Media hype continues for Arkansas baseball
The Big Red Recruiting Board, 2018
The run-oriented two-back, play-action shot offense
Arkansas baseball is a mere 31 days away, and the media love continues to pour in for the 2018 Diamond Hogs.
Today, D1baseball.com ranked Arkansas No. 4 in its annual preseason Top 25 poll. This marks the third straight poll that the Razorbacks have cracked the top 10 so far. Previously released rankings placed the Hogs at No. 6 and No. 3 by Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Magazine, respectively.
Kendall Rogers, a writer and editor for D1baseball, is buying the Arkansas hype this season.
“Arkansas will win its first national title,” Rogers stated in his 2018 predictions. “You’ll see in a couple of weeks why some might not call that too bold, but the Hogs don’t have a national title in the program’s history and should have a great chance to accomplish that goal in 2018.”
The Razorbacks are coming off a 45-19 (18-11 SEC) season that ended in a crushing, one-run defeat at the hands of No. 21 Missouri State in the Fayetteville regional.
In order to meet the media’s lofty expectations, Arkansas will rely on a top notch pitching rotation led by junior Blaine Knight and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbell. Campbell missed the entire 2017 season with an elbow injury but is back and ready to hit the rubber.
Chad Spanberger’s power (20 HR, 67 RBI) will certainly be missed, but seniors Luke Bonfield and Carson Shaddy will look to provide leadership and timely hitting in his absence.
Coach Dave Van Horn enters his 16th season as head Hog and is only five wins shy of reaching 600 victories at Arkansas (595-343).
The Diamond Hogs will kick off the 2018 campaign with a weekend series at Baum Stadium against Bucknell starting February 16th. First pitch is set for 3pm.