Razorbacks Sign Nation’s Top Recruiting Class

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the first time in program history, Arkansas has landed the nation’s top-rated recruiting class.

The Razorbacks’ 2023 signing class is ranked No. 1 nationally by both Baseball America and Perfect Game. Previously, Arkansas’ highest-rated class was No. 2 by Perfect Game (2014) and No. 3 by Baseball America (2017 & 2020).

It is the seventh consecutive year that head coach Dave Van Horn, assisted by hitting coach/recruiting coordinator Nate Thompson and pitching coach Matt Hobbs, has brought in a top-10 class in Perfect Game’s recruiting rankings.

12 of Arkansas’ 20 signees are among Perfect Game’s top 100, an all-time high in the publication’s rankings history. Perfect Game’s recruiting class rankings began in 2011, according to its database.

“This year’s signing class is a testament to how hard our staff works on the recruiting trail,” Van Horn said. “Coach Thompson and Coach Hobbs spend a lot of days and nights on the road to find guys that fit our program. We want guys that want to get better, want to develop, and want to work extremely hard alongside highly motivated coaches and teammates. The future is bright for this group, and we’re excited to get them here.”

The Hogs’ 20-man recruiting class features 10 pitchers, eight position players and a pair of two-way players, all coming from the high school ranks. The signees hail from two countries – United States (19) and South Korea (1) – and represent 11 different states – Alabama (1), Arkansas (2), California (3), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Hawaii (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (1), Oklahoma (2), Texas (2) and Wisconsin (2).

“Congratulations to all the members of our historic No. 1 ranked 2023 signing class,” Thompson said. “Excited doesn’t begin to describe how we, as a staff, feel about these young men choosing to make Arkansas their home. This is an extremely talented, competitive, and versatile group of position players and pitchers. They’ve performed at a very high level on the national stage and are hungry to make an immediate impact upon arrival in Fayetteville. We can’t wait to see them in Razorback uniforms competing under the bright lights of Baum-Walker Stadium!”

Hog Highlights
Baseball America

• Arkansas tops the rankings for the first time in the 21 years that Baseball America has ranked recruiting classes.
• Eight Arkansas signees — Miller (No. 8), Helfrick (No. 23), Hachman (No. 32), Souza (No. 42), George (No. 54), Zanetello (No. 59), Gaeckle (No. 64) and Questad (No. 85) — are ranked among the top-100 high school draft prospects in the class by Baseball America.
• Five Arkansas signees – Miller (No. 16), Hachman (No. 32), Martin (No. 44), Helfrick (No. 72) and Questad (No. 84) – are ranked among the top-100 overall draft prospects by Baseball America. The list, which includes both high school and college players, is compiled in consultation with MLB scouts, front office executives, scouting directors, college coaches and other professional evaluators.

• Two Arkansas signees – Miller (No. 5) and Hachman (No. 15) – are included on MLB Pipeline’s list of the top 20 high school draft prospects.
• Four Arkansas signees – Helfrick, Miller, Questad, Zanetello - participated in the Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium as part of 2022 MLB All-Star Week in Los Angeles.
• Miller won the MLB Develops MVP Award after going 4-for-5 and driving in three runs to lead his American League squad to a 13-8 victory.

• Arkansas tops Perfect Game’s recruiting class rankings, which began in 2011, for the first time in history.
• 12 Arkansas signees – Miller (No. 4), Questad (No. 30), Helfrick (No. 33), Gaeckle (No. 40), Kent (No. 42), Martin (No. 44), Hachman (No. 55), Souza (No. 56), Zanetello (No. 63), Holland (No. 76), Waid (No. 80) and George (No. 90) – are ranked among the top 100 in Perfect Game’s class of 2023 rankings.
• Arkansas’ 12 top-100 signees is an all-time high in the publication’s rankings history. Florida’s nine top-100 signees in 2011 is the next highest.
• Six Arkansas signees – Gaeckle, Helfrick, Kent, Miller, Questad and Zantello - participated in the 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic, tied with fellow SEC program Vanderbilt for most participants in the nation.
• Helfrick was named MVP of the 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

• 10 Arkansas signees – Miller (No. 3), Hachman (No. 12), Kent (No. 36), Martin (No. 38), Gaeckle (No. 42), George (No. 62), Questad (No. 67), Souza (No. 75), Holland (No. 93) and Helfrick (No. 95) – are ranked among the top 100 in Prep Baseball Report’s class of 2023 rankings, the most of any program in the country.
• Arkansas is tied with fellow SEC program Vanderbilt for the most overall signees ranked in Prep Baseball Report’s top 500 (17).
• Zanatello (No. 123), Smith (No. 189), Cho (No. 202), McGuire (No. 203), Fisher (No. 287), Conradt (No. 367) and Waid (No. 423) round out Prep Baseball Report’s list of top-500 signees headed to Arkansas.

