FAYETTEVILLE -- By the time he meets with media next week, following this week's Fourth of July holiday and some recruiting, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn should know how many of the Major League-drafted Razorback underclassmen intend to return to the Hogs in 2019.
As of last Friday upon their Fayetteville return from their national runner-up at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., Van Horn expected only one, but maybe two or three, to return.
However on Tuesday, reserve catcher Zack Plunkett, transferring in 2017 from TCU, posted Monday on social media he will return after being drafted in 37th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Junior All-American 14-0 pitcher Blaine Knight, third round by the Baltimore Orioles; junior right fielder Eric Cole, fourth-round Kansas City Royals; junior catcher Grant Koch, fifth-round Pittsburgh Pirates; and shortstop Jax Biggers, eighth-round Texas Rangers are as good as gone.
Junior left-handed pitcher Kacey Murphy, of Roger,s also seems pro bound, drafted in the 11th round by the Detroit Tigers.
He presumes junior right-handed Barrett Loseke, 17th-round by the New York Yankees, will sign but that junior right-handed pitcher Jake Reindl, 17th-round Chicago Cubs, will ponder.
"I think Jake's on the fence a little bit, Van Horn said of the Fayetteville native and Shiloh Christian grad. "Another great student, ... Jake's real close to getting his degree. He'll probably sit and think about it for the next few days and try to figure out if he wants to play another year here or go out and play in the minor leagues."
Van Horn expects Isaiah Campbell, coming off an arm injury in 2017 that allowed him a hardship extra sophomore year for 2018, bears promise of a better draft pick in 2019 if he proves himself next season after an inconsistent 5-7 this season, although the redshirt sophomore consistently threw in the mid 90's to defeat 2018 Southeastern Conference champion Florida in the bracket final at Omaha.
"As of right now Isaiah's planning on coming back," Van Horn said last Friday. "He's got another year for what we call a bargaining power year. He thinks he could move to the top of the rotation. If he goes out and pitches like he's done a couple of times down the stretch, he'd be able to double his money. He's a really good student and wants to get his degree. And I think he'd be really close to having it at the end of next year. So we're hoping that he'll be back.
"With Loseke I'd say they're going to go in and pay him more than they need to normally in that round, and he deserves it. If he gets what he wants, I think he'll sign."
Van Horn never doubted that Josh Breaux, the high school catcher that Arkansas signed out of Tomball, Texas, would sign as a second-round draft choice of the New York Yankees which Breaux indeed did.
Carson Shaddy, graduated senior second baseman, has officially signed with Washington after he was drafted in the 10th round by the Nationals. Evan Lee, a sophomore left-handed pitcher from Bryant, also signed with the Nationals after being selected in the 15th round, and Horatio's Wade Beasley, who signed with the Razorbacks last November and was picked in the 24th round last month, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday.
Van Horn, hitting coach Nate Thompson and pitching coach Wes Johnson obviously have 2019 holes to fill, adding departing seniors Luke Bonfield, the designated hitter and a 4-year letterman, and first baseman Jared Gates to fellow senior Shaddy and the drafted underclassmen likely to sign.
However, an All-Star nucleus remains, including the SEC's top two freshman, SEC Freshman of the Year left fielder Heston Kjerstad and Kjerstad's chief rival for the award, third baseman/speedster Casey Martin, of Lonoke. Sophomore center fielder Dominic Fletcher, who Van Horn believes to be the best defensive center fielder he has coached, and sophomore lefty closer Matt Cronin, who set a school record of 14 saves, are also among the team's returning starters.
Cronin and Fletcher will elevate their experience this summer to continue their play for Collegiate Team USA.
Injuries during the season to Shaddy and Biggers and uncertainty at first base until Gates took late-season command allowed opportunities for infielders Jack Kenley, Jordan McFarland and Hunter Wilson, the Spiro, Okla. native who took a turn at first, all to have key games starting experience to carry into 2019.
Also, two good relief outings by freshman right-hander Kole Ramage should boost his confidence for a likely 2019 starting rotation role with Knight and Murphy presumably turning pro.
Sports on 07/05/2018