FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas led all programs with three players selected to the 2025 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team’s 26-man roster announced Friday.
Right-handed pitcher Gabe Gaeckle, left-handed pitcher Cole Gibler and catcher Ryder Helfrick made the team. They were chosen from a pool of 56 non-draft eligible college players who participated in the USA Baseball CNT’s training camp Sunday through Thursday.
The team will play June 8-13 in multiple Japanese cities, beginning with the USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series on Tuesday and Wednesday in Hokkaido, Japan.
The Razorbacks’ three selections to the team were followed by Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, NC State, North Carolina, Oregon State and UCLA, which all had two players selected. Auburn, East Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, California-Irvine and Virginia Tech all had one player chosen.
Gaeckle had a 4-2 record and 4.42 ERA in 71 1/3 innings pitched as a sophomore this year with the Razorbacks. He recorded 92 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .235 batting average.
Gaeckle became the first Arkansas player since Ryne Stanek in 2011 and 2012 to make the CNT in consecutive seasons.
Gibler was 3-2 during his freshman season in 2025, with a 3.99 ERA in 29 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 57 and held opponents to a .221 average.
Helfrick, one of Arkansas’ postseason stars, batted .305 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI as a sophomore in 2025. He had a .995 fielding percentage.
Arkansas infielder Cam Kozeal participated in the training camp but did not make the CNT. Kozeal, along with the other 29 players who did not make the roster, had a game against the Appalachian League Select Team on Friday in Kannapolis, N.C.
The Razorbacks had their most players chosen to the CNT since 2011, when DJ Baxendale, Dominic Ficociello, Matt Reynolds and Stanek made the team. Arkansas has had 26 selections to the team all-time.
Schedule (all times Central)
July 8 – 3 a.m. – Hokkaido, Japan
July 9 – 3 a.m. – Hokkaido, Japan
July 11 – 2 a.m. – Niigata, Japan
July 12 – 9 p.m. – Niigata, Japan
July 13 – 2 a.m. – Tokyo
2025 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
Eric Becker – INF/OF – Virginia
Tyler Bell – INF – Kentucky
Drew Burress – OF – Georgia Tech
Roch Cholowsky – INF – UCLA
Jason DeCaro – RHP – North Carolina
Jacob Dudan – RHP – NC State
Gabe Gaeckle – RHP – Arkansas
Cole Gibler – LHP – Arkansas
AJ Gracia – OF – Virginia
Ryder Helfrick – C – Arkansas
Ethan Kleinschmit – LHP – Oregon State
Vahn Lackey – C – Georgia Tech
Mulivai Levu – INF – UCLA
Ryan Lynch – RHP – North Carolina
Ryan Marohn – LHP – NC State
Ryan McPherson – RHP – Mississippi State
Lucas Moore – OF – Louisville
Blake Morningstar – RHP – Wake Forest
Ethan Norby – LHP – ECU
Ricky Ojeda – LHP – UC Irvine
Liam Peterson – RHP – Florida
Ace Reese – INF/OF – Mississippi State
Chris Rembert – INF – Auburn
Brett Renfrow – RHP – Virginia Tech
Zion Rose – OF – Louisville
Dax Whitney – RHP – Oregon State