Razorbacks reload for next season from Vanderbilt for the second year

McElvain, a native of Thompson's Station, Tennessee, will already be familiar with at least one Razorback. He was teammates with current Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal in 2024. It marks the second straight season that coach Dave Van Horn has picked off a former Commodore from the portal.

According to Vanderbilt's website, McElvain posted a 0.92 ERA with a 9-0 record and 110 strikeouts as a senior
and was named the 2023 Wilco Baseball Player of the Year.

He was a highly touted prospect in out of high school. Perfect Game had him ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect in the class of 2023 and was the No. 1 left-handed pitcher and the No. 1 prospect form the state of Tennessee.

With the team less that 24 hours from first pitch in Omaha against LSU, the foundation for another strong portal class is already taking shape. Earlier this week, 2023 ERA title winner and Rogers native Jackson Wells committed to Arkansas after three seasons at Arkansas-Little Rock.

Van Horn had plenty to say about the pros and the cons of the portal in his media availability before the start of the College World Series, but is looking to use it to great effect again. He rebuilt the team with the No. 2 overall portal class according to Baseball America and took the team back to Omaha after a two-year hiatus.

The Razorbacks begin their Omaha run against No. 6 LSU 6 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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