2/10/2023 baseball Edit

Arkansas Baseball 2023 Lineup Projection: No. 8 - Kendall Diggs

Mason Choate • HawgBeat

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We are seven days away from Arkansas baseball, and HawgBeat is continuing its lineup preview series for the 2023 Diamond Hogs.

The Razorbacks will return just two starters from last year's lineup, so fans will soon become familiar with all of the new faces.

With scrimmage coverage, weekly notebooks, position previews, the Diamond Hawgs Podcast and more, HawgBeat provides the best Arkansas baseball coverage around.

We continue things with the eight-hole spot, which is projected to be filled by sophomore Kendall Diggs...

#5 - Kendall Diggs - DH/RF/3B

So. | L/R | 6' 0" | 205

Olathe, Kansas / Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

2022: 27 games, .197/.367/.361, 14 R, 12 H, 1 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 16 BB/16 K

After seeing action in 27 games and starting 15 last season, Diggs is ready to take the next step as a regular in Arkansas' lineup. Though he might not have a starting spot in the field, Diggs' bat is too talented to keep out of the order.

During his freshman campaign, Diggs had a knack for getting on base despite his .197 average. After Diggs cranked a walk-off homer in an April 30 win over Ole Miss last season, head coach Dave Van Horn spoke very highly of the lefty's swing.

"Maybe I felt guilty a little bit that I haven’t played him a little more, honestly," Van Horn said of the decision to start Diggs against the Rebels. "Because he’s got a really good swing. He’s had some illness and he’s had a couple injuries. When he’s healthy, if he swings the bat like he did today, he’s not coming out of the lineup — whether he’s playing in the field or DHing. Because we need that."

Coming out of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Diggs was the top third baseman in the state of Kansas for the 2021 class on Perfect Game. He made the switch to outfield in the fall, which is where Van Horn thinks Diggs will be asked to play at the next level.

"That is one thing I talked with Kendall about was playing corner outfield in the future," Van Horn said Nov. 9. "He is a corner infielder, a corner outfielder in professional baseball and I do believe he will get that opportunity. Right now it is all about the bat. I think professionally they are going to put him in left field and right field and just say ‘swing that left-handed bat."

The switch seems to be going well, as Diggs has started in right field for the five open scrimmages in 2023 that HawgBeat has attended. Getting the experience in the field is likely why he hasn't been part of the lineup that includes the projected starters in scrimmages, but Diggs said he feels confident that he is worthy of starting.

"I really hope so," Diggs said Monday. "I really do hope so. I feel really confident, really good up there. I really hope I'm in there to help the team win."

Most recently, Diggs has gone 6-10 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs over the last three open scrimmages. He's displayed the elite bat skills that Van Horn referenced often last season, and he's also continuing to show off his great discipline, specifically during an impressive long at bat against right-hander Will McEntire on Monday.

"He can start at any time," hitting coach Nate Thompson said Monday. "And he can hit it any day of the week for me. He's swung the bat well this fall and this spring so far. I think he's put himself in a position to have a good year offensively."

The designated hitter spot could be filled by a number of players, but with Caleb Cali projected to start at third and Jace Bohrofen having the starting spot in right field locked down, Diggs seems to be the prime candidate for the DH spot on Opening Day.

Arkansas will start its season a week from today at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Hogs will open against Texas at 7 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field.