Tag: Robert Moore

Photo Gallery: Cayden Wallace’s time as a Razorback

Cayden Wallace had a great two-year career in Arkansas in every aspect of the game.

The 2022 Major League Draft began by Arkansas standards in round two, when third baseman [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] was taken with the 49th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals.

Wallace was one of three players taken in the second round of the MLB Draft, joining RHP [autotag]Peyton Pallette[/autotag] (White Sox) and second baseman [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] (Brewers).

Wallace had a successful two seasons in a Razorback uniform. At the plate, Wallace hit for a .298 average, and collected 272 total bases, 149 hits, 30 home runs, and 104 RBI in 127 games.

Wallace started all 67 games for Arkansas in 2022 at third base. He led the team in RBI with 60, and in doubles with 20. He joined Brady Slavens atop the team’s home run leaderboard with 16, and was second in hits with 82, one hit behind the team’s leader, Michael Turner.

In the field, Wallace had a career fielding percentage of .956, committing just 11 errors in two seasons. In 2022, Wallace made 29 putouts while assisting on 110 outs. He, along with fellow draft picks Jalen Battles and Robert Moore, formed one of the best defensive infields in the SEC.

Here’s a look back at the best moments from Wallace’s two seasons at Arkansas:

Jordan Sprinkle spurns Arkansas, signs rookie deal with Chicago White Sox

Jordan Sprinkle, who announced his intent to transfer to Arkansas following the 2022 season, has elected to turn pro.

Turns out that Jordan Sprinkle will not report to Arkansas after all.

Sprinkle, who announced his intent to transfer to Arkansas from UC-Santa Barbara earlier this month, was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Sprinkle has elected to sign a deal with the White Sox, and will forgo his commitment to Arkansas Baseball. According to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, the White Sox signed Sprinkle for full slot value for the 131st pick for $452,900.

Sprinkle had an impressive three-season career for the Gauchos. He hit for a .319 average with 10 home runs, 67 RBI, and 51 stolen bases. He was known best for his ability to get extra-base hits. In his three year career, Sprinkle recorded 29 double and six triples.

Sprinkle joins four other Razorbacks who have signed their rookie contracts. Tuesday was the busiest day for draft signings, as [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Battles[/autotag] also signed deals with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays respectively. Pitchers [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag] (Cubs) and [autotag]Evan Taylor[/autotag] (Marlins) have also signed rookie deals.

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Milwaukee Brewers agree to terms with Robert Moore

Just call him “Big League Bob.”

“Big Game Bob” is now “Big League Bob.”

[autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag], a key piece to Arkansas Baseball’s infield over the last three seasons, is now a professional baseball player after signing his rookie contract with the Milwaukee Brewers reports MLB Pipeline’s, Jim Callis.

Callis broke the news of Moore’s contract signing late Tuesday, reporting that Moore has signed with the Brewers for $800,000, which is $115,000 below slot value for the 72nd overall selection.

Moore saw a drop in production at the plate in 2022. After batting .283 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI during his sophomore campaign in 2021, Moore hit just .232 with eight long balls and 44 RBI for the Razorbacks in 2022.

What he lacked at the plate, he made up for in the field. He saw an uptick on the defensive side by fielding at a .992 clip, making 93 putouts and assisting with 169 outs while only committing two errors.

By signing with Milwaukee, Moore is out to form his own legacy. Moore’s father, the president of baseball operations for the Kansas City Royals, Dayton Moore, did not choose his son during the 2022 MLB Draft.

Despite not being drafted by Kansas City, Moore says that he had his mind set on Milwaukee after a meeting with regional scout Mark Muzzi.

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Arkansas’ expected 2023 starting shortstop taken in MLB draft

Jordan Sprinkle could still land at Arkansas, but a fourth-round selection will be tough to turn down.

Jordan Sprinkle announced he would be transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 season just days ago. Now he may never make it to campus.

Sprinkle, a transfer from Cal-Santa Barbara, was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. The Sox had selected Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette in the second round the day before.

