FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Adds Versatile Texas Tech Transfer TJ Pompey to 2026 Roster

The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to bolster their 2026 baseball roster through the transfer portal, adding another experienced name with SEC-level potential. On Thursday, former Texas Tech infielder TJ Pompey announced his commitment to Arkansas via Instagram.

A native of Coppell, Texas, Pompey spent the past two seasons with the Red Raiders. Despite his sophomore year being cut short by a wrist injury, he brings strong offensive credentials to Fayetteville. In 74 career games, Pompey owns a slash line of .297/.391/.544 with 15 home runs.

His 2025 season ended prematurely after he was hit by a pitch on March 30 during a game at Kansas State. The following weekend, he was seen wearing a wrist brace during Texas Tech’s series against Cincinnati, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Pompey was one of the top-ranked recruits in the class of 2023. Perfect Game listed him as the No. 82 overall prospect in the country, ahead of other notable names like Florida’s Luke McNellie and Texas A&M’s Caden Sorrell—both now in the SEC. He was also rated the top shortstop in Texas and the No. 7 overall player in the state. For comparison, current Arkansas second baseman Cam Kozeal was ranked No. 115 overall.

With infield mainstays Wehiwa Aloy and Brent Iredale expected to depart for the MLB Draft, Pompey offers much-needed depth and flexibility. Over his two college seasons, he has made at least 10 starts at second base, third base, and shortstop. He also gained some outfield experience, playing three games in the California Collegiate League during the summer of 2024.

In 2025, Arkansas struggled with infield alignment, often playing players out of their natural positions. Kozeal, for example, made 30 starts at first base despite never playing there before, filling in until Reese Robinett took over late in the season. Pompey’s versatility could help prevent a repeat of those challenges.

In line with a growing trend for Arkansas’s portal additions, Pompey has already played at Baum-Walker Stadium. As a freshman in 2024, he started both games of a two-game midweek series against the Razorbacks. Batting second, he went 2-for-5 with two walks, a run scored, and a stolen base. Though Arkansas swept the series, both games were closely contested, including a dramatic 9-8 walk-off win after overcoming a 7-0 deficit.

With Pompey’s addition, four of Arkansas’s six transfer commits have now faced the Razorbacks previously. He joins Missouri State’s Zack Stewart and Vanderbilt’s Ethan McElvain as incoming players who’ve posted stats against the Hogs. Although Arkansas-Little Rock transfer Jackson Wells didn’t pitch in his matchup, the theme of familiarity with Baum-Walker Stadium continues to define the 2026 transfer class.