Arkansas is hoping it found the next bullpen piece this weekend.
Right-hander Brayden Krenzel announced on Instagram that he’s committing to the Razorbacks after spending the last two seasons with Tennessee.
The news gives Arkansas another experienced arm as it rebuilds its pitching staff for next season. At least that’s probably the hope for Hogs pitching coach Matt Hobbs and coach Dave Van Horn.
Krenzel stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 214 pounds. He’s a rising junior who came out of Dublin, Ohio, and was once ranked as a Top 100 prospect in his recruiting class.
This past season with the Volunteers wasn’t his smoothest stretch. Krenzel posted a 2-3 record with a 9.35 ERA across 17.1 innings. He allowed 17 hits, 19 runs and four home runs while walking 12 and striking out 28 batters over 20 appearances.
Krenzel actually has some recent history against his new team. He faced Arkansas three times during the 2025 season, including twice during the Fayetteville Super Regional.
In a regular-season relief outing against the Hogs, he tossed 2.2 innings of one-hit ball and struck out five Arkansas hitters.
Now he’ll be wearing the same uniform as the players he once shut down.
Family ties run through Columbus
Krenzel’s bloodlines run deep in college football. His father, Craig Krenzel, was the quarterback who helped lead Ohio State to the 2002 national championship.
Craig later spent a short stint in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.
Brayden’s high school career was loaded with honors too. He earned All-Ohio, All-District, All-Region and All-Conference recognition and played travel ball for Bo Jackson Elite, helping that squad reach the Final Four at the PBR 17u Championship.
He also took part in both the Perfect Game and Prep Baseball All-American Games.
Off the field, Krenzel was the valedictorian at Dublin Jerome High School and earned Academic All-Ohio honors as a member of the National Honor Society.
He’s majoring in finance and has two younger brothers, Austin and Colt, along with a younger sister named Ellie. In his free time he enjoys golfing, playing video games and skiing.
Originally, Krenzel picked Tennessee over offers from Ohio State and Kentucky because of the coaching staff and the program’s tradition.
Now he’s heading to the Razorbacks instead, marking the fourth transfer portal commitment for Arkansas this offseason as Dave Van Horn continues retooling the roster after a season-ending loss in the Lawrence Regional.
For Hogs fans hoping for more pitching reinforcements this summer, this addition shows the staff isn’t done shopping the portal just yet.
