Chicago White Sox select Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith in 2024 MLB Draft

Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith is officially heading to the next level. The Chicago White Sox selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Smith was electric on the mound for the Razorbacks over the last three seasons, but saved his best for last. In 2024, he finished with a 9-2 record, a 2.04 ERA and 161 strikeouts as he helped Arkansas to a 44-16 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

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All told, Smith had a 24-6 record and a 3.40 ERA during his time in Fayetteville. He also set Arkansas’ program record with 360 career strikeouts as he became the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year as a junior.

Smith generated MLB Draft buzz throughout the season and entered the draft as one of the top prospects on the board. It was an impressive college career for the 6-foot-3 lefty, and he’ll now look to take his talents to the big leagues.

Scouting report on Hagen Smith

Hagen Smith got better each year at Arkansas, and he ended his junior season throwing upward of 100 miles per hour. Not only can he beat hitters with his velocity and his trademark slider, but his delivery also presents a challenge. That’s why MLB.com said his upside could be a key starter at the big-league level if he stays on his current track.

“Smith operates at 94-97 mph and touches 100 with his fastball, which plays up because his funky delivery creates deception and riding action,” MLB.com’s scouting report said. “His best offering is an 83-87 mph slider, which features sweep and depth while destroying lefties and keeping righties at bay, and he also can turn it into a cutter that reaches 91 mph. He uses an upper-80s splitter as a change of pace, and while he struggles to locate it well, it has intriguing tumble when it’s on.

“Smith employs far from a textbook delivery, working from a low-three-quarters slot with some crossfire that makes it tough to pick up his pitches and also to throw strikes at times. He has improved his control and performance in 2024, highlighted by striking out 17 over six innings on just 78 pitches against Oregon State, with some evaluators calling it the most dominant game they ever had seen. He has a strong 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame built for durability and could become a frontline starter if he continues to harness his stuff.”