Baseball | 9/30/2025 4:00:00 PM

PINE BLUFF, AR — The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball program, under the leadership of Head Coach Logan Stout, has reached a milestone that resonates far beyond Pine Bluff. According to the JBB, a Substack publication focused on coverage, insights, and stories from the world of junior college baseball., UAPB's incoming class has been ranked No. 6 in the nation among junior-college recruiting classes — the highest-ever mark for a SWAC or HBCU baseball program.

For Stout, the recognition validates a deeply held belief about the junior-college pathway:
"Junior-college baseball is, quite frankly, one of the purest and most competitive forms of the game," Stout said. "Some of the most talented players in the world begin their journeys at JUCOs. It's a great fit for athletes coming out of high school, transfers from Division I programs, or players seeking a new challenge. When you look at the number of guys drafted out of junior college each year, it's incredible — and yet this talent pool is still one of the most underrated in all of baseball. Other sports might view junior college differently, but in baseball, those teams can and do beat Division I programs. That's why we've leaned heavily into the JUCO route at UAPB. To be named the sixth-best recruiting class in the country is a tremendous honor and blessing. It's humbling, and it's historic for us. For Pine Bluff, for Arkansas, for our community and university, this is special. We're ranked ahead of established baseball powers — teams like Arizona and Oklahoma who regularly appear at the College World Series — and that's exciting for everyone who supports the Golden Lions."

Stout's 2026 roster reflects a careful blend of returning leaders and impact newcomers from both the transfer portal and the junior-college ranks. The class is deep across every position group:

Catcher: Returning is Buster Posey Award nominee Michael Vinny Saumell, bringing experience and leadership behind the plate. He'll be joined by Taiowa Costello (Louisburg College), who hit over .400 with 30 stolen bases and is described by Stout as "a phenomenal player with professional baseball potential."

First Base: Two big left-handed bats arrive in Easton Andrews (Redlands CC), who hit over .400 with double-digit home runs — more than UAPB's entire team combined last season — and Lazaro Alvarado (Odessa College), a .340 hitter from one of the nation's top-ranked junior colleges.

Middle Infield: UAPB added Konner Gidley, an electric leadoff hitter from Rock Valley College who batted in the high .300s and led his team in multiple offensive categories, and switch-hitting shortstop Zach Wieder, an All-American nominee from Pellissippi State CC who also approached .400 with seven home runs. "Having both of those guys in the middle infield from junior colleges is huge for us," Stout noted.

Third Base / Utility: Stout pointed to Ian Smith (Rich Mountain CC), one of the top-ranked JUCO players in the country and a Hot Springs native, who hit over .400 with double-digit home runs and can play anywhere on the field.

Outfield: UAPB bolstered its outfield with several transfers and JUCO stars, including gold-glove caliber Joe Adams (Marshalltown CC), a right fielder with a 90+ mph arm who hit .375 with near double-digit home runs, and power prospect Zyon Hamilton (Amarillo College), previously rated among the nation's top prospects despite battling injury last season. "Joe has already thrown guys out at the plate in intra-squad games, and Zion's power is special," Stout said.

Pitching Staff: On the mound, the Golden Lions welcome a host of arms. Headliners include Joe King, a former Vanderbilt commit once ranked the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in the country coming out of high school; returning first-team All-SWAC pitcher Kenney Fabian; and Jalen Porter (Wiley College), a grad transfer right-hander. Stout also praised junior-college arms Jack Haston (Odessa College), Ryland Morin (Odessa College), Cameron Ringler (Olney Central College), Reagan James (Alvin CC), and Luke Rowland (Arkansas–Little Rock), a JUCO All-American. "Cameron had one of the lowest ERAs in the entire country, Luke was an All-American — those are big deals. There aren't many All-Americans at that level. We also brought in Troy McLeese, a left-hander with a funky sidearm delivery who played with Konner Gidley at Rock Valley. Altogether, this group makes our staff deeper, stronger, and more versatile."

"This whole junior-college lineup we've assembled is special," Stout added. "As a coach, you recruit these guys believing they'll be phenomenal. But when an outside third party like JBB ranks you as the sixth-best recruiting class in the country, that validates all the long nights, all the road trips, and all the hard work. It's humbling — but it also fuels us to keep pushing."

Stout was equally enthusiastic about the newest member of his coaching staff, assistant and pitching coach Brad Powell:
"Brad's track record speaks for itself," Stout said. "I first met him when I had the honor of managing the Future Stars team at Globe Life — the top draft prospects in the country. Brad was coaching at Northwest Florida then. He's coached the 15th overall pick in the MLB Draft, he's a high-energy guy, and he's an outstanding recruiter. He brings an element our staff needed. Last year we had a great staff, but this year we've elevated what we're doing. Brad understands excellence — he's been part of a staff that went to the Junior College World Series — and he's already connecting with our players. Our goal is to get better every single day, every single year, and Brad Powell 100% brings that to the table."

With Powell's expertise and a record-breaking recruiting class, the Golden Lions are poised to build on last year's success, break new records, and continue elevating UAPB baseball's national profile.