Tag: Caleb Cali

Caleb Cali officially not returning to Diamond Hogs, to sign with Mariners

Cali’s decision whether to return to Arkansas or not was one of the biggest questions of the Diamond Hogs’ offseason.

Arkansas baseball had two real questions heading into mid-July.

How many of their recruits in the Class of 2023 would sign? And would Caleb Cali sign?

The answer to the first question remains to be determined. The answer to the second came Friday as the Arkansas third baseman, a 16th-round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners, agreed to terms with the franchise.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, Cali had yet to sign, but after agreeing to terms, that part is formality.

Cali spent one season with the Diamond Hogs after transferring from the College of Central Florida. Arkansas was his fourth college after he began his career at Florida State, though Cali had one year of eligibility remaining had he elected.

With the Razorbacks, Cali hit .308 with a .412 on-base percentage and slugged .512 in 51 games. But he was the best hitter on the club in SEC play, slashing .370/.438/.596 with six doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI.

Kendall Diggs will likely see a lion’s share of the time at third in 2024.

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Draft host Seattle takes Caleb Cali in 16th round

Caleb Cali was taken in the 16th round with the 487th overall pick by the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

The host of the MLB Draft took Arkansas infielder Caleb Cali on Tuesday afternoon in the 16th round.

Seattle, which has been flirting with American League contention last year and even this year, selected Cali with the 487th overall pick.

Cali has a dilemma. He could return to the Razorbacks in 2024, but by doing so would likely cost himself significant financial losses by virtue of being a senior and not counting against a team’s bonus pool.

His stats, especially in SEC play, suggest that he’s ready to make the leap to the Mariners’ farm system.

In just 24 conference games, he hit six home runs and drove in 25, while hitting .340 and slugging .438.

Razorbacks take fourth straight series from South Carolina

Arkansas can win its second SEC baseball title in three years thanks to a series victory over South Carolina.

Arkansas is in the driver’s seat to win the Southeastern Conference regular season baseball title.

Behind a complete game effort from freshman Hunter Hollan and timely hitting from John Bolton, Parker Rowland and Caleb Cali, the Razorbacks took down South Carolina on Sunday, 5-1.

The No. 3 ranked Hogs will trek to Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday to begin the final regular season series against Vanderbilt.

Arkansas has a half game lead over LSU in the Western Division, and a game lead over Florida for the overall crown.

Hollan threw 113 pitches and retired 20 of the final 21 Gamecock batters in order to end the game. The southpaw struck out 10 and only walked one.

One more victory will clinch 20 SEC victories for only the third time in program history, joining the 1999 and 2021 teams.

A SEC title would also be the third of the Dave Van Horn era, as he also won championships in 2004 and 2021.

The only thing the Gamecocks mustered was a third inning home run to left from Will Tippett.

Ben McLaughlin put the finishing touches on the contest with a home run to right center in the eighth.

Arkansas Baseball adds two from transfer portal

Arkansas Baseball landed two more transfers on Saturday, both with proven potential.

Over the last week, the Transfer Portal appeared to be a mortal enemy of Arkansas Baseball, as ten players announced their intentions to enter the portal since the Razorbacks’ trip to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in the Super Regionals.

However, the pendulum seems to be swinging towards Arkansas again, as they landed two prospects from the portal on Saturday, bringing their weekend commitment list to three over the weekend.

The first commit of the day was from [autotag]Koty Frank[/autotag], a right-handed pitcher from the University of Nebraska. During his senior season for the Cornhuskers, Frank made 14 appearances with seven starts. Despite only getting 59.0 innings of work, he was second on the team with 70 strikeouts, while allowing the least amount of hits (54) by a pitcher who recorded more than 40 innings on the mound.

As many transfers do, Frank took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Arkansas. In the tweet, he thanked God, his coaches, family, and friends for their roles in the transfer process.

Frank is a 6-2, 210-pound pitcher from Tushka, Okla. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

The second commit of the day comes from the Big 12. [autotag]Tavian Josenberger[/autotag], a utility player from Kansas City, announced that he will be transferring to Arkansas from Kansas, where he spent his first two collegiate seasons.

Josenberger is listed as an IF/OF, but has the most experience playing second base, where he started 52 games last season for the Jayhawks. In 104 total games at Kansas, Josenberger hit .296 with three home runs, 54 RBI, and 21 doubles.

At the plate, Josenberger recorded multiple hits in 15 games, and even had a 12-game hitting streak during his sophomore season in 2022. His only two home runs of the season came in the same game against Charleston Southern on March 9, where he hit those home runs from both sides of the plate.

Josenberger’s draft stock is high was well, as he is ranked as a top-15 prospect by Baseball America, Perfect Game, and D1Baseball, ranking as high as No. 6. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Frank and Josenberger are the second and third commits of the weekend for Arkansas. On Friday, junior college transfer [autotag]Caleb Cali[/autotag] announced that he has intentions to come to Arkansas. He slashed .438/.533/.826 this past spring with 17 home runs, 22 doubles, six triples and 77 RBIs, and is projected to be a first baseman for the Razorbacks.

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Diamond Hogs JUCO All-American, allowing Stovall to shift to natural position

Arkansas is likely going to lose three starting infielders off this year’s College World Series team, so Caleb Cali will help.

Arkansas baseball has landed its likely starting first baseman for next season.

Junior-college All-American Caleb Cali, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound first bagger from the College of Central Florida, will transfer to Arkansas in time to play next season.

He slashed .438/.533/.826 this past spring with 17 home runs, 22 doubles, six triples and 77 RBIs. Cali was primarily a third baseman at CofCF, but his college coach told WholeHogSports that Cali projects as first baseman at the Division I level.

Cali began his career at Florida State where he redshirted before transferring to Hillsborough Community College for the 2021 season. Arkansas will make his fourth school in four years, but Cali will have two years of eligibility with the Razorbacks.

His arrival should allow Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn to shift this year’s starting first baseman, Peyton Stovall, to the middle infield, his primary position in high school.

Cali is one of 10 junior-college commits Van Horn and the Diamond Hogs have landed in the class. Arkansas is losing starters Jalen Battles, Michael Turner, Braydon Webb, Zack Gregory and Chris Lanzilli. They’re also likely to lose third baseman Cayden Wallace and second baseman Robert Moore to the MLB draft.