Former UCLA commitment and top-100 prospect Gabe Gaeckle has committed to Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn.
Gaeckle, 5-11 and 180 pounds, of Aptos, Calif., committed to the Bruins in October 2021. He recently reopened his recruiting, it appears, because of UCLA's decision to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten.
“It came out of nowhere and I didn’t feel good about it,” Gaeckle told the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
A right-handed pitcher, Gaeckle also considered Texas A&M before announcing for the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Perfect Game rates him the No. 38 prospect in the nation for the 2023 class. He had a 4-0 record in 5 starts and appeared in 11 games for Aptos this spring, and was named Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP.
Gaeckle, who has recorded a 97 mph fastball, also had a 1.03 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.
He hit for a .373 average with 7 doubles and a team-high 5 home runs.
Arkansas’ success under Van Horn played a big role with his decision.
“I’m excited to play for one of the top teams in the country,” Gaeckle said to Santa Cruz Sentinel. “They’re always a top team. They’ve proven themselves. It’s going to be a fun experience.”
Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs also swayed him.
“I truly believe they have one of the best pitching coaches in the nation,” he said.
Gaeckle is expected to play in Perfect Game’s 20th All-American Classic in Phoenix on Aug. 28.