• Four Arkansas signees – George, Hachman, Miller and Zanetello – have suited up for USA Baseball as members of the 18U National Team.
• George, Hachman and Miller represented Team USA at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, helping the 18U National Team win its 10th world title.
• Zanetello represented Team USA at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas qualifier, helping the 18U National Team win its sixth consecutive gold medal.

Native of Seoul, South Korea … Attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., playing for head coach Dave Turgeon … Ranked by Perfect Game as a top-500 overall prospect and the No. 194 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 …  Rated the No. 76 overall prospect and the No. 27 right-handed pitcher in Florida by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 202 overall prospect and the No. 63 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 26 overall prospect and the No. 9 right-handed pitcher in Florida by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Florida).

Jonah Conradt
RHP / 6-3 / 175 / R/R
Greenville, Wisc. / P27 Academy

Attends P27 Academy in Lexington, S.C., playing for head coach Corey Warner … Previously attended Hortonville HS in Hortonville, Wisc. … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 278 overall prospect and the No. 90 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 4 overall player and the No. 3 right-handed pitcher in Wisconsin by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 367 overall prospect and the No. 107 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 6 overall prospect and the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in South Carolina by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Central) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Region Honorable Mention … 2021 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Colin Fisher
LHP / 6-3 / 195 / L/L
Noble, Okla. / Noble HS

Attends Noble HS in Noble, Okla., playing for head coach Brad Anglin … Ranked by Perfect Game as a top-1000 overall prospect and the No. 309 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 34 overall prospect and the No. 3 left-handed pitcher in Oklahoma by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 287 overall prospect and the No. 47 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 6 overall prospect and the No. 3 left-handed pitcher in Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … 2021 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Nate Franco
C/UTL / 6-0 / 170 / S/R
Westlake Village, Calif. / Westlake HS

Attends Westlake HS in Westlake Village, Calif., playing for head coach Wally Barnett … Ranked by Perfect Game as a top-500 overall prospect and the No. 135 catcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 148 overall prospect and the No. 17 catcher in California by Perfect Game … 2022 Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region Second Team (California) … 2021 Preseason Underclass All-American – California Region Honorable Mention.

Gabe Gaeckle
RHP / 5-11 / 185 / R/R
Aptos, Calif. / Aptos HS

Attends Aptos HS in Aptos, Calif., playing for head coach Jason Biancardi … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 40 overall prospect and the No. 10 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 10 overall prospect and the No. 3 right-handed pitcher in California by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 42 overall prospect and the No. 11 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 9 overall prospect and the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in California by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 64 high school draft prospect … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic participant … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (California) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – California Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – California Region Honorable Mention.

Kendall George
OF / 5-11 / 165 / L/L
Humble, Texas / Atascocita HS

Attends Atascocita HS in Humble, Texas, playing for head coach Eric Matthews … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 90 overall prospect and the No. 17 outfielder in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 7 overall prospect and the No. 2 outfielder in Texas by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 62 overall prospect and the No. 10 outfielder in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 1 outfielder in Texas by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 54 high school draft prospect … 2022 USA Baseball 18U National Team member … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Texas) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Texas Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Texas Region Honorable Mention.

Adam Hachman
LHP / 6-5 / 210 / L/L
Wentzville, Mo. / Timberland HS

Attends Timberland HS in Wentzville, Mo., playing for head coach Andy Zerr … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 55 overall prospect and the No. 8 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Missouri by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 12 overall prospect and th No. 3 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Missouri by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 32 high school draft prospect and the No. 32 overall draft prospect ... Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 15 high school draft prospect … 2022 USA Baseball 18U National Team member … 2022 Baseball Factory All-American Game participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Central) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Regional Honorable Mention … 2020 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Ryder Helfrick
C / 6-1 / 200 / R/R
Discovery Bay, Calif. / Clayton Valley Charter HS

Attends Clayton Valley Charter HS in Concord, Calif., playing for head coach Casey Coakley … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 33 overall prospect and the No. 3 catcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 7 overall prospect and the No. 2 catcher in California by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 95 overall prospect and the No. 6 catcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 18 overall prospect and the No. 2 catcher in California by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 23 high school draft prospect and the No. 72 overall draft prospect … 2022 Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game participant … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic Most Valuable Player … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (California) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (California) … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – California Region Honorable Mention.

Tucker Holland
LHP / 6-5 / 240 / R/L
Burlington, N.C. / The Burlington School

Attends The Burlington School in Burlington, N.C., playing for head coach Chad Holland … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 76 overall prospect and the No. 11 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 93 overall prospect and the No. 17 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in North Carolina by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Atlantic) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Atlantic) … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Atlantic Region Honorable Mention.

Barrett Kent
RHP / 6-4 / 200 / R/R
Pottsboro, Texas / Pottsboro HS

Attends Pottsboro HS in Pottsboro, Texas, playing for head coach Colton Buckner … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 42 overall prospect and the No. 11 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in Texas by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 36 overall prospect and the No. 8 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in Texas by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic participant … 2022 Baseball Factory All-American Game participant … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Texas) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Texas Region Honorable Mention.

