Trio of Diamond Hogs named NCBWA preseason All-Americans
Returning junior ace Hagen Smith and transfer shortstop Wehiwa Aloy were both named to the second team, while transfer starting pitcher Mason Molina was on the third team.
Smith, a big 6-foot-3 lefty from Bullard, Texas, has already garnered a number of preseason accolades following a consensus All-American campaign a season ago. He made 18 appearances as a sophomore, with 11 starts, posting an 8-2 record with a 3.64 ERA, and a team-leading 109 strikeouts. His 71.2 innings of work also included a pair of saves in relief. He was named first-team All-SEC and was a semifinalist for both, the 2023 Golden Spikes Award and the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award.
Smith has already been named a first-team preseason All-American by Baseball America, D1Baseball and Perfect Game. He has also been tabbed SEC Preseason Pitcher of the Year by both, D1Baseball and Perfect Game.
The 6-foot-2 Aloy is a native Hawaiian who transferred in from Sacramento State, after being a named a consensus Freshman All-American for the Hornets last season. Not only did he shine with his glove, but raked at the plate – slashing .376/.427/.662 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs in 56 games. He was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Year after racking up 88 hits, with 15 doubles and five triples, and scoring 69 runs.
Molina, a 6-foot-2 lefty transfer from Texas Tech, was an All-Big 12 performer for the Red Raiders last season, starting 16 games on the hill, with a 6-2 record and a 3.67 ERA over 83.1 innings. The California native racked up a team-leading 108 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .208 batting average. He will likely join Smith in the starting rotation for conference games.
Arkansas opens the season with a four-game series against James Madison at Baum-Walker Stadium next Friday, Feb. 16.
