FAYETTEVILLE — Texas A&M left-hander Ryan Prager went toe-to-toe last season with Arkansas’ Hagen Smith, the national pitcher of the year.
When the Razorbacks opened their series at Blue Bell Park last May, Smith struck out 14 in 6 scoreless innings and Prager struck out 9 in 7 scoreless in arguably the best duel of 2024. The Aggies won a 1-0 thriller in 11 innings.
Smith left Arkansas for professional baseball last summer after he was paid an $8 million signing bonus by the Chicago White Sox, who drafted him fifth overall.
Prager, however, turned down the Los Angeles Angels’ third-round offer that had a slot value of $948,600.