Could pitching fuel another Omaha run for Arizona in 2026?

Since 2012, they’ve reached the College World Series every four years the event has been contested. They haven’t so much as made a Super Regional in between.

But the way next year’s team is shaping up with the transfer portal closed and the MLB Draft in the rearview mirror, that pattern could be broken.

Although five UA pitchers were selected in the draft, which concluded Monday, Arizona is set to return its top two starters and, most likely, its closer — who was named Stopper of the Year this past season.

Where a year ago the lineup was mostly set and the pitching staff was unsettled, the roles are reversed as Chip Hale and his staff prepare for the 2025-26 campaign. If the returning anchors can build on their ‘25 successes — and some newcomers can provide adequate support — the Wildcats will have a chance to win a lot of ballgames even if it takes a while to sort out the starting nine.

Arizona made it through the portal cycle with weekend starters Owen Kramkowski and Smith Bailey set to return after breakout seasons.

Kramkowski, after barely pitching as a freshman, went 9-6 with a 90-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 starts covering 92 innings. Bailey made multiple Freshman All-American teams after going 3-3 with a 3.94 ERA in 18 appearances, including four quality starts in his final five outings.

Promoting John DeRouin to succeed Kevin Vance as pitching coach helped keep the staff intact. DeRouin worked as Vance’s top assistant for two years before the latter left to become the head coach at San Diego State.

The move was well-received in player exit interviews.

“We were amazed at the comfort level of the pitchers when we told them,” Hale said. “They were like, ‘OK, great. I’m good to go.’”

Arizona remains hopeful that left-hander Mason Russell, an even higher-rated prospect than Bailey in the class of 2024, can find his form after mostly struggling in seven appearances as a freshman. Regardless of whether that happens, the UA has brought in reinforcements.

The Wildcats’ portal pickups include a pair of left-handers, Luc Fladda (Tulane) and Patrick Morris (Western Kentucky).

Fladda was a member of the Green Wave’s weekend rotation the past two seasons. Hale described Fladda as a “strike-throwing machine” after he yielded just 11 walks in 76⅔ innings in 2025.

Morris, who’s originally from Chandler, should give Arizona something it hasn’t had in recent years: a lefty reliever who excels against left-handed batters. They hit .114 against Morris this past season.

The back of the bullpen will remain Tony Pluta’s domain unless he receives a lucrative free-agent offer. Pluta went undrafted on the heels of an award-winning junior season in which he went 3-0 with a school-record 14 saves, a 1.46 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.

Pluta will be joined by right-hander Garrett Hicks, who logged a team-high 34 appearances and struck out 49 batters in 45⅔ innings.

Other intriguing newcomers include right-hander Evan Brandt, who went 14-1 with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP at Weatherford (Texas) College this year; right-hander Sam Round, a former Gonzaga Bulldog who went 7-2 with a 3.29 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 63 innings at Paradise Valley Community College in 2025; and right-hander Jack Lafflam, a highly rated prospect from Brophy College Prep in Phoenix who stuck with the UA instead of going pro.

Whom they’ll all throw to will be determined in fall ball and preseason camp after two-year starting catcher Adonys Guzman was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The leading candidates are Oklahoma State transfer Beau Sylvester, junior-college transfer Roman Meyers and incoming freshman Joe Forbes of Glendale Mountain Ridge, the younger brother of UA infielder Jackson Forbes.

Arizona lost three-fourths of its starting infield in seniors Garen Caulfield and Tommy Splaine and junior Mason White, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Third baseman Maddox Mihalakis will be back, although he could get looks at first base, as well. Returnee Mathis Meurant is the projected starting shortstop, although he must prove, among other things, that he can stay healthy; the Frenchman’s summer was cut short by a dislocated left (non-throwing) shoulder.

The battle to succeed Caulfield at second base will feature Milwaukee transfer Tyler Bickers, who hit .369 with a .482 on-base percentage for the Panthers last season; and returnees Ethan Guerra, Nate Novitske and Jackson Forbes.

One of them conceivably could play third base if Hale elects to move Mihalakis to first and Andrew Cain to right field. Cain and outfielder Easton Breyfogle are rising juniors who will go from complementary pieces to prime-time players following the departures of Guzman, Splaine, Caulfield, White and outfielders Brendan Summerhill and Aaron Walton. Summerhill (Tampa Bay) and Walton (Cleveland) were Day 1 picks in the MLB Draft.

Other outfield possibilities include transfers Sean Barta (Pima Community College), Chaz McNelis (College of Southern Nevada) and Carson McEntire (Oregon State); and returnees Gunner Geile and Tyler Russell, Mason Russell’s twin brother. Hale described McEntire, who also prepped at Mountain Ridge, as a “super-high-ceiling player.”

The DH candidates include returnee Dom Rodriguez, who’s batting .363 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 80 at-bats for the Wausau Woodchucks of the Northwoods League.

Hale wasn’t pleased with how the 2025 season ended; after making it to Omaha, Arizona went two-and-out, blowing late leads both times.

But with time to reflect, Hale beamed with pride about the ‘25 Wildcats’ accomplishments.

“You’re never happy unless you win the last game; that’s just the way it goes,” Hale said. “But you turn the page and understand how much it took to get there.

“I just am amazed, looking back and looking at some of the games and numbers and everything, at how we did. How we went up to Eugene, where we’ve never really played well till those three games. And then going out (and beating) North Carolina, (which) was better than both teams we lost to (in Omaha). To beat them in their home ballpark was amazing.

“So I’m really proud of the group because we had our challenges.”

Hale signed a four-year contract extension on June 23 that will keep him with the Wildcats through 2030. Arizona has 152 wins, back-to-back conference tournament titles, four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and one CWS berth under Hale.

“We were super pumped for him,” said White, the Salpointe Catholic product who was Hale’s first recruit in the summer of 2021. “I was very happy just because I know where the program is at and I knew it’s in the best hands.

“When he got extended, that’s what we were all waiting for, especially (after) getting to Omaha. We knew that was kind of his flag, you’d call it. He deserves to be here. He’s the leader of our team, and he’s the reason that our program is in such a good spot.”

White said Hale taught him how to deal with the day-to-day grind of a long baseball season — a challenge that will become even greater for White and his fellow draftees in pro ball.

“You’re not gonna feel your best every single day,” White said, “so learning how to give your best every single day.”