By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' baseball team got some good news with the return of third baseman TJ Pompey and second baseman Nolan Souza opting to return for another season.

Neither Pompey or Souza were drafted in the recent Major League Baseball Draft. The news wasn't as good for the trio Arkansas had committed from the transfer portal. Georgia State infielder Wills Maginnis and Santa Clara shortstop Ben Cleary were both drafted in Round 11 and signed. Florida Gulf Coast right-handed pitcher Chris Diaz was drafted in the 14th round and he too signed. Maginnis is headed to the Cincinnati Reds, Cleary the Cleveland Guardians and Diaz will pitch for the Seattle Mariners.

Souza played in 60 games this past season with 59 starts. He hit four home runs, 35 runs batted in and a .272 batting average. Pompey saw action in 59 games while starting 54 games. Pompey hit 15 home runs, drove in 39 and hit .260.