Pitching experience will lead the way
The 20-round MLB Draft concluded earlier this week, with 615 total high school and college players selected. These draftees have until Aug. 1 to sign or the teams who picked them lose their rights.
Arizona had nine members of its 2025 roster drafted, the most since 2008, and each is expected to sign to begin their pro careers. Senior right-hander Julian Tonghini, the only one of the group who was out of eligibility, has already inked a deal with the Washington Nationals after going in the 7th round.
It’s not unheard of that one or two of the UA’s drafted players may opt to come back to school, particularly those taken after the 10th round when signing bonuses are usually much smaller. For now, though, Arizona is assuming none of those guys—like pitchers Hunter Alberini, Raul Garayzar, Casey Hintz and Michael Hilker Jr.—are coming back.
If any of them did decide to play another season with the Wildcats they would further beef up a pitching staff that again should be the strength of the team in 2026.
The UA is set to return seven arms from the team that reached the College World Series, six of whom were on the playoff roster. Leading the way are starters Smith Bailey and Owen Kramkowski and closer Tony Pluta.
Bailey and Kramkowski combined to make 36 starts, including one each in the Big 12 Tournament, NCAA regionals, Super Regionals and CWS. The last time Arizona brought back a starter who had thrown more than 80 innings the previous season was Garrett Irvin in 2022, and it’s been nine since they returned two when JC Cloney and Cameron Ming were holdovers from the 2016 squad that reached the CWS championship series.
But it’s not just starting pitching that the UA returns. Pluta is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he set the school record with 14 saves and was named NCBWA Stopper of the Year, posting a 1.46 ERA. He’ll enter his senior year having pitched in 61 games.
Garrett Hicks did more than half of that in his first year at Arizona, his 34 appearances tied for 6th in single-season school history. Throw in Matthew Martinez, who has 32 outings the past two seasons, and the Wildcats won’t be lacking in veterans at the back end of the bullpen.
Also back are Collin McKinney, who was the Friday night starter for most of 2025 before falling out of the rotation, and lefty Mason Russell, the top recruit from the 2024 class whom the Wildcats hope will make a freshman-to-sophomore leap similar to Kramkowski. Both will be in the mix for the third weekend starting spot but they’ll have competition from some program newcomers.
The UA will have 10 new pitchers on the roster, four who were at other Division I schools in 2025 along with three junior college transfers and three from the prep ranks. Two of its prep signee pitchers were drafted, with Cameron Millar going in the third round, and neither are going to make it to campus.
Russell and Tulane transfer Luc Fladda are the top candidates for the third weekend spot. Either would prevent Arizona from having an entirely right-handed rotation like a year ago.
While the pitching side of next year’s team looks stacked, the hitting side has some notable holes to fill.
Arizona is set to return only three starters from its main batting order: left fielder Easton Breyfogle, first baseman/outfielder Andrew Cain and third baseman Maddox Mihalakis. That trio combined to hit .258 with 16 home runs and 90 RBI.
There are two other returners who have starting experience in the field. Mathis Meurant made 27 starts, mostly at third base, and is expected to succeed Mason White at shortstop, while Gunner Geile started 16 times in the outfield mostly as an injury replacement for Brendan Summerhill in right field. Additionally, Dom Rodriguez made a few starts at DH and will be in the mix for a bigger role in 2026.
That still leaves catcher, second base and center field to fill, and each spot could go to a portal pickup. Beau Sylvester was a part-time starter at catcher at Oklahoma State, Tyler Bickers was an all-Horizon League second baseman at Milwaukee and Carson McEntire played outfield and DH in a part-time role for Oregon State.
Arizona has four prep position players and three from the JUCO ranks set to join the team. One that could play his way into an immediate role is outfielder Chaz McNellis, a JUCO All-American from College of Southern Nevada.