Since then, he’s made just nine more starts in center across 34 games. Teammate Justin Thomas has taken the majority of center field duties, especially in SEC play, where he’s started 12 of the 15 games at the position. Davalan has largely shifted to left field, a spot where he’s made 23 starts.
Interestingly, Davalan currently ranks as the third toughest player to strike out in the SEC, trailing only Alabama’s Kade Snell and LSU’s Stephen Milam.
What’s Next for the Hogs
With the draft approaching and SEC play heating up, Arkansas continues to be a team to watch. Their next challenge comes on Thursday night when they take on Texas A&M at 7 p.m., a game that will be broadcast live on the SEC Network. As the Razorbacks fight for conference supremacy, their trio of MLB prospects—Root, Aloy, and Davalan—will look to boost their draft stocks and help push Arkansas toward another deep postseason run.
