What Arkansas baseball’s Camden Kozeal brings to Marlins in MLB Draft

Arkansas baseball infielder Camden Kozeal was selected by the Marlins with the No. 87 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11. He is fifth draft pick this weekend for the Razorbacks.

Kozeal's projected slot value at No. 40 is $929,700.

The Nebraska native just wrapped up his junior season with Arkansas. He led the team in home runs (20), RBIs (71), runs (59), batting average (.318) and OPS (1.063) while playing shortstop in 2026.

Across his two seasons with the Razorbacks, Kozeal hit 35 home runs, which are tied for ninth on the program's all-time list.

Kozeal played an instrumental role in helping the Hogs reach the 2025 College World Series, where he got to play in his hometown of Omaha. He began the season as a backup infielder, but Kozeal quickly forced his way into the lineup. He ended up making 30 starts at first base and 25 at second base.

What Camden Kozeal brings to Marlins

Kozeal has a compact frame at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, but the lefty batter generates solid power with a compact swing. Baseball America says that his "uphill swing" generates hard contact and lifts the baseball into the air, explaining how Kozeal was Arkansas' most consistent home run threat over the last two seasons.

If there's a concern for Kozeal, it's his chase rate against pitchers with elite stuff. He struck out 30 times and only drew 12 walks while hitting .234 against SEC pitchers in 2026. Still, he led Arkansas with nine homers in conference play.

Kozeal displayed terrific defensive versatility with the Razorbacks, but Dave Van Horn has consistently said the infielder will play second base at the next level. He isn't an elite athlete with average speed and arm strength, but Kozeal has a high baseball IQ and displays solid footwork as a defender. He was not a weakness during his 2026 stint playing shortstop.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: What Arkansas baseball’s Camden Kozeal brings to Marlins in MLB Draft