FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks made program history Sunday night when four players were selected in the first round of the 2025 Major League Baseball draft.
Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, the 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner as the nation’s top amateur player, was the first Razorback taken, going No. 31 overall to the Baltimore Orioles. “It’s surreal,” Aloy said in a press conference after his selection.
Right-handed pitcher Gage Wood, a Batesville, Arkansas, native, was picked No. 26 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Los Angeles Dodgers then made back-to-back picks, selecting left-handed pitcher Zach Root at No. 40 and outfielder Charles Davalan at No. 41. Root, a transfer who developed into Arkansas’ ace, credited the coaching staff for his rise.
The milestone adds to Arkansas’s reputation as a college baseball powerhouse. The Razorbacks reached the College World Series finals three seasons ago and have consistently produced top MLB prospects under Dave Van Horn.
National baseball analysts praised the program’s development and recruiting.
“You don’t see this kind of first-round representation outside of blue bloods like Vanderbilt or Florida,” Jim Bowden, a former MLB general manager, said on MLB Network. “Arkansas has elevated itself into that tier.”
The combined slot values for the four first-rounders are estimated at nearly $12 million, according to projections.
Fans, alumni and state leaders celebrated the achievement on social media. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted, “Proud to see our Hogs making history. Congratulations to these incredible young men — proof that Arkansas can do anything.”
The Razorbacks’ historic night came amid another strong showing for the SEC, which continues to lead the nation in producing professional-level baseball talent.
Aloy, originally from Hawaii, transferred to Arkansas from Arizona State and quickly became one of the top shortstops in the SEC.
Wood turned down the pros last year for a final run at Omaha. Root, a left-hander, rebuilt his game after a difficult freshman season, while Davalan emerged as a top prospect after a breakout campaign.