Sprinkle has two seasons of college eligibility left should he decline to sign with Chicago and play at Arkansas, instead. He hit .285/.381/.413 with the Gauchos last year. Sprinkle was expected to slot into the starting shortstop role left vacant by Jalen Battles, whose eligibility was exhausted.

Battles was taken a round later than Sprinkle, in the fifth, by Tampa Bay.

Through six rounds, Arkansas had six players associated with the school selected: four who played with the team last year, Sprinkle, and high-schooler Cole Phillips.

Arkansas shorstop Jalen Battles taken by Tampa Bay in MLB draft

Jalen Battles, a slick-fielding middle infielder, will join the Rays organization.

Jalen Battles’ glove has always played at a Major League-level. Turns out, teams like his bat, too.

The former Arkansas shortstop was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft on Monday by the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit hit .289/.364/.480 with 10 home runs this past season while combining with Robert Moore at second base to give the Diamond Hogs one of the NCAA’s best double-play combinations.

Battles considered leaving for the professional ranks after the 2021 season when he hit .269/.371/.407 as his fielding skills had made him a prospect already. Instead, he returned to Fayetteville and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series.

Battles was the fourth Arkansas player taken in the draft after Sunday saw third baseman Cayden Wallace, pitcher Peyton Pallette and Moore all selected.

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Diamond Hogs lose would-be freshman pitcher to MLB draft

Cole Phillips could still choose to go to Arkansas, though Atlanta will make every attempt to sign him to a pro deal.

Cole Phillips was always a longshot to play for Arkansas even though he committed out of Boerne, Texas.

Phillips, one of the top high-school pitchers in the country, was selected in the second round of the MLB draft Sunday by Atlanta, going 57th overall, five picks ahead of Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette, who went to the White Sox.

Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery three months ago and won’t play the rest of the summer even if he decides to join the Braves organization. If Phillips chooses to go to Arkansas, he will draft-eligible after his sophomore season.

He was one of four players with Diamond Hogs connections taken on Sunday. Third baseman Cayden Wallace was the first Arkansas player taken when Kansas City chose him with the No. 49 pick. Second baseman Robert Moore, whose father Dayton is the general manager for Kansas City, went to Milwaukee with the 72nd pick.

Several other Arkansas players are likely to be taken during Monday’s portion of the draft which covers rounds three through 20.

Phillips and the other three Arkansas players selected have until August to decide whether he will sign with Atlanta or attend Arkansas.

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Diamond Hogs land next year’s starting shorstop…unless he decides to go pro

Jordan Sprinkle should slot into the starting shortstop position for Arkansas next year if he isn’t scooped up by the MLB draft later this month.

Jordan Sprinkle will almost certainly hear his name called in the MLB draft later this month.

For now, though, he is headed to Arkansas after announcing his transfer from California-Santa Barbara to the Diamond Hogs via the transfer portal.

Sprinkle, a rising junior, had a slash line of .285/.381/.413 with the Gauchos last season, driving in 35 runs and stealing 25 bases for UCSB. His team was eliminated by Stanford in the the Palo Alto Regional, shortly after which Sprinkle entered the transfer portal.

The MLB draft begins Sunday, July 17 and continues through Tuesday, July 19. Sprinkle is rated as the No. 156 prospect for it.

Arkansas has three players ranked higher in the prospect status for the draft. Third baseman Cayden Wallace is No. 31, right-hander Peyton Pallette is No. 43 and second baseman Robert Moore is No. 108. All three are expected to sign when drafted.

Coach Dave Van Horn bemoaned the draft’s late start date – it had been in June until last year – when he gave his end-of-season press conference on Thursday. In the meantime, Arkansas continues to use the transfer portal as the only position-player starter expected to return is Peyton Stovall.

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Dave Van Horn doesn’t hold back on draft: “It’s ridiculous”

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn is not a fan of the MLB Draft this time of year.

Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn has a point.

