Arkansas baseball pitcher Ethan McElvain was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the No. 151 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12. He is sixth draft pick this weekend for the Razorbacks.
McElvain’s projected slot value at No. 151 is $476,900.
The Tennessee native just wrapped up his one-and-only season with Arkansas. The junior lefty did not pitch on the weekend until the Hogs’ fourth series of the season, but he quickly demanded more innings and eventually settled into the closer role for coach Dave Van Horn.
McElvain went 6-0 with a 1.88 ERA and six saves across 38⅓ innings pitched. He struck out 55 batters and only issued 13 walks as one of the most-dominant relievers across the SEC.
McElvain took his pitching to new heights in 2026 thanks to better control. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Vanderbilt, and McElvain walked 28 batters in 27⅓ innings during the 2025 season. The end result was a 7.24 ERA as a sophomore.
Arkansas began to trust McElvain for longer outings toward the tail-end of the 2026 campaign. In back-to-back appearances in May, McElvain recorded nine outs in a win over Kentucky and then 13 against Auburn at the SEC Tournament semifinal. He then earned his first start of the season in the regional final against Kansas.
What Arkansas baseball’s Ethan McElvain brings to Royals
McElvain’s biggest tool is his fastball velocity, which sits in the mid-90s and can reach 98 mph. It’s a devastating pitch with carry that becomes particularly effective when he can locate it at the top of the strike zone.
The lefty does have a curveball and a slider, but he didn’t use either pitch very much at Arkansas. Instead, he kept hitters off-balance with a cutter.
The arsenal likely limits McElvain from ever becoming a starter in the pro ranks, but he could become a high-leverage reliever after showing real mental mettle as the Arkansas closer.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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