Diamong Hogs open season with Bucknell
FAYETTEVILE — The Arkansas Razorbacks welcome the Bucknell Bison to Baum Stadium like they are apt to welcome no other opponent this baseball season.
After either practicing or scrimmaging among themselves since January, and throughout fall ball before that, the Bison finally present something new for these Razorbacks opening their season in a 3-game series with their Patriot League opponent from Lewisburg, Pa. at 3 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday available for internet video on SEC+.
“I think the guys were just glad we’re not scrimmaging this week,” Arkansas head baseball coach Dave Van Horn said. “They’re tired of competing against each other and just ready to play somebody else.”
Blaine Knight, Arkansas’ junior staff ace from Bryant, will start Friday’s opener after earning 2018 preseason All-American honors following an 8-4, 3.28 ERA season as a sophomore. Knight said he craves pitching to new batters so much he does not care about any pitch count prescribed by Van Horn and pitching coach Wes Johnson.
“I’m just ready to throw,” Knight said. “I’m tired of throwing against our own guys. I’m ready to start throwing against somebody else’s.
“Preseason starts out really, really good and then at the end you’re scrimmaging and it’s hard to get any of them out because they’ve seen you 100 times. We’re just all ready to play against somebody different.”
Head Bison Scott Heather pitched for retired coach Norm DeBriyn’s Razorbacks in 1997-98 and later was an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
His Bison are favored to win the Patriot League and will start a Southeastern Conference-caliber ace, senior righthander Connor Van Hoose on Friday. Van Hoose earned first-team All-Patriot League last year, was voted the Patriot League’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year and is someone Major League scouts will monitor.
“I know they’ve got two starters back who were really, really good for them last year,” Knight said. “I’ll hook up with him on Friday and see if I can beat him.”
Arkansas’ Saturday and Sunday starting pitchers, Isaiah Campbell and Keaton McKinney, likely salivate to pitch even more than Knight. Neither could pitch last season due to injuries.
Campbell underwent a bone spur removal. McKinney had to have Tommy John elbow surgery and previously needed surgery on his hip.
“I’m really pumped for this upcoming week and being back on the mound and getting the start on Saturday,” Campbell said. “I can tell the team is pumped, as well.”
Fourth-year junior McKinney has had an even longer row since his All-SEC Freshman year in 2015.
“I battled through a bunch of injuries and now I’m getting healthy again,” McKinney said. “I love the game. So, I’m excited to get back out there.”
Grant Koch, the Razorbacks’ All-SEC and preseason All-American junior catcher said he is excited to catch them.
“The three guys we’re starting are incredible,” Koch said. “I’ve been catching them and they are at their best right now. It’s fun to catch guys like that because of how good they are.”
Van Horn said McKinney will be on the shortest pitch count leash of this weekend’s starters due to the severity of the surgery needed to repair his injury.
Van Horn said left-handed hitters Evan Lee, a sophomore from Bryant, and Jared Gates, a senior, will start at Arkansas’ most contested positions, first and third base, to bat against the right-handed Van Hoose.
Freshman left-handed batter Heston Kjerstad will debut in left field, while the regulars in the lineup include Koch, catcher; Jax Biggers, shortstop; Dominic Fletcher, center fielder; Carson Shaddy, second base; Eric Cole, right field; and Luke Bonfield, designated hitter.
Right-handed hitters Jared McFarland and Bonfield may start at first base and left field, respectively, Saturday if Heather starts a left as anticipated.