A month ago, the Southeast Missouri State baseball team thought it might lose its best hitter to the MLB Draft. That didn't happen, but the Redhawks have lost him anyway.
According to a report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published last week, Trevor Ezell has joined the University of Arkansas as a graduate transfer.
"He was their top hitter every year he played, pretty much," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn told the Democrat-Gazette. "... He's very experienced and hopefully we'll get him rolling to help us early."
Ezell led SEMO with a .377 batting average this past spring, with 16 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 50 RBIs while splitting time between second base and designated hitter.
The Alexander, Arkansas, native missed the 2017 season due to a back injury and was granted a medical redshirt, leaving him with two years of eligibility remaining. Ezell returned and put together a strong 2018 campaign that earned him an All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team nod, but went undrafted in June's MLB Draft.
Ezell was a second-team All-OVC pick as a sophomore and an OVC All-Freshman selection in his first year with the Redhawks.
Now Ezell will have an opportunity to prove himself to pro scouts by performing against SEC competition for a Razorbacks side fresh off an appearance in the College World Series final, where they fell in three games to Oregon State.
Arkansas graduated starting second baseman Connor Shaddy.
Ezell graduated from Southeast this spring and is now working toward a master's degree in business administration -- the same path he pursued as an undergraduate -- according to the Democrat-Gazette. He will be eligible immediately.
SEMO had no official statement.