Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said on Tuesday his team could add one more player from the transfer portal this cycle.
Two days later the Razorbacks made it happen. Nobody should really be surprised.
Infielder Johnny Gomez is heading to Fayetteville after spending his college career so far at Fairleigh Dickinson. Gomez broke the news himself on Instagram.
He becomes the 14th portal addition for Van Horn this cycle, a number that shows just how active the Hogs have been this summer.
Gomez didn’t take a straight path to Arkansas. He first entered the portal earlier this summer and committed to Stetson. A coaching change there sent him back into the portal, and this time he landed with the Razorbacks.
A Coral Springs, Florida native, Gomez put up big numbers during his most recent season with the Knights. He slashed .376/.500/.610 across 218 at-bats, piling up 82 hits, 21 doubles and 10 home runs.
He also drove in 51 runs, drew 37 walks and struck out only 21 times in 53 games. Add in 12 stolen bases, and it’s easy to see why he turned heads.
A school record and a big honor
Gomez’s 78 runs scored last season set a new single-season school record at Fairleigh Dickinson.
That total also ranked third nationally, putting him among the best in the country at getting around the bases.
His defense held up too. Gomez posted a .972 fielding percentage, handling 72 putouts with only seven errors.
His all-around game earned him First Team All-NEC honors along with a spot as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, the honor given each year to the nation’s top shortstop.
Gomez isn’t the only new face joining the Arkansas infield this summer.
The Razorbacks also brought in transfer infielders Manny Marin from Tennessee and Dawson Bryce from Charlotte.
With Gomez now in the fold, Arkansas sits at 42 players on its 2027 roster.
Van Horn’s staff has clearly made the transfer portal a priority this offseason, and Gomez gives the infield another proven bat and steady glove.
His combination of speed, power and defense should make him a name to watch once the Razorbacks open next season.
Key takeaways
- Gomez becomes the 14th transfer portal addition for Arkansas this cycle
- His 78 runs scored set a Fairleigh Dickinson single-season school record
- Arkansas now has 42 players on its 2027 roster
