Often referred to as the quarterback of the infield, the catcher position is one of the most vital for the success of a baseball team. Fortunately for the Diamond Hogs, they have no shortage of quality options to choose from in 2024.
Returning contributors Parker Rowland and Hudson Polk are a solid foundation to a room that added Texas Tech transfer Hudson White and highly-rated freshman Ryder Helfrick during the offseason.
"I’m not all about not having an everyday guy," head coach Dave Van Horn said on Thursday. "I want our players to know that when they walk through the door, they don’t have to look at the lineup most of the time.
"I think it just makes for a better player, a better situation. If you earn the job, you’re the best catcher, you’re the best hitter, the pitchers like throwing to you. There’s a combination there."
A 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior switch-hitter, Rowland played in 46 games for Arkansas last season but struggled mightily at the plate en route to finishing with a .182 batting average.
The Oklahoma native has fared better leading up to the 2024 season, however, as he's currently slashing .243/.378/.784 with nine hits, two doubles, six home runs and 11 RBIs in 37 at-bats during preseason scrimmages.
"But we are very fortunate that we have… I mean, we have Parker Rowland back who started for us last year," Van Horn said. "Yeah he didn’t hit much, but he caught extremely well and did a great job with our pitching staff."
Behind Rowland was Polk, a right-handed senior from Coppell, Texas. He played in 26 games with 19 starts and only managed a .190 batting average in 2023. Despite that, he currently holds the highest average amongst the four catchers listed here with a .294/.375/.676 slash line.
"I mean you’ve got Hudson Polk, who came out and hit in the fall and caught the ball better and is a great guy," Van Horn said. "A great team guy and we all feel like one day he’s going to coach at a high level and for a long time if that’s what he wants to do."
Regarded as one of the top transfer catchers during the offseason, White has nine hits, a double, two home runs and six RBIs in 40 at-bats. His .225/.396/.400 slash line isn't overwhelmingly impressive, but he also has 10 walks to just five strikeouts.
"You’ve got Hudson White, who came in here from Texas Tech, who was splitting time back there with a younger player," Van Horn said. "And he has made a huge jump on the defensive end. He throws well. Athletically he could play other positions.
"And he was our best hitter in the fall, as far as just barreling up the ball, hitting the ball all over the field, tough out, taking walks, fouling off pitches. You know he’s going to be in the lineup and it’ll be hard to beat him out. But that’s a good problem."
Finally, you have the catcher with the highest overall ceiling in Helfrick. Ranked as the 46th overall player in the nation by Perfect Game, the right-hander has a respectable .268 batting average with 11 hits, four home runs and 16 RBIs across 41 at-bats this offseason.
"Then freshman Ryder Helfrick is as talented a freshman catcher as I’ve ever had," Van Horn said. "And I had James McCann in here who was pretty darn good, and I’ve had some good ones. But Ryder has a lot more bat potential this year, and If he keeps getting better with the bat, which I’m sure he will, arm strength, receiver, he was outstanding the first five weeks of fall baseball.
"The last week not so good. And I don’t know if he kind of just hit the wall or what happened. But he’s kind of hard on himself and he’s a really good player. He just need to relax and play.
"So you go from having two guys last year that didn’t hit a whole lot and did a pretty good job behind the plate to having guys that — we’ve got four guys. How do you let that happen as a coach? Well, first off, it’s a good problem to have."
The Diamond Hogs will take the field for the first time on Feb. 11, when Arkansas welcomes James Madison into Baum-Walker Stadium. The game is set for a 3 p.m. CT first pitch and will be the first of a four-game opening series.
