Five more Razorbacks selected on second day of MLB Draft

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Five Hogs, including infielder Peyton Stovall, pitcher Mason Molina, infielder Jared Sprague-Lott, catcher Hudson White and infielder Ben McLaughlin, were selected during the second day of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Through the first 10 rounds and 315 picks, six Arkansas standouts, led by pitcher Hagen Smith’s fifth overall selection by the Chicago White Sox, have heard their names called in this year’s draft. Excluding 2020’s COVID-shortened draft, six or more Razorbacks have been selected in each of the last eight drafts since 2016, including a program-record 11 in 2018.

Stovall was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round with the No. 117 overall pick. The 261st draft selection in Arkansas history and 138th draft pick in the Dave Van Horn era, the Haughton, La., native became the program’s 34th All-American following a strong junior campaign in which he served as a team captain for the second season in a row.

The Razorback second baseman started all 48 games he played in after suffering a broken foot in a preseason scrimmage and missing the first 12 games of the year, slashing a team-leading .340/.409/.535 with nine homers and 38 runs batted in to earn All-America praise from the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings. Stovall, who finished as the team leader in hits (68), doubles (12), batting average (.340), slugging percentage (.535) and on-base plus slugging (.944), recorded a team-leading 19 multi-hit games and logged 10 multi-RBI games during his breakout campaign.

Molina, meanwhile, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round with the No. 215 overall pick. The 262nd draft selection in Arkansas history and 139th draft pick in the Van Horn era, the Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., native made 15 appearances with 13 starts in 2024, going 4-2 with a 4.47 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 58.1 innings.

The Texas Tech transfer, who limited opposing hitters to a .193 batting average on the year, logged three double-digit strikeouts games in his one season as a Razorback. In SEC play, Molina went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 36.0 innings over nine appearances with eight starts, helping Arkansas clinch the Western Division title after making his first relief appearance of the year at #5 Texas A&M on May 17 and spinning three shutout frames with two strikeouts.

Sprague-Lott, the first of three Razorbacks chosen in the ninth round, was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the No. 256 overall pick. The 263rd draft selection in Arkansas history and 140th draft pick in the Van Horn era, the Philadelphia, Pa., native made the most of his one season as a Hog, slashing .290/.425/.491 with nine homers and 28 RBI on the year.

Defensively, the Richmond transfer played a stellar third base to earn SEC All-Defensive Team honors. Sprague-Lott committed seven errors in 106 total chances (.934 fielding percentage) on the year, including only one error in 56 total chances (.982 fielding percentage) in conference play, and assisted in turning 10 double plays during the season.

White, the second of three Razorbacks chosen in the ninth round, was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the No. 267 overall pick. The 264th draft selection in Arkansas history and 141st draft pick in the Van Horn era, the Keller, Texas, native turned in a strong junior season, slashing .297/.396/.525 with eight homers and 33 runs batted in.

The Texas Tech transfer had a blazing hot finish to his 2024 campaign, which culminated in him earning a spot on the NCAA Fayetteville Regional All-Tournament Team. Seven of White’s eight home runs came during the final month of the season, as he finished the year on a 16-game hitting streak, including seven multi-hit games and six multi-RBI efforts.

McLaughlin, the third and final Razorback chosen in the ninth round, was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the No. 284 overall pick. The 265th draft selection in Arkansas history and 142nd draft pick in the Van Horn era, the Golden, Colo., native slashed .302/.447/.490 with 9 home runs and 42 RBI in his final season with the Razorbacks.

A transfer from Hutchinson Community College, McLaughlin was one of two Hogs to play in all 60 games in 2024. The Razorbacks’ primary first baseman drew 50 walks on the year, which tied for sixth most in a season in program history.

The 2024 MLB Draft concludes tomorrow with rounds 11-20 beginning at 1 p.m. CT Tuesday, July 16, on MLB.com. One Arkansas signee – infielder Tyson Lewis (2nd round, No. 51 overall – Cincinnati Reds) – has been selected so far.