The Razorbacks long-time head man put a wrap on the Arkansas season with a end-of-year press conference on Thursday. Among the topics were, of course, the 2023 Diamond Hogs.

That’s where things became more testy than usual.

See, traditionally the MLB Draft had been in early-to-mid-June. But in 2021, Major League Baseball moved it to mid-July. This year, it’s in mid-to-late-July (specifically July 17-19), making things difficult for people like Van Horn who are seeking roster clarity heading into the fall semester.

“What a horrible time for the draft. The draft should have been last week,” Van Horn said. “I’ve said this 10 times this year: It makes no sense at all. No one likes it except the [MLB] owners. They think it’s cool to have the draft during the All-Star game. Nobody cares.”

In baseball, players don’t have to declare for the MLB Draft. If they’re selected and have eligibility remaining in college, than can choose to sign or stay in school. It’s straight-forward.

But it also creates the problem of the unknown. Several Arkansas recruits and current players – namely third baseman Cayden Wallace and second baseman Robert Moore – are likely to be taken. Most of them taken high. The question is whether where they are taken is high enough to entice them to leave the Diamond Hogs.

“I mean, it’s a joke. So we’ve got to get through that, and then you’ve got about 14 days after the draft to see who’s going to sign and now it’s August 1. That’s when the smoke will clear. Hopefully within a couple days after that, we’ll have a final roster. There could be a lot of changes,” Van Horn said.

Arkansas will likely only return one position-player starter, but could return all three weekend starters and a bulk of the bullpen.

Stay Golden: Robert Moore wins Arkansas’ first-ever Gold Glove Award

The junior is honored as College Baseball’s top 2nd baseman after fielding at a 0.992 clip this season.

One of the best defenders in College Baseball now has an award to back it up.

Arkansas’ [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] has been awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove award, being named the best 2nd baseman in College Baseball, Rawlings alongside the American Baseball Coaches Association announced Wednesday.

The junior from Leawood, Kan. becomes the first-ever Razorback to win the award after an incredible season at 2nd base by fielding at a 0.992 clip. In 63 games, Moore has recorded 92 putouts, has assisted in making 163 outs, and has only made two errors.

He, alongside [autotag]Jalen Battles[/autotag], have teamed up to become one of the best middle-infield duos in the country. Battles was unfortunately left off of the finalist list for best shortstops in the country.

In true Robert Moore fashion, he spent time to appreciate everyone who put him in this position to win the award.

Joining Moore as a finalist for the Gold Glove Award from Arkansas was pitcher [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag]. Noland, however, finished behind Iowa’s Ben Beutel as the nation’s best defender at pitcher. The senior right-hander fielded at 1.000 in 2022, making five putouts and assisting in recording 16 outs.

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Oklahoma State smacks Missouri State, sets up regional final with Arkansas

The rematch between the Hogs and the Pokes is set for 6:16 p.m. CDT and can be seen online with ESPN+

Who is ready for an encore?

The host of the Stillwater Regional, Oklahoma State, battled with Missouri State in an elimination game early Sunday evening for five hours of total game time. When the dust finally settled, the Cowboys came out on top, 29-15, eliminating the Bears and setting up a rematch with Arkansas.

Oklahoma State had the same luck that unfortunately went against them Saturday night against Arkansas. The Cowboys trailed Missouri State, 12-0 heading to the 4th inning. However, the ‘Pokes would go on to outscore the Bears, 17-2 over the next three innings to jump out to a 17-14 lead going to the 7th inning.

For safe measure, the Cowboys scored 12 runs in the final two innings to close the game.

The Razorbacks will face Oklahoma State in a rematch from Saturday night. The Cowboys led 10-5 before Arkansas scored 15 runs over the final three innings to secure the 20-12 win.

In the game, Arkansas hit seven home runs, headlined by a two-home run game by [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] and a grand slam by [autotag]Jalen Battles[/autotag].

Arkansas goes for the Stillwater Regional championship Sunday night against Oklahoma State. First pitch is set for 6:16 p.m. CDT, and can be seen online with ESPN+.

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