Walker Martin
INF / 6-2 / 185 / L/R
Eaton, Colo. / Eaton HS

Attends Eaton HS in Eaton, Colo., playing for head coach Todd Hernandez … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 44 overall prospect and the No. 17 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 shortstop in Colorado by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 38 overall prospect and the No. 13 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 shortstop in Colorado by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 44 overall draft prospect … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (West) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – West Region Honorable Mention … 2020 & 2021 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Tate McGuire
RHP / 6-3 / 205 / R/R
Kansas City, Mo. / Liberty North HS

Attends Liberty North HS in Liberty, Mo., playing for head coach Ryan Stegall … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 360 overall prospect and the No. 114 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 6 overall prospect and the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Missouri by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 203 overall prospect and the No. 64 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Missouri by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Area Code Games participant …2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Central) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American - Central Region Honorable Mention … 2019 & 2020 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Aidan Miller
INF / 6-2 / 215 / R/R
Trinity, Fla. / J.W. Mitchell HS

Attends J.W. Mitchell HS in New Port Richey, Fla., playing for head coach Howard Chittum … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 2 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 2 shortstop in Florida by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in Florida by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 8 high school draft prospect and the No. 16 overall draft prospect … Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 5 high school draft prospect … 2022 USA Baseball 18U National Team member … 2022 Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game Most Valuable Player … 2022 Perfect Game National Player of the Year … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic participant … 2022 Baseball Factory All-American Game participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Florida) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Florida) … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Florida).

Dylan Questad
RHP / 6-0 / 200 / R/R
Waterford, Wisc. / Waterford Union HS

Attends Waterford Union HS in Waterford, Wisc., playing for head coach Matt Read … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 30 overall prospect and the No. 8 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Wisconsin by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 67 overall prospect and the No. 21 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Wisconsin by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 85 high school draft prospect and the No. 84 overall draft prospect … 2022 Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game participant … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic participant … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Central) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Region Honorable Mention.

Diego Ramos
RHP/INF / 6-3 / 185 / S/R
Vian, Okla. / Vian HS

Attends Vian HS in Vian, Okla., playing for head coach John Brockman … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 230 overall prospect and the No. 69 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. right-handed pitcher in Oklahoma by Perfect Game … Rated as the No. 12 overall prospect and the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Oklahoma by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – West Region Honorable Mention … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – West Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – West Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant.

Jack Smith
LHP / 6-3 / 215 / L/L
Moulton, Ala. / Hartselle HS

Attends Hartselle HS in Hartselle, Ala., playing for head coach William Booth … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 465 overall prospect and the No. 51 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 9 overall prospect and the No. 2 left-handed pitcher in Alabama by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 189 overall prospect and the No. 28 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 5 overall prospect and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Alabama by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Southeast Region Honorable Mention.

Kade Smith
INF/RHP / 6-0 / 200 / R/R
Searcy, Ark. / Harding Academy

Attends Harding Academy in Searcy, Ark., playing for head coach Shane Fullerton … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 290 overall prospect and the No. 12 third baseman in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in Arkansas by Perfect Game … Rated the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in Arkansas by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Southeast Region Honorable Mention … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Southeast Region Honorable Mention.

Nolan Souza
INF / 6-3 / 210 / L/R
Honolulu, Hawaii / Punahou HS

Attends Punahou HS in Honolulu, Hawaii, playing for head coach Keenan Sue … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 56 overall prospect and the No. 19 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 shortstop in Hawaii by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 75 overall prospect and the No. 19 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 42 high school draft prospect … 2022 Baseball Factory All-American Game participant … 2022 Area Code Games participant … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (West) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (West).

Ty Waid
C/INF / 6-1 / 210 / R/R
Texarkana, Ark. / Arkansas HS

Attends Arkansas HS in Texarkana, Ark., playing for head coach Layne Berry … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 80 overall prospect and the No. 7 catcher in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 1 catcher in Arkansas by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 423 overall prosect and the No. 24 third baseman in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in Arkansas by Prep Baseball Report … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Southeast) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Southeast Region Honorable Mention … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Southeast Region Honorable Mention.

Nazzan Zanetello
INF / 6-2 / 180 / R/R
Florissant, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS

Attends Christian Brothers College HS in St. Louis, Mo., playing for head coach Mason Horne … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 63 overall prospect and the No. 63 overall prospect and the No. 3 third baseman in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 1 third baseman in Missouri by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 123 overall prospect and the No. 30 shortstop in the class of 2023 … Rated the No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 1 shortstop in Missouri by Prep Baseball Report … Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 59 high school draft prospect … 2022 USA Baseball 18U National Team member … 2022 Major League Baseball-USA Baseball High School All-American Game participant … 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic participant … 2022 Area Code Games participant … Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region First Team (Central) … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – All-Region Second Team (Central) … 2020 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – Central Region Honorable Mention.

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