Fall Ball gives Razorback Fans First Look at 2024 Diamond Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fall is in the air and baseball is back. An intrasquad scrimmage opened preparations for the 2024 season Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium. A mix of familiar faces and new blood will look to improve on a 2023 campaign that ended in the NCAA Regional at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs.
"I thought we played extremely good baseball for the first time out," head coach Dave Van Horn said. "We hit the cutoff man, relayed to the plate, handled the ball on a pickoff play and got a guy out. The little things, pitchers threw strikes... It was kind of fun to watch."
Junior left-hander Brady Tygart is back on the hill for another season after an injury-riddled 2023 season kept him out for the majority of the year. He topped out at 94 miles per hour in his inning of work.
Other returning faces include 2023 Collegiate All-American left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith and senior right-hander Will McEntire, who added velocity on his fastball to top out at 94 miles per hour as well.
Left-handed transfer from Texas Tech Mason Molina looks to bolster a rotation after 83.1 innings with a 3.67 ERA with the Red Raiders. Four pitchers hit at least 95 miles per hour on the radar gun. Sophomore Christian Foutch is back after a significant role in the 2023 bullpen. Junior righty Jake Faherty looks to finally conquer his control issues with his blazing 97-mile-an-hour fastball. Freshmen Jack Smith and Gabe Gaeckle both impressed in their first outing in a Razorback uniform.
Last year's unsung hero redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Dylan Carter is "way ahead of schedule because of his work ethic", according to Van Horn as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John Surgery. The Hogs must find a way to replace the 6-0 record and 3.65 ERA that Carter posted last year out of the bullpen in 37 innings of high-leverage relief.
On the position player side, several transfers gave a taste of what might be to come in the spring. Graduate outfielder Ty Wilmsmeyer from Missouri joins the Hogs after starting all 105 games for the Tigers the past two seasons. He was one of two players to homer, with a 384-foot line drive homer in a 95-mile-an-hour fastball (sophomore infielder Jayson Jones being the other. Wilmsmeyer also started a relay throw from centerfield after almost making a sliding catch, nabbing a runner on the basepaths and keeping a run from scoring.
"The coaching staff has been fantastic," Wilmsmeyer said. "On the visit they were great. Felt like family when I stepped on campus here... They were big on not overhauling my swing or making huge adjustments to my play. They've been great at tinkering and trying to maximize what I have to take me to the next level."
Senior infielder Jared Sprague-Lott comes to the Hogs after three seasons with the Richmond Spiders, accruing a cumulative .315/.433/.517 triple slash line.
Another transfer from Texas Tech looks to cement his role in a crowded catcher's room, Junior Hudson White along with senior Patrick Rowland and freshman Ryder Helfrick will compete for reps throughout fall ball.
Two Hawaiian infielders, sophomore transfer Wehiwa Aloy and freshman Nolan Souza also figure to play key roles replacing an infield that lost three of its four starters (John Bolton, Brady Slavens and Caleb Cali). The only retuning starter, junior second baseman Peyton Stovall is working his way back from a torn labrum and should begin throwing again "in a couple of weeks." The other returning starter junior Kendall Diggs looks to move into an everyday capacity in the outfield after primarily being used as a designated hitter.
Senior infielder Peyton Holt was perhaps the most impressive hitter of the day, ripping two doubles as he looks to transition from a utility role to a potential full-time starter.
Other returning players who could see an increased role from last season include sophomore infielder Reese Robinett and senior outfielder Hunter Grimes.
The Hogs will continue their fall scrimmages Sunday, fans are welcome to attend at Baum-Walker Stadium. The Razorbacks’ annual Fall Classic is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15.
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