Arizona continued its trend of reaching the College World Series every fourth NCAA Tournament, something it has done since 2012 when it moved off campus to Hi Corbett Field. The Wildcats have also reached the postseason five straight seasons, which the program last achieved in the 1950s and 60s.
A push toward a sixth straight NCAA tourney, as well as getting back to Omaha quicker than normal, is well underway. Arizona is already in the process of crafting its roster for the 2026 season, when under limits included in the House vs. NCAA settlement it has to drop from 40 players to 34 but can go over that number with grandfathered players (called ‘Designated Student-Athletes) who would have otherwise been cut due to the new roster cap.
The transfer portal opened for college baseball on June 2, almost two weeks before the UA was eliminated from the CWS, and remains open until July 1. There’s also the upcoming 2025 MLB Draft, set for July 13-15, when players from the 2025 team and those signed for 2026 could get selected and sign pro deals.
The 34-player roster doesn’t have to be finalized until Dec. 1, after fall practices are complete, but most movement is going to happen during the summer.
Below is a breakdown of players coming and going:
Departures
Out of eligibility
- 2B Garen Caulfield
- LHP Eric Orloff
- 1B/C Tommy Splaine
- RHP Julian Tonghini
Entered NCAA transfer portal
- OF TJ Adams
- LHP Jack Berg
- RHP Christian Coppola
- RHP Kenan Elarton
- RHP Carson Johnson
- RHP Bryce McKnight
- IF Richie Morales
- RHP Karter Muck (committed to Xavier)
Holdovers (as of June 18)
Potential 2025 MLB Draft selections
- RHP Hunter Alberini
- RHP Raul Garayzar
- C Adonys Guzman
- RHP Garrett Hicks
- RHP Casey Hintz
- RHP Collin McKinney
- IF Maddox Mihalakis
- RHP Tony Pluta
- OF Brendan Summerhill
- OF Aaron Walton
- OF Mason White
Other draft-eligible players
- IF Ethan Guerra
- RHP Michael Hilker Jr.
- RHP Matthew Martinez
- IF Mathis Meurant
- OF Dom Rodriguez
Underclassmen
- RHP Smith Bailey
- C Bryk Barnard*
- OF Easton Breyfogle
- 1B/OF Andrew Cain
- IF Jackson Forbes*
- OF Gunner Geile
- RHP Owen Kramkowski
- 1B Tony Lira*
- C/IF Nate Novitske*
- LHP Mason Russell
- OF Tyler Russell
- C Kade Thompson*
*-redshirted in 2025
Additions
Transfer portal commitments
- Former Texas Tech RHP JT Drake
- Former Western Kentucky LHP Patrick Morris
Signed with Arizona in November
- OF Sean Barta (JUCO)
- RHP Case Beames
- SS Cash Brennan
- C/1B/OF Caleb Danzeisen
- C Joe Forbes
- RHP Benton Hickman
- RHP Andrew Jacobs Jr.
- RHP Jack Lafflam
- C Roman Meyers (JUCO)
- RHP Cameron Millar
- LHP Maclain Roberts (JUCO)
- IF Gavin Triezenberg
- RHP Dylan Wood
Spring commitments
- RHP Evan Brandt (JUCO)
- OF Chaz McNelis (JUCO)