FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn didn’t need any time to ponder the question when it was thrown his way Monday: After 28 games, the halfway point, who has been the biggest surprise of the year?
It was an easy call. Less than 24 hours from the most dramatic game of the season, how could Van Horn not pick the hero of Arkansas’ 17-16 win against Kentucky?
“It’s Collin Kuhn,” Van Horn said.
It’s hard to argue. Kuhn, who leads 10th-ranked Arkansas (23-6, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) into this weekend’s series at Mississippi State (16-13, 3-6), has become a difficult out for opposing pitchers.
In fact, the Beaver Dam, Wis., native leads Arkansas in almost every statistical category after nine conference games. It includes batting average (.462), runs (14), doubles (five), RBIs (14) and slugging percentage (.897). He’s also tied with Brett Eibner for the team lead in home runs (four) in SEC play.
That’s an impressive run, especially on a team that boasts plenty of oft ensive fi repower with hitters like Zack Cox, Andy Wilkins and Bo Bigham. But Kuhn’s unlikely tear at the top of the order has been a big reason the oft ense has been at its best of late.
“He’s a threat now,” Arkansas hitting coach Todd Butler said. “Not only putting a drag bunt down, he has a chance to leave the yard, hit a double, steal a base. He’s a very good defender in the outfi eld.
“He has solidified the leadoft spot. It’s his spot.”
Arkansas needed someone to fill a void after outfielder Jarrod McKinney struggled in the role earlier this year. Van Horn shook up his lineup after a midweek loss to South Dakota State and gave Kuhn a crack at the leadoft spot. He hasn’t let it go.
Kuhn has recorded a hit in 14 of 18 games as Arkansas’ leadoft man and has 11 multiple hit games during that span. Kuhn has scored a run in 10 straight and in 15 of 18 games since moving up in Arkansas’ lineup.
“I’m not trying to worry about how many RBIs I get,” Kuhn said. “I’ll let the big guys get those. I’m just trying to get on base and get the next guy up.”
Maybe that was the case Sunday, but Kuhn didn’t need any help behind him when he hit a two-strike, two-out pitch over the wall to cap the Kentucky win.
It was a moment that has been talked about all week and will be remembered for a long time. Kuhn said he has gotten plenty of applause and compliments from fans and classmates for his late-game heroics.
But in addition to his gamewinning grand slam Sunday, Kuhn hit a home run in the 32-8 win against Saint Louis on Wednesday. He has a home run in three straight games and seven this season. Kuhn hit three home runs in 2009.
“I’m surprised about it,” Kuhn said. “I’ve been swinging it. I’m seeing it well and the power happens, I guess. I’m not trying to do too much but I like it.”
Butler said there’s a reason for the increased power.
“He has strength, but now he understands his swing,” Butler said. “He understands he doesn’t have to overswing to hit a ball well. I think he understands where the barrel of the bat is and how to get it to the ball easily. ... His swing is grooved right now.”
Kuhn is 12-for-17 (.706) in the last four games. The hitting spree has included three home runs, two doubles, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored in that stretch.
He’ll still draw a walk, get hit by a pitch, lay down a bunt and steal a base to help the Razorbacks. “He’s cruising,” Bigham said. “He’s just got it on cruise control and he’s seeing bright lights right now. He’s a great hitter.”
Kuhn will have plenty of opportunities to get on base against the Bulldogs, whose pitching staff has the SEC’s third-lowest earned run average. The Razorbacks are looking to put together another strong weekend to keep pace with LSU and South Carolina — both of which are 7-2 in league play — in the SEC’s overall standings.
To do so, Van Horn is counting on Kuhn, the biggest surprise of the season, to continue leading the way.
“He makes us go,” Van Horn said. “It’s going to be fun to watch him get better the rest of the year.”