The Arkansas Razorbacks were a top ten team in the country a season ago in team ERA. Gabe Gaeckle is returning to the pitching staff in 2026 and is looking to be the leader of the Arkansas group.
In 2025, he had a 4.42 ERA in 71 1/3 innings of work. He also had 92 strikeouts over that same stretch. He had the second-most strikeouts on Arkansas’ team behind Zach Root.
The 2025 season was the first year Gaeckle was placed in the Razorbacks’ starting rotation. He made nine starts last season. However, he was also able to earn two saves, building off the great bullpen experience he gained in 2024.
During the summer, Gaeckle represented Arkansas on the USA Collegiate National team.
They played a five-game series against the Samurai Japan all-stars. During the five games of action, Gaeckle pitched 1 1/3 innings and recorded two strikeouts while allowing just one earned run.
Left-handed pitcher Cole Gibler and catcher Ryder Helfrick also represented the Arkansas Razorbacks on the 2025 USA Collegiate National team.
The Razorbacks made the College World Series for the 12th time in program history in 2025.
The Razorbacks won two games in Omaha this past season, defeating UCLA and Murray State. Gage Wood threw the third no-hitter in the history of the College World Series in Arkansas’ win over Murray State.
Wood’s historic performance was not the only big-time pitching display from an Arkansas player. Gaeckle had a great start in a game against the LSU Tigers on June 14. He reached career-highs in innings pitched (six) and strikeouts (10) against the national champions.
Gaeckle also gave up just three hits, walked only one batter, and allowed just one run.
NCAA News: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Arkansas pitcher Gabe Gaeckle (20) during an NCAA College World Series baseball game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Cory Eads)
