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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has fielded one of the most powerful lineups in the country the last three years.
The Razorbacks have hit a whopping 269 home runs since 2017, shattering their previous three-year high of 249 set at the end of the live-bat era, from 2008-10. That total ranks second only to Tennessee Tech (321) nationally over than span and is 39 more than Florida, the closest SEC team.
Although three of its five players who hit double-digit long balls last season have moved on to professional baseball, Arkansas still returns its top two home run hitters - Heston Kjerstad and Casey Martin - and four other starters.
A pair of transfers - one from the junior college ranks and one via the portal - and a highly touted freshman have also entered the mix to once again give the Razorbacks a dangerous lineup from top to bottom.
“Our hitters are tough,” pitcher Kevin Kopps said. “I’ve been thinking, ‘Is it normal for them to be hitting this well against us?’ I don’t know. Usually there’s maybe a little bit of a break, but there’s no break in the lineup.”
There is still two weeks until the Feb. 14 opener against Eastern Illinois, but here’s an overview of what head coach Dave Van Horn’s lineup could look like at the beginning of the season…
(More in-depth breakdowns of each player will be posted over the next 10 days, beginning Thursday, and available to premium HawgBeat subscribers. To try us out free for 30 days - which includes premium coverage of the start of baseball season, National Signing Day for football and a key stretch of the basketball season - click here.)
1. #8 - Braydon Webb - LF
R-Jr. | R/R | 6-0 | 195
McKinney, Texas / McKinney Boyd HS (Grayson C.C.)
2019 (Grayson): 55 games, .450/535/.842, 25 2B, 6 3B, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 28 BB/33 K, 18-20 SB
Click here for more on Webb (Thursday, Jan. 30)
2. #18 - Heston Kjerstad - RF
Jr. | L/R | 6-3 | 205
Amarillo, Texas / Randall HS
2019: 65 games/65 starts, .327/.400/.575, 13 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 51 RBI, 21 BB/65 K, 5-5 SB
Click here for more on Kjerstad (Friday, Jan. 31)
3. #10 - Matt Goodheart - DH
Jr. | L/R | 6-1 | 180
Magnolia, Ark. / Magnolia HS (San Jacinto C.C.)
2019: 58 games/51 starts, .345/.444/.517, 16 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 34 BB/45 K, 5-7 SB
Click here for more on Goodheart (Saturday, Feb. 1)
4. #15 - Casey Martin - SS
Jr. | R/R | 5-11 | 175
Lonoke, Ark. / Lonoke HS
2019: 66 games/66 starts, .286/.364/.548, 21 2B, 4 3B, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 30 BB/79 K, 10-12 SB
Click here for more on Martin (Sunday, Feb. 2)
5. #25 - Christian Franklin - CF
So. | R/R | 5-11 | 185
Overland Park, Kan. / Rockhurst HS
2019: 64 games/58 starts, .274/.361/.413, 8 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 24 BB/66 K, 12-15 SB
Click here for more on Franklin (Monday, Feb. 3)
6. #12 - Casey Opitz - C
Jr. | S/R | 5-11 | 195
Centennial, Colo. / Heritage HS
2019: 58 games/50 starts, .243/.379/.311, 3 2B, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 38 BB/45 K, 7-7 SB
Click here for more on Opitz (Tuesday, Feb. 4)
7. #16 - Cole Austin - 1B
R-Sr. | R/R | 6-2 | 195
Kennesaw, Ga. / Harrison HS (West Virginia/Arizona State)
2019: 10 games/6 starts, .192/.267/.231, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB/9 K
Click here for more on Austin (Thursday, Feb. 6)
8. #5 - Jacob Nesbit - 3B
R-So. | R/R | 6-0 | 180
Coppell, Texas / Coppell HS
2019: 64 games/61 starts, .255/.333/.344, 10 2B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 26 BB/56 K, 7-10 SB
Click here for more on Nesbit (Friday, Feb. 7)
9. #1 - Robert Moore - 2B
Fr. | S/R | 5-9 | 165
Leawood, Kan. / Shawnee Mission East HS
2019: N/A
Click here for more on Moore (Sunday, Feb. 9)
KEY BENCH PLAYERS
#3 - Zack Gregory - INF/OF
R-Fr. | L/R | 5-10 | 185
Keller, Texas / Timber Creek HS
#7 - Dominic Tamez - C/OF
Fr. | R/R | 5-11 | 200
San Antonio, Texas / Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
#11 - Cason Tollett - C/1B
Fr. | R/R | 6-1 | 205
Little Rock, Ark. / Little Rock Christian Academy
#17 - Jesse Pierce - INF/OF
Fr. | R/R | 6-3 | 185
Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor View HS
#19 - Trey Harris - OF
So. | R/R | 5-10 | 175
Little Rock, Ark. / Little Rock Christian Academy
#22 - Curtis Washington Jr. - OF/INF
So. | R/R | 6-2 | 175
West Memphis, Ark. / West Memphis HS
#24 - Bryce Matthews - OF
Fr. | L/R | 6-4 | 200
Parker, Colo. / Chaparral HS
Click here for more on Arkansas’ bench players (Monday, Feb. 10)
