Arkansas Razorbacks are pulling together one of the most aggressive transfer portal hauls of the offseason, a move that reflects both ambition and a newfound depth of resources.
Manny Marin Commits to Fayetteville
Manny Marin, a Tennessee native who spent the last two seasons as a Volunteer, announced his decision to join the Razorbacks in a brief Instagram post that simply read Woo Pig.
Marin arrives in Fayetteville with a proven track record of power and consistency. As a sophomore he posted a .291 batting average, hit nine home runs and drove in 43 runs, numbers that helped him rank No. 88 overall, No. 23 among shortstops and No. 14 among Florida prospects by Perfect Game. His freshman year showed a .283 average, a .356 on‑base percentage and a .401 slugging percentage across 45 starts.
The transition at Tennessee has been notable. After the departure of head coach Tony Vitello for the San Francisco Giants following the 2025 season, Josh Elander stepped in and guided the Volunteers to a 38‑22 overall record, though they fell short of advancing past the NCAA Regionals after reaching the Super Regionals the previous year.
Marin will not be the only former Tennessee player heading to Arkansas. Pitcher Brayden Krenzel, who logged 28 strikeouts in 17.1 innings as a sophomore, also made the move, giving the Razorbacks a double‑dose of talent from the SEC.
Coach Dave Van Horn, now in his 15th year at the helm, sees the influx of transfers as a catalyst for a deeper postseason run. He has emphasized that the program’s resource base has expanded since last year, allowing the staff to target elite talent more aggressively.
Van Horn’s ultimate goal remains a return to the College World Series in Omaha. He has described the current recruiting class as among the best in the country, according to analytics from 64 Analytics, and believes the team is shaping up for another deep NCAA Tournament run.