Van Horn Has Hogs Going Stronger Than Ever 21 Years Later
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It was my welcome to Arkansas baseball moment. Last year, when Arkansas won its 40th game. No one said a word. Finally, I asked the other members of the Razorback media, how many years coach Dave Van Horn has won 40 games at Arkansas in a season and the response was something to the effect of, I don't know, I can't remember. They win at least 40 games just about every year.
In fact, they do. Van Horn has won 40+ games in a season 14 times. including the last six seasons (excluding the 2020 campaign when the season was canceled after just 16 games). Now in his 21st season as Hogs skipper, he is slowly creeping up all-time leaderboards. He finished the 2023 campaign with 1,167 career Division I wins at four-year colleges, good for 33rd all-time. If Arkansas hits its yearly mark of at least 40 wins for the seventh season running, Van Horn will be knocking on the door of the top 25.
There's no reason why this year's team will be the one to break the streak. Arkansas has the second-best incoming freshman recruiting class according to Perfect Game with recruits like Ryder Helfrick and Nolan Souza. The transfer class is nothing to scoff at either with new outfielders such as Ty Willmsmeyer and Ross Lovich and plenty of familiar faces at the plate and on the mound. Kendall Diggs returns as a full-time outfielder. Hagen Smith looks to solidify his status as bona-fide MLB first-round draft pick, where he was projected 12th in MLB Pipeline's first 2024 mock draft.
Van Horn's success doesn't end in the regular season. A three-time SEC Coach of the Year, Van Horn has made the College World Series eight times in his career (seven at Arkansas) and came within one game of securing the elusive title in 2018.
The Razorbacks have been here before, everything lined up to make the run, only to stumble at various points of the soap opera that is the college baseball season. 21 years later Van Horn is confident in his team with the season just 45 days away.
"I don't see major weaknesses," Van Horn said. "Are we going to have as good of an outfield as we had on the offensive side? Time will tell. If we don't do as much damage at the plate with our outfielders, we've got to pick it up with our infield and DH. Pitching-wise, I like what I see. I like the potential, I like the stuff. We're a lot deeper behind the plate."
It's worth noting that Arkansas football claimed a national championship in football in 1964, and won a national championship in basketball in 1994. It's now up to the baseball gods to complete the circle of superstition.
The Razorbacks open their season with a four-game series against James Madison at home starting Feb. 16.
HOGS FEED:
RAZORBACKS MAY BE LOOKING ALL THE WAY BACK TO FRANK BROYLES' TIME FOR WAY TO DIG OUT OF CURRENT HOLE
NEW YEAR’S GOALS FOR ARKANSAS ATHLETICS
ANOTHER SPEEDY RECEIVER READY TO PLAY TWO SPORTS FOR THE HOGS
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