Zach Root drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers in first round of MLB Draft
Arkansas lefty ace Zach Root heard his name called in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday and was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 40th overall pick.
Root, a transfer from East Carolina, spent one season with the Razorbacks. He made 19 appearances on the mound for the Hogs and owned an ERA of 3.62 across 99.1 innings. He logged 126 strikeouts and issued 35 walks.
He added to history as the third Razorback first rounder for the same draft, joining RHP Gage Wood (26th overall, Philadelphia Phillies) and SS Wehiwa Aloy (31st overall, Baltimore Orioles).
The Fort Myers, Florida, native came to Arkansas initially as the Saturday starter, but was thrust into the Friday night ace role when Southeastern Conference play started.
Root reached his career-high in both strikeouts and innings pitched late in the season, when the Hogs hosted No. 1 Texas on May 1. He went eight innings without allowing a run and struck out 11 batters while allowing just two hits in a 9-0 win.
The Hogs called on Root twice in the College World Series, in both the tournament opener against LSU and against UCLA in an elimination game. His outing against eventual-champion LSU was short, as he was pulled after 1.2 innings. He allowed three runs and two hits and the Hogs lost 4-1.
After his teammate and fellow first-round pick Gage Wood threw a no-hitter against Murray State, Root went back to the mound against UCLA. That outing went much better, as he threw five innings and allowed just three hits and no runs, and the Hogs won 7-3.
Stayed tuned to HawgBeat throughout the 2025 MLB Draft and join The Trough message board for intel, live updates and reactions.
First-round picks from Arkansas
2025 – RHP Gage Wood – 26th overall, Philadelphia Phillies
– SS Wehiwa Aloy – 31st overall, Baltimore Orioles
– LHP Zach Root – 40th overall, Los Angeles Dodgers
– OF Charles Davalan – 41st overall, Los Angeles Dodgers
2024 – LHP Hagen Smith – 5th overall, Chicago White Sox
2020 – OF Heston Kjerstad – 2nd overall, Baltimore Orioles
2015 – OF Andrew Benintendi – 7th overall, Boston Red Sox
2013 – RHP Ryne Stanek – 29th overall, Tampa Bay Rays
2010 – 3B Zack Cox – 25th overall, St. Louis Cardinals
2008 – 3B Logan Forsythe – 46th overall, San Diego Padres
2007 – LHP Nick Schmidt – 23rd overall, San Diego Padres
1999 – RHP Dave Walling – 27th overall, New York Yankees
1986 – SS Jeff King – 1st overall, Pittsburgh Pirates
1981 – OF Kevin McReynolds – 6th overall, San Diego Padres
