Tag: Cayden Wallace

Sticks of the Game: Robert Moore, Cayden Wallace rake in Hogs’ win

Robert Moore, Cayden Wallace and Michael Turner had the best hitting days for the Diamond Hogs on Saturday.

The two most dangerous hitters in the Arkansas lineup gave an early glimpse on Saturday of what Diamond Hogs fans hope will be a regularity this season.

Preseason All-American Robert Moore and high-round MLB prospect Cayden Wallace did a bulk of the Razorbacks’ damage in the team’s 5-1 win over Illinois State at Baum-Walker Stadium. The win avenged the Diamond Hogs’ loss in the season opener the day before.

Accordingly, Moore, Wallace and catcher Michael Turner earned the Sticks of the Game honors for Game 2 of the series. Read more about each of their days below.

Arkansas and Illinois State play the rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m.

Hagen Smith BRILLIANT in Arkansas debut as Diamond Hogs beat Illinois State

Hagen Smith, a freshman from Texas, looked every bit the part of SEC weekend starter in his collegiate debut.

Hagen Smith was rated as the top left-handed high-school pitcher in the country last year. When it became clear the MLB draft was out of the picture, Arkansas as all too happy to receive his services.

Saturday showed why.

Smith pitched six innings of shutout ball in his collegiate debut and preseason All-American Robert Moore knocked in three runs as Arkansas bounced back from its season-opening loss to Illinois State on Saturday, 5-1.

Smith was dynamite from the word go, striking out three of the first six batters he faced, eliminating all of them. Even by the sixth, his final inning, on 77 pitches, he still retired the Redbirds in order, 1-2-3.

By that point he had already been staked to a 4-0 lead. Moore had hit a solo home run in the first and Cayden Wallace had an RBI single in the second for the early Arkansas runs. Moore blasted a two-run home double in the fifth to give the Diamond Hogs even more breathing room. Moore and Wallace each went 2 for 4 on the day with Wallace also cranking a double.

But the game belonged to the southpaw pitcher as coach Dave Van Horn completely re-organizes his weekend rotation from last year. Smith is almost assuredly going to be in it.

Kent State transfer Michael Turner had an RBI double in the eighth for Arkansas’ final run. Connor Olson singled home Illinois State’s lone run in the ninth.

Golden Spikes Watchlist Includes Pair of Hogs

Two Arkansas Razorbacks have been tabbed as potential successors to their former teammate as the Golden Spikes Award winner.

Two Arkansas Razorbacks have been tabbed as potential successors to their former teammate as the Golden Spikes Award winner. Last year Kevin Kopps put up a magical year, coming from way off the board to win the “Baseball Heisman.” This year Robert Moore and Cayden Wallace will enter the season on everyone’s radars.

These two Hogs join 53 other players on the preseason watch list. As we noted earlier in the week, both are clearly among the best returning players on a Top Ten team. And both should hear their names called early in the MLB draft.

Arkansas opens its season this Friday in Fayetteville when they host Illinois State University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm.

A Look at the Omahogs Top Returning Everyday Players

Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can finally say it: Welcome to baseball season. 

Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can finally say it: Welcome to baseball season.

The Omahogs begin their SEC championship defense this Friday when they host Illinois State for a three-game set at Baum-Walker Stadium. The Razorbacks open the season ranked in the Top Ten in most polls. There are three groups – D1Baseball, Baseball America, USA Today Coaches – widely regarded as the best of the bunch when it comes to assessing the college baseball world. In those three the Hogs rank #2, #8, and #4, respectively.

So why do the national pundits and coaches regard this team so highly? It’s a combination of coaching, returning players, and new blood. Combine those things with the recent success the team has had under Dave Van Horn and the tradition of winning in Fayetteville, and anyone can see that it would be unwise to overlook the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Today we will take a look at the core of this team – the returning offensive firepower.

Andrew Benintendi? Zack Cox? Hogs 3B Cayden Wallace forging his path

Arkansas sophomore Cayden Wallace compared to some of the Diamond Hogs all-time greats.

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.

Great sophomores, anyway.

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.

How does Arkansas adjust with Pallette out for the year?

Razorbacks baseball opens the season four weeks from today, and the young man expected to throw the first pitch is out for the season. Peyton Pallette will miss the 2022 season thanks to a UCL injury that will reportedly require Tommy John surgery

Razorbacks baseball opens the season four weeks from today, but the young man expected to throw the first pitch won’t be there. Peyton Pallette will miss the 2022 season thanks to a UCL injury that will reportedly require Tommy John surgery. That leaves the Omahogs without a clear Number One starter.

Recent history suggests they will adjust, and at least one pitcher will emerge. And it’s as likely as not that it will be a kid who isn’t grabbing many headlines this winter.

Matt Jones at WholeHogSports dives deep into how the Razorbacks have replaced valuable starters and relievers over the past few years. Pitching coach Matt Hobbs knows a thing or two about rebuilding a staff. And most observers believe the talent on the Arkansas pitching staff is at or near an all time high.

As Jones points out, this team is far more than one pitcher.

What Pallette’s injury doesn’t change is the perceived strength of this year’s Razorbacks, the lineup. What it lacks in experienced pitching, Arkansas has in position veterans like Robert Moore, Brady Slavens, Jalen Battles, Cayden Wallace, Braydon Webb and Zack Gregory.

The 2021 Razorbacks had a special run. Expecting them to repeat that in 2022 only sets fans up for disappointment. But the one thing that team did not do is certainly attainable for this year’s team: getting back to the College World Series.

Arkansas Baseball Loaded with 2022 MLB Draft Talent

Once again the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team is loaded with MLB prospects likely to be taken early in this summer’s draft.

With only one month until first pitch at Baum Walker Stadium, fans and media alike are getting focused on the upcoming baseball season. Area scouts looking at OmaHogs talent may be the most excited. Once again the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team is loaded with MLB prospects likely to be taken early in this summer’s draft.

Baseball America released their first Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects today. Dave Van Horn has two everyday starters on that list as well as the preseason ace of the staff. Robert Moore, Peyton Pallette, and Cayden Wallace are all likely in their final seasons on The Hill. They make up the core of what should be a team ready to defend its SEC championship.