Arizona baseball has unveiled its 2026 recruiting class, the fifth put together by Chip Hale and his staff but the first since new roster limits went into place in college sports.
The Wildcats signed 15 players, 13 from the high school ranks and two out of junior colleges. The prep portion of their class is ranked 24th by Perfect Game.
Five signees play their high school or JUCO ball in Arizona, with three more from California, two from Illinois and one each from Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. The class has five pitchers (four right-handed, one lefty), five infielders, three outfielders and two catchers.
The highest-ranked player in the class is Ayden Deome, a product of Roseville, Calif. who is ranked No. 93 in the country and the 7th-best third baseman according to Perfect Game. California righty Dusty Dunwoody is No. 185 nationally, while North Carolina righty Quinn O’Rourke and Illinois shortstop Jory Crocker are both ranked in the top 250.
Two signees play locally, and both are catchers. Cooper Kruk will play for Pima College in the spring after starring at Catalina Foothills, while Francisco Rivero plays at Canyon del Oro.
The players signed Wednesday won’t play for Arizona until the 2027 season, and the Wildcats will have a lot of holes to fill. The 2026 roster includes 13 seniors and 12 draft-eligible juniors that may turn pro.
College baseball has a 34-player roster limit, down from 40, but Arizona has 41 for the upcoming season because of grandfathering of existing players before the change.
The UA begins the 2026 season on Feb. 13 against Stanford at Surprise Stadium on the northwest side of Phoenix. The game is part of a tournament that will also see the Wildcats face Oregon State and Michigan before opening their home schedule Feb. 17 against Omaha at Hi Corbett Field.