With a veteran-laden team, one that features upperclassmen starting most positions in the field and comprising a big chunk of the pitching staff, Arizona could be losing a lot of the roster that has gotten it back to the College World Series.
Of the starting nine, seven are either seniors or eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft, with juniors Brendan Summerhill, Aaron Walton and Mason White all certain to get picked. On the pitching side, two relievers out out of eligibility including power arm Julian Tonghini and a few more could get drafted and sign pro deals.
While the focus remains on Omaha, starting with Friday’s opener against Coastal Carolina, behind the scenes the UA is working to construct the roster for 2026. In the past few days it has received commitments from a pair of relief pitchers from the NCAA transfer portal and figures to add more once the season is complete.
The latest addition is former Texas Tech reliever JT Drake, who committed on Tuesday.
Committed #BearDown @ArizonaBaseball pic.twitter.com/JYDzpJvCiV
— JT Drake (@JTDrake55) June 10, 2025
Drake, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, made 15 appearances for the Red Raiders this season and finished with an 0-1 record with a 5.93 ERA. He struck out 10 in 13.2 innings with only three walks, and in April he threw a scoreless frame against Arizona.
Prior to Tech, Drake spent two seasons at Pima College in Tucson. In 2024 he was 10-4 with eight complete games and a 2.28 ERA and was teammates with current UA reliever Garrett Hicks.
On Monday the Wildcats got a pledge from ex-Western Kentucky lefty Patrick Morris, who began his career at Chandler-Gilbert CC in Arizona. Morris had a 1.11 ERA and opposing batting average of .177 in 32.1 innings for the Hilltoppers this season.
The UA signed 13 players in November, a class that includes a few potential instant impact players … if they make it to campus. Phoenix-area righty Jack Lafflam is ranked by MLBPipeline as the No. 117 prospect in the 2025 draft, while California righty Cameron Millar is No. 132. Baseball America has Millar No. 117 and Lafflam No. 179 in its Top 500, which also includes signees Dylan Wood (RHP, No. 198) and Caleb Danzeisen (OF, No. 362).
The Wildcats managed to avoid losing any of its 2024 signees, with Smith Bailey serving as the Sunday starter all season as a true freshman, but they can’t expect to get that lucky again. This spring they’ve gotten a commitment from righty Evan Brandt and outfielder Chaz McNelis, both junior college products.
Arizona can also bring back pitchers Raul Garayzar and Matthew Martinez for another year despite both being seniors. The NCAA recently granted an extra season of eligibility for college baseball players who spent time at the JUCO level, and both Garayzar and Martinez began their careers at South Mountain CC in Phoenix.