We are five 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 nine-hole spot, which is projected to be filled by shortstop John Bolton...
#9 - John Bolton - SS
Grad. | R/R | 5' 10" | 180
Memphis, Tenn. / Memphis University School / Hinds CC / Austin Peay
2022: 56 games, .287/.384/.399, 39 R, 54 H, 18 2B, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 27 BB/37 K, 11 SB
Simply put, there is no way to replace Jalen Battles at shortstop. He was pro ready as a fielder and a strong bat in the bottom half of the lineup for two seasons in Fayetteville.
Arkansas brought in a pair of transfers that have been competing to fill the open shortstop spot: Austin Peay's John Bolton and San Jacinto College's Harold Coll. Throughout fall baseball and preseason scrimmages this year, Bolton has had the slight edge over Coll, and he seems to be the guy that will see his name on the Opening Day lineup card.
"Coll’s gotten better, but Bolton’s been the most consistent," head coach Dave Van Horn said after last Monday's Swatter's Club. "They’re both going to get to play. Obviously, Coll’s going to bring a little more offense to the game, little power potential there, too. They both run about the same. You’ve got to play defense if you’re playing short, that’s the bottom line."
Bolton spent the last four seasons at Austin Peay, where he made 92 starts over the past two years. He split time between shortstop and second base, but 81 of the starts came at short.
During his senior campaign with the Governors, Bolton slashed .287/.384/.399 with 54 hits, 39 runs, 18 doubles, one homer and 22 RBIs. He posted a .974 fielding percentage with just six errors in 2022.
Bolton decided to hit the portal as a graduate transfer following his fourth season with Austin Peay and he didn't really know what to expect. Landing at Arkansas seemed to be a pleasant surprise.
"When I entered the portal I didn't really know what I was going to get," Bolton said. "I kind of entered the portal being like it's boom or bust. I'm going to go to a big school. When Coach (Nate) Thompson reached out, I was like 'What better place can you go to?' I was excited to get this opportunity."
Since he's been in Fayetteville, Bolton has displayed his defensive abilities as a smooth operator at shortstop that limits mistakes and is consistent. He said after Saturday's scrimmage that he thinks he's done enough to earn the starting shortstop job with his defensive play.
"I think I've definitely proven my case for defense," Bolton said. "I know that's what DVH likes. Luckily that's my game. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and not think too much about it."
As far as hitting goes, Bolton has done just enough to stay ahead of Coll. He's gone 7-20 with three runs and two RBIs at the plate in scrimmages this year that HawgBeat has attended.
The native of Memphis, Tenn., told reporters after Saturday's scrimmage that the part of his game he can improve on the most is situational hitting.
"My role in the lineup will be more bunts, getting runners in, line drives, low line drives," Bolton said. "So I've been working a lot on that. Bunting especially."
Ironically enough, Bolton and Coll are roommates, but Bolton said the two are both competitors and they push each other to make the other better.
Arkansas will start its season Friday at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Hogs will open against Texas at 7 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field. The matchup can be watched via FloSports.
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