Arkansas Razorbacks
Overall Rank: #3
Conference Rank: #2 SEC
Arkansas needed a big 2017 season after a very disappointing 2016 campaign. And they got it, going 45-19 and hosting a regional. The Razorbacks were upset by Missouri State and failed to advance to the Super Regional round, but overall it was a big step in getting the program back to where we expect them to be under Coach Dave van Horn. And with a decent offseason that saw many good recruits and their top players returning to Fayetteville, the Razorbacks are in good shape to win the SEC and get to the College World Series.
2017: 45-19, 18-11
2017 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Dave van Horn
Key Departed Players:
Chad Spanberger, IF/OF, .305 BA, 20 HR, 67 RBI
Jake Arledge, OF, .300 BA, 3 HR, 30 RBI
Trevor Stephan, P, 2.87 ERA, 6-3 W-L, 91.0 IP, 120 SO
Key Returning Players:
Jax Biggers, IF, .338 BA, 4 HR, 37 RBI
Luke Bonfield, OF, .294 BA, 9 HR, 49 RBI
Dominic Fletcher, OF, .291 BA, 12 HR, 37 RBI
Carson Shaddy, IF, .279 BA, 8 HR, 40 RBI
Grant Koch, C, .264 BA, 13 HR, 42 RBI
Blaine Knight, P, 3.28 ERA, 8-4 W-L, 90.2 IP, 96 SO
Projection:
Blaine Knight is back as Arkansas’ Friday starter. He went 8-4 with a 3.28 ERA and opted to return to school for his junior campaign. The return of Isaiah Campbell will help replace the production of Trevor Stephan. Campbell played well in limited action as a freshman in 2016, but missed nearly all of last season with an elbow injury. The staff is in good shape, but this is also a very talented team at the plate. Luke Bonfield, Dominic Fletcher, Carson Shaddy and Grant Koch all have powerful bats and were a big reason why Arkansas led the SEC in homeruns. Fletcher had an amazing freshman campaign and could emerge as the team’s top overall threat at the plate. Koch, a junior catcher, is garnering some All-American accolades heading into 2018. He has a lot of power in his bat and boosting his batting average will go a long way in help Arkansas win the SEC.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Baseball Tournament
