After returning from shoulder surgery in the offseason, Arkansas junior second-baseman Peyton Stovall will now miss 4-6 weeks with a broken foot, sustained during a scrimmage on Monday.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Louisiana product was struck in the right foot by a pitch from freshman Colin Fisher in the first inning. He stayed in the game and logged a pair of base hits, but did not run the bases.
After receiving X-rays, Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn announced Wednesday that Stovall would miss the start of the season, which begins on Feb. 16.
One of the team captains this season, Stovall started 38 games a year ago, slashing a respectable .253/.330/.393, with five home runs and 31 RBIs.
Until he returns, the Diamond Hogs could move senior Peyton Holt back over to second base, where he took over for Stovall last season and gave the team a late spark with timely hitting and solid defense. That would likely leave third base to incoming Richmond-transfer junior Jared Sprague-Lott, who has been working alongside Holt at the hot corner in the preseason.
Stovall could return by the first SEC series against Missouri, beginning on March 15. The Razorbacks open the season next Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium, with James Madison coming in for a four-game series.