For the umpteenth straight season, the Arkansas baseball team has its eyes toward Omaha and the College World Series.
Looking to lead the Diamond Hogs are Peyton Stovall, Kendall Diggs and Hagen Smith. The three returners from last year’s NCAA Tournament team were named captains over the weekend.
Smith, a left-handed pitcher, is the team’s best player and its best pro prospect. He split time in 2023 between starting and the bullpen, but not because he couldn’t find a spot. Smith pitched 71 2/3 innings, striking out 109 while allowing opponents to bat .217 with a 3.64 earned-run average.
Diggs was perhaps Arkansas’ best hitter. A third baseman/first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter, Diggs has positional flexibility, but it’s his bat that speaks. He slashed .299/.436/.547 with 12 home runs and a team-high 63 RBI.
If Stovall plays like he did his freshman year instead of his sophomore, the junior will be one of the best in the nation. A highly touted prospect who turned down the pros out of high school for Fayetteville, Stovall hit just .253 with a slugging percentage below .400 in his first year at second base.
The SEC preseason polls have not yet been released, but the Razorbacks are expected to be in the top five. They open the regular season against James Madison on Feb. 16.