Less than a week out from the beginning of Arkansas baseball season, Diamond Hogs infielder/outfielder Cayden Wallace is already drawing comparisons to some of the all-time Razorbacks greats.
Andrew Benintendi won most player-of-the-awards as a sophomore less than 10 years ago. Zack Cox raked to the tune of a .429 batting average as a sophomore in 2010.
Wallace, who hit .279/.369/.500 last year as a freshman, is expected to start at third base and hit in the middle of the Diamond Hogs order this year. Baseball America rates him as the No. 12 overall college prospect when it comes to next year’s MLB draft. Whether Wallace is eligible for the draft, however, is up in the air.
“Believe me, we know that,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said.
Players can enter the draft as long as they turn 21 within 45 days of the draft. Last year’s draft came in July, which was unusual because of COVID. Normally it’s held in June. If it were in July again next summer, Wallace would be back with Arkansas for a junior season. If not…
“I’m not worried about if it’s my last year or if there could be another year,” Wallace said. “I’m just worried about this year and trying to win a national championship.”
Arkansas spent most of last season as the No. 1 team in the country before North Carolina State stunned Razorbacks faithful in the Super Regionals in Fayetteville. A bulk of the team’s lineup returns, though, led by All-American second baseman Robert Moore and Wallace, who is shifting back to a position he’s more comfortable with after playing last year in right field.
That should liven up at the plate even more.
“Cayden is elite,” hitting coach Nate Thompson said. “He’s got a lot of talent and has a great swing, a great approach right now.”
Arkansas opens the 2022 season Friday at home against Illinois State.