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Arkansas baseball may have found its replacement for Charles Davalan

Trading one of the best leadoff hitters in the country for another? We'll take it.
ByAustin Farmer|
Arkansas left fielder Charles Davalan (24) reacts after he safely reached home against Vanderbilt on a double hit by Kuhio Aloy during the ninth inning at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 28, 2025.
Arkansas left fielder Charles Davalan (24) reacts after he safely reached home against Vanderbilt on a double hit by Kuhio Aloy during the ninth inning at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 28, 2025. | Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dave Van Horn and the Razorbacks baseball team made another splash in the transfer portal. Lamar standout Damian Ruiz committed to the Hogs on Sunday and has two more seasons of eligibility.

Damian Ruiz commits to Arkansas baseball

Ruiz began his collegiate career at Houston Christian, where he only played in 13 games and hit .222 in his freshman season. However, his sophomore glow-up was outstanding.

After transferring to the Cardinals, Ruiz hit an impressive .388, starting in all 56 games. With an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.118, he knocked in 46 RBIs, seven home runs, and 22 doubles. He's a master at stealing bases, taking 14 of his 15 attempts this season, and led Lamar in runs with 76, 25 more than anyone else on the team. He also broke the single-season program hitting streak record, connecting in 32 consecutive games.

He finished as one of the best hitters in the Southland Conference, recording the best OBP, highest runs scored, hits, and doubles. He also had the third-best average and seventh-best slugging percentage in the conference.

With Lamar, Ruiz was the Cardinals' leadoff hitter and primarily played in the outfield. His numbers eerily resemble the Razorbacks' own leadoff hitter, Charles Davalan. With the Canadian most likely heading to the MLB after next week's draft, Ruiz may be his replacement heading into the 2026 season. Davalan hit for .346 with an OPS of .994 and drove in 60 RBIs and had 14 homers.

Arkansas baseball incoming transfers

  • RHP Jackson Wells — super senior (transfer from Little Rock)
  • INF Dylan Grego — junior (transfer from Ball State)
  • RHP Isaac Godard — redshirt junior (JUCO transfer)
  • INF Sherman Johnson II — junior (JUCO transfer)
  • LHP Ethan McElvain — junior (transfer from Vanderbilt)
  • RHP Denton Biller — redshirt sophomore (JUCO transfer)
  • RHP Jackson Kircher — sophomore (transfer from Oklahoma)
  • INF T.J. Pompey — junior (transfer from Texas Tech)
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