Gabe Gaeckle is one of the most electric arms in the class, built around a deceptive, mid-to-upper-90s fastball. His fastball plays above its velocity thanks to low release height and elite carry. He pairs that heater with a tight slider (3000+ rpm) and flashes two additional secondaries (CB, CH) that give him a true starter’s mix when he’s able to land them for strikes. If he completes the transition from the bullpen to a consistent rotation piece in 2026, Gaeckle has the stuff, competitiveness, and swing-and-miss profile to force his way into top 10 consideration.

The front line tool here is the power, which is plus. He had a 114 mph max EV and 107.5 mph 90th EV, enabled by high-end bat speed. His launch angle profile is one of the best in the nation, with a 15.8 average LA and 17.9 HH-LA to go with plus LA distributions point towards a guy who will consistently run a high BABIP. The hit tool has a couple glaring flaws, including a near-30% whiffs (20% in-zone), a 33.2% chase rate and 51.2% swing rate. I think a lot of good would be done if he simply swung less, which is theoretically a simple coaching point, but easier said than done. I think the fact that he was able to produce at such a high level and limit Ks, relatively speaking, while clearing the previously mentioned hit tool hurdles speaks to the talent level on a broader scale. His Cape Cod performance did a lot to help my confidence level, where he actually outperformed his spring while posting encouraging batted ball metrics.

Ryder Helfrick is one of the most complete catcher profiles in this class. His high-IQ defensive foundation gives him a real chance to make history as the first Arkansas’ catcher to be picked in the first round. Offensively, he brings plus bat speed and raw power, consistently capitalizing on fastball mistakes. In 2025, 11 of his 15 home runs went to the pull side. Despite the raw tools, he still needs to refine his approach against offspeed and cut down the chase situations. The separator for him is the defense: an above-average receiver and blocker with advanced framing feel and a strong arm that should shut down the running game once throw accuracy tightens. Even if the bat takes time to fully mature, the defensive floor and overall profile point to a high-confidence big league outcome.

Hunter Dietz arguably owns the highest ceiling among left-handed pitchers in the 2026 class, built around an electric fastball that sits mid-90s and has touched 99 mph. The pitch plays up thanks to a cut-ride shape from the left side that evaluators project to translate cleanly to pro ball. He complements the heater with a firm cutter/slider and a larger breaking curve, giving him multiple ways to miss bats. At 6’6”, 235 pounds, Dietz’s slingshot style three-quarter delivery adds deception to an already loud arsenal. Despite all the desirable tools, his draft stock ultimately hinges on health after limited availability at Arkansas. 2026 will be his first real opportunity to prove durability over a full season.

Root has potentially one of the best arsenals in the class, but the projection here is relatively limited. He’s a secondaries first arm, and throws 4 of them average or better (Change-up, Curveball, Cutter, Slider). Best of the bunch is his curveball, 2-plane shape at 79 mph with -55” of depth drew a 48% whiff ratewith a .057 xwOBA against in 2024. Cutter and Slider profile near each other with about an inch of horizontal separation and 4” of vertical separation, but both drew strong whiff rates and BIP results. Strong pronator with a 2-seam fastball and change-up, both carry significant arm-side profiles. Root will be a part of the potential best rotation in the country with Landon Beidelschies and Gabe Gaeckle.

Wood is a low slot right hander who threw his fastball more than 4 times as much as any other pitch in 2024. He sat 94 mph, getting average shape on it. His best mid-80s slider with depth and 6” of sweep has been solid for him, but I like his banger 2-plane curveball better. There’s a change-up shape in here as well, but he threw it just 5.3% of the time.

Davalan is a small 2B type with 60-grade bat-to-ball skills. Last year at FGCU he has a 15.1% whiff rate with a <10% mark in-zone. His swing descisions aren't great, with a 28% chase and just 66.7% zone swings, he rates as below average though he hasn't seen a drop off in his contact rates. He's got some variance in his LAs and had poor EVs last year, but hit a ball 110 mph in his second weekend with the Razorbacks. Considering the contact skills and new found power, there's a likable player in here draft wise.

Iredale is a JUCO transfer from New Mexico JC in his first year with the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2025. Over the past 2 seasons he hit .330 with a 1.081 OPS, while running chase and whiff rates both <20%. His swing is geared to loft and the bulk of his contact comes in the air, and he's got the power to make an impact. During the first week of the 2025 season he hit 8 balls >100 mph, peaking at 109.1 mph.

Beidelschies throws from an above-average release with average carry on the fastball, averaging 92.4 mph and touching 98 mph, grading out as average for me. He throws a short, slider/cutter blend at 84 mph. The pitch is plus in terms of whiff rate (48%), but I have a hard time projecting similar results when both velocity and movement profile do not display a clear separating factor. His other two offerings are a CB he throws with <10% usage and change-up which has had quality batted ball results so far.

Foutch averaged 98 mph on his fastball last year, touching 101 mph. The shape is poor and the release is relatively unassuming, but at that velocity it works. He throws 2 secondaries, both in small samples. The first is a splitter in the upper-80s with depth and 6” of arm-side. He spins the ball well, but has been inconsistent in shaping his slider but is able to land it for strikes.