FAYETTEVILLE — New Mexico State catcher Cal Kilgore will transfer to Arkansas, he announced Wednesday.
Kilgore, a freshman in 2022, is the third catcher to transfer to the Razorbacks this offseason. Arkansas has also added commitments from Oklahoma catcher Hudson Polk and Eastern Oklahoma State College catcher Parker Rowland, who began his career at Arkansas State.
Arkansas lost all three of its catchers from the 2022 roster.
Kilgore batted .250 with 11 RBI in 33 starts as a freshman for the Aggies this year. Defensively he had a .974 fielding percentage, 2 passed balls and threw out 10 of 38 would-be base stealers.
He had an RBI hit during New Mexico State's 7-1 victory over Abilene Christian in the championship game of the WAC Tournament and started both games for the Aggies at the NCAA Corvallis (Ore.) Regional.
“I’d like to thank my coaches and teammates at New Mexico State for helping me grow as a person and a player,” Kilgore wrote on his Twitter page. “I’m thankful for the season I got to play last year and all of the bonds and friendships I made.
“With that being said, I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I’m transferring to the University of Arkansas! Woo Pig!!”
Kilgore (6-1, 195 pounds) is the latest in a long line of Kansas City-area players to commit to Arkansas. He played high school baseball at Blue Valley Southwest in Shawnee, Kan.
Kilgore was named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as a high school senior when he batted .380 and led his team with 25 runs en route to a state championship.
Kilgore is the seventh Division I transfer to commit to Arkansas this offseason. In addition to Kilgore and Polk, the Razorbacks have received commitments from UC-Santa Barbara shortstop Jordan Sprinkle, Kansas second baseman Tavian Josenberger, Nebraska pitcher Koty Frank, Creighton outfielder Jared Wegner and South Carolina pitcher Julian Bosnic.
Sprinkle was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round and Bosnic was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 14th round of this week’s MLB Draft. Both players have until Aug. 1 to sign professionally or opt to play at Arkansas next season.
The Razorbacks have also added 10 commitments from junior college transfers.