FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas pitchers Hagen Smith and Mason Molina, and shortstop Wehiwa Aloy were named preseason All-Americans on Tuesday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Smith and Aloy, a transfer from Sacramento State, were second-team selections and Molina, a transfer from Texas Tech, was a third-team pick.
Smith, a junior left-hander, has proven his value as a starter, long reliever and closer in two seasons for the Razorbacks. The 6-3, 225-pounder went 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA in 71 2/3 innings with 11 starts and 2 saves last season.
Smith struck out 109, walked 42 and had a 1.37 WHIP. The native of Bullard, Texas, is projected as a weekend starter along with Molina and junior right-hander Brady Tygart.
Aloy is off to a strong start in spring scrimmages with multiple home runs and good fielding. The 6-2, 200-pounder from Wailuki, Hawaii, hit .376 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI and fielded .928 with 17 errors last season at Sacramento State.
Molina, a 6-2, 230-pounder from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., earned second-team All-Big 12 honors at Texas Tech last season with a 6-2 record and 3.67 ERA, with 108 strikeouts and 35 walks and a 1.18 WHIP over 83 1/3 innings.