Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn is mostly just ready to have this over with.
The MLB Draft begins Sunday and several Arkansas players will be selected. Some of those players are underclassmen who could conceivably return to the Razorbacks, but likely won’t. Players like third baseman Cayden Wallace, pitcher Peyton Pallette and second baseman Robert Moore are among them.
Players like Michael Turner, Jalen Battles and Chris Lanzilli could be taken, but they’re out of eligibility, anyway.
Then there are players like Jordan Sprinkle and Jayson Jones, both scheduled to join the Razorbacks next year, but a high draft spot could change things.
“We know who there’s a possibility of losing,” Van Horn said. “If we lose them, we get it. There’s 20 rounds, if you see someone’s name pop up, then they probably already made a deal. With 20 rounds, they’ve got to get those kids signed.”
In years past, the draft was 40 rounds. But between teams’ desires to shorten it in recent years and the elimination of several lower-level minor-league teams, the 20-round draft is the new norm.
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