Razorbacks' Dave Van Horn Going with Hagen Smith on Friday

Rash of elbow injuries in college baseball "just kind of luck," heading to Mississippi State

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
May 4, 2023 6:27 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You can call all of these elbow injuries across college baseball whatever you want, but Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn is sticking with good fortunate maybe having a lot to do with the whole thing.

"It's just kind of luck of the draw," he said Monday at his weekly press conference ahead of a weekend series in Starkville, Miss., against Mississippi State. "For the most part, it’s been older pitchers, guys who’ve thrown a lot. Big-time summer ball last summer for Dylan (Carter), then fall ball. It starts to add up. Just about every pitcher that’s been playing ball and is a guy that’s been playing a lot, the elbow injury is just around the corner. It’s just a matter of time."

For Carter that came up earlier this week with Carter's announcement he was going to have the elbow surgery, named for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, who suffered it against the Montreal Expos in 1974. Everyone assumed his career was over. Enter Dr. Frank Jobe, a California physician who was a leader and maybe the best in the business at fixing broken bodies for decades. It's on the ulnar collateral ligament and nobody had ever come back to baseball after tearing it previously. Now it happens a lot.

"Did you guys know Hagen Smith had Tommy John when he was a junior in high school?" Van Horn asked the media. "You look in the big leagues, too. It's the same way. The other injuries, on the position players, are just injuries that happen - hamstrings, sore shoulders, tendonitis. It's just the way it is."

With Hunter Hollan injured after starting series nearly all year, Van Horn may have turned to his ace in the hole and Smith will get the start on the road against the Bulldogs on Friday night. It's not exactly a shock to anyone.

"He's known for a week he was going to do this," Van Horn said. "He's had plenty of time to prepare. He's been preparing for it anyway with his bullpens throughout the season. He's looking forward to going out there and starting the game."