The Arkansas Razorbacks remain in the process of filling out their 2024 pitching staff, but they’ve got quite the centerpiece in left-hander Hagen Smith. After an outstanding sophomore season, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn expects Smith to take his game to an even higher level next season.

Last week, Smith was named a Second Team All-American by D1Baseball, his seventh All-America honor this offseason. He posted a 3.64 ERA this season with 109 strikeouts in 71.2 innings while picking up eight wins and two saves.

Smith made 11 starts on the mound and seven appearances out of the bullpen, filling whichever role the Razorback coaching staff asked of him each week. Amid all of the ups and downs for an Arkansas pitching staff that battled various injuries, Smith proved to be a force any time he toed the rubber during a 2023 campaign that led to him earning First Team All-SEC honors.

As he prepares for his junior season, Smith is likely to return to a full-time starting role for the Hogs.

“I'd say he's a for sure starter,” Van Horn said, “Unless he came up to me and said 'Coach, I really want to come out of the pen,' and it's slim to none that anybody ever says that. I think he's a starter. He's been through it. He's done everything - middle relief, close, start.”

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Smith is currently representing his country while playing with the USA Collegiate National Team. He threw two perfect innings on Sunday during his first official appearance playing alongside some of the best players in the country.

Smith is currently listed as the No. 10 college prospect on Joe Doyle’s early rankings for the 2024 MLB Draft. He’ll enter next season with plenty of draft buzz following such a strong sophomore season, and Van Horn sees potential for the Bullard (Texas) native to reach another level next spring.

“He's still really young,” Van Horn said. “I think he turns 20 in August, like August 18 or something (August 19th is Smith’s birthday). He'll be 20 all next year and be 20 at the draft. We saw a jump from him physically this past year. We'll see another jump in him where he's going to really, in our opinion, come into the man strength, so to speak.

“Mature, great kid, great worker. Love him. You know, he cares. He really cares, and I think he's going to be a superstar.”

HawgSports will continue to provide the latest coverage of the off-season action for the Arkansas Razorbacks, including the transfer portal, MLB Draft and summer ball results.