Koch looks prepped to build on stellar sophomore season
Dave Van Horn previews the 2018 season
The Big Red Recruiting Board, 2018
Position shuffling required among front seven on defense
Mike Anderson previews Saturday's LSU game
Heading into the college baseball season, Arkansas’ pitching staff has received the bulk of the national recognition, but Razorback catcher Grant Koch is also making headlines as D1Baseball.com has named him Preseason Third Team All-American.
Koch, a 6-0 junior, is the first Razorback to receive this honor since former pitcher Zach Jackson in 2016, according to a press release from the University of Arkansas. Last season, Koch hit .264 including 13 home runs (career-high) and 42 RBIs. Koch was also a staple behind the plate starting 63 games.
Recruited from across the street at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School, Koch has a career batting average of .267 and has totaled 15 career home runs and 56 career RBIs. He finished last year on the All-SEC First Team, making him the second Arkansas catcher to make the All-Conference squad and the first to land on the first team, according to the press release.
“When you see Grant, not only is his hair a little longer, he looks stronger,” Coach Dave Van Horn said on Saturday. “He looks older. The ball is jumping off his bat. He just looks like a veteran to me.”
Van Horn expects Koch’s success last season and experience playing on Team USA will boost his confidence this season. Koch’s All-American nomination is the second this offseason for the Diamond Hogs. Highly-touted right-hander Blaine Knight was named Preseason Third Team All-American as well by Louisville Slugger. Knight started 16 games on the mound last season and recorded an ERA of 3.28. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round, but elected to stay in Fayetteville.
The Diamond Hogs are only 15 days out from the first pitch of 2018. Bucknell travels to Baum Stadium for a weekend series February 16-18. The Razorbacks start the season ranked No. 6 in the nation.