Three Razorbacks make cut for USA Collegiate National Team
The 26-man roster for the 2025 Collegiate National Baseball Team was announced on July 4 and three of the four Arkansas Razorbacks who auditioned for the squad made the cut, the most of any school in the country.
Right-handed pitcher Gabe Gaeckle, lefty Cole Gibler and catcher Ryder Helfrick were selected, while infielder Cam Kozeal did not make the team.
“After a very competitive Stars versus Stripes series, we are excited to announce the twenty-six players who will represent the United States on international soil in the USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series,” said Eric Campbell, USA Baseball’s Professional and Collegiate National Team General Manager.
“We are confident that the roster assembled will represent our country well, and we look forward to making the trip back to Japan for the first time since 2019 and continuing this long-standing series, which dates back to 1972.”
The team will battle in the 45th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 8-13 in various locations across Japan.
Arkansas has now had 27 all-time selections, with Gaeckle joining current New York Mets reliever Ryne Stanek as the program’s only two-time pick.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (27 selections, 25 players)
• Ron Reynolds (1979)
• Darrell Akerfelds (1982)
• Jeff King (1985)
• Doug Bennett (1990)
• Phillip Stidham (1990)
• Nick Schmidt (2006)
• Logan Forsythe (2007)
• Andy Wilkins (2009)
• DJ Baxendale (2011)
• Dominic Ficociello (2011)
• Matt Reynolds (2011)
• Ryne Stanek (2011)
• Ryne Stanek (2012)
• Trey Killian (2014)
• Zach Jackson (2015)
• Grant Koch (2017)
• Matt Cronin (2018)
• Dominic Fletcher (2018)
• Heston Kjerstad (2019)
• Casey Opitz (2019)
• Robert Moore (2021)
• Jaxon Wiggins (2021)
• Hagen Smith (2023)
• Gabe Gaeckle (2024)
• Gabe Gaeckle (2025)
• Cole Gibler (2025)
• Ryder Helfrick (2025)
