FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Gabe Fraser, a promising freshman infielder for the Arkansas Razorbacks, announced Friday night that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, marking another significant roster change for a program already navigating a busy offseason.
Fraser’s decision, shared first via Instagram and later confirmed by a team spokesman, quickly reverberated through the Arkansas baseball community, which has watched several players depart since the close of the 2025 campaign.
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Fraser, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., appeared in 28 games and started 13 for the Razorbacks during his freshman season.
He posted a .250 batting average, recording one double, one triple and one home run, along with 14 runs scored and 12 RBIs.
Though his playing time was interrupted by injuries, Fraser’s presence was felt during a stretch in April when he stepped into the starting second baseman role after Nolan Souza’s season-ending shoulder injury.
“I’m grateful for my time at Arkansas and for the support from my teammates and coaches,” Fraser wrote on Instagram, signaling his appreciation for the program while making clear his intention to seek opportunities elsewhere.
“This was a difficult decision, but I believe it’s the best step for my development as a player and a person.”
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, who has weathered significant roster turnover this offseason, acknowledged the challenge of seeing players depart.
“It’s hard to say goodbye,” Van Horn said. “I’m not good at saying goodbyes anyway. Great team, fun team, hard-working team.”
Fraser’s season was marked by both opportunity and adversity.
After earning a spot in the starting lineup due to Souza’s injury, Fraser himself was sidelined by a back injury in late April, opening the door for Cam Kozeal to take over at second base.
Fraser’s subsequent appearances were limited to brief bench roles, including a cameo against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament and another at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional against Creighton.
His departure makes Fraser at least the fifth Razorback to enter the transfer portal from the 2025 roster.
According to the D1Baseball transfer tracker, pitchers Jackson Farrell, Ross Felder, Tag Andrews, and Luke Williams have also entered the portal, although all four redshirted during the season.
Andrews has since committed to Little Rock, signaling the start of what could be a busy summer of player movement.
While Arkansas has seen its share of departures, the Razorbacks have also been aggressive in the transfer market, bringing in impact players to replenish the roster.
The program’s 2025 transfer class was ranked second nationally by Baseball America. Among the key additions were All-SEC players Charles Davalan, Zach Root, Kuhio Aloy, and Cam Kozeal.
Fraser’s transfer is notable not only because he saw significant playing time as a freshman, but also because of his pedigree.
Coming out of Orange Lutheran High School, Fraser was rated the No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 3 shortstop in California by Perfect Game, and the No. 144 overall prospect nationally in the class of 2024.
His decision to leave Arkansas underscores the competitive pressures and shifting dynamics of college baseball, where the promise of immediate playing time and the fluidity of the portal have led even top recruits to reconsider their paths.
For Arkansas, the ongoing roster churn is part of a broader trend across the SEC and college baseball at large, as coaches adapt to the realities of NIL, the transfer portal, and the MLB Draft.
“You want to keep your best players, but you also want what’s best for them,” Van Horn said after the season. “Sometimes that means saying goodbye sooner than you’d like.”
Fraser’s exit opens up questions about Arkansas’ infield depth heading into 2026. Kozeal, who filled in capably at second base and hit .291 with five home runs, is expected to return, while other newcomers and transfer additions will compete for playing time.
The Razorbacks will look to build around returning pitchers like Gabe Gaeckle and Cole Gibler, as well as hitters Ryder Helfrick and Kozeal, but the loss of a versatile defender and left-handed bat like Fraser’s will be felt.
The transfer portal has both bolstered and tested Arkansas’ depth in recent years.
Last year’s portal additions propelled the Razorbacks to a strong regular season and a return to the postseason, even as injuries and departures forced constant adjustments.
With more than a dozen players eligible for the MLB Draft this summer, Van Horn and his staff will be closely monitoring roster needs as the offseason progresses.
The coming weeks will likely bring more movement, with the portal window still open and the MLB Draft looming.
