FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will have to replace the top four hitters in its batting order.
Third baseman baseman Bobby Wernes and right fielder Tyler Spoon, both juniors, will sign professional contracts, Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said Thursday.
Wernes moved to No. 2 in the batting order during Arkansas' run to the College World Series with senior left fielder Joe Serrano. who hit .278, taking over over the leadoff spot.
Spoon batted cleanup with draft eligible sophomore center fielder Andrew Benintendi -- the No. 7 overall pick by Boston who hit .376 with 20 home runs this season -- batting third.
It's a foregone conclusion Benintendi, who won three national player of the year awards, will sign with Boston. He is expected to get a signing bonus in the $3.6 million range.
Spoon, who redshirted in 2012, graduated in May with a degree in recreation and sports management. He was a 35th-round pick by Boston and hit .327 and drove in 54 runs.
"We knew Tyler was going to sign if he had the opportunity," Van Horn said. "He can go play some pro ball, and if it doesn't work out he can start working in the real world."
Houston drafted Wernes, who made the SEC all-defensive team and batted .279, in the 30th round.
"We didn't feel like we were going to lose him, but the Astros are offering him a lot more than 30th-round money," Van Horn said. "He's a very good student and he's a good player, but you've got a chance to pay off everything you owe and make a little money and go out and do what you want to do.
"I don't blame him one bit for signing."
Van Horn said junior Brett McAfee, a shortstop who was the designated hitter the latter part of the season and batted .287, has decided not to play any longer.
"He's had a lot of injuries and frustrations," Van Horn said. "We're just glad he got the chance to play and help us a little bit with the bat down the stretch."
Arkansas also is losing junior starting pitcher Trey Killian (3-5, 4.76 ERA), a ninth-round pick by Colorado who said he plans to sign with the Rockies. Senior Jackson Lowery (7-1, 3.22 ERA) said he expects to sign a free-agent contract.
"We'll just do what we do every year," Van Horn said. "We'll reload and figure it out."
Restocking the roster is the focus of Arkansas hitting coach and recruiting coordinator Tony Vitello, whom Van Horn hired from TCU after the 2013 season. Vitello helped recruit players for two College World Series teams this season with TCU also making the field.
"He's a tireless recruiter," TCU Coach Jim Schlossnagle. "He's relentless. It's all he thinks about 24/7."
Van Horn hired Vitello to replace Todd Butler -- who left Arkansas to become Wichita State's coach -- because of his recruiting skills.
"I needed someone that would recruit and recruit and recruit," Van Horn said. "We haven't slowed down one bit. We've got to get better talent in here, and we're starting to get it."
Arkansas position players who started at least 38 games and are expected to return are shortstop Michael Berna (.269, 30 RBI), second baseman Rick Nomura (.298), first baseman Clark Eagan (.289, 31 RBI) and catcher Tucker Pennell (.200).
Eagan could move to the outfield, where he played in high school. Carson Shaddy (.337, 19 RBI), a backup catcher and frequent pinch-hitter, could be used in the outfield. Van Horn said Shaddy is going to play in the outfield this summer.
"I think in his mind he sees the outfield as wide open, and I do, too," Van Horn aid. "There's a better chance for him to play every day there."
Alex Gosser (.240) will be back to share catching duties with Pennell. Cullen Gassaway (.283, 10 RBI) is a possible replacement for Eagan at first base.
Luke Bonfield (.177), who struggled as a freshman after missing much of fall practice because of a broken ankle, and Chad Spanberger (.252) should figure into the outfield mix next season.
The top returning pitchers are Zack Jackson (5-1, 9 saves, 2.10 ERA), Keaton McKinney (6-2, 3.21 ERA), Dominic Taccolini (6-4, 2 saves, 4.32 ERA) and James Teague (6-4, 3.36 ERA).
Taccolini didn't pitch in the NCAA Tournament because of complications from arm tendinitis, and Teague didn't pitch in the College World Series because of an elbow stress reaction. McKinney (hip) was limited in his last four starts, but Van Horn said he's hopeful to have all three ready for spring practice and possibly the fall.
"The best thing about the guys coming back is they have experience," Van Horn said. "They've got to keep getting better. If they do, it's going to be a good group that has a chance to give us a good season next year."
Van Horn didn't want to talk about which newcomers could have a sudden impact.
"That's hard to say," he said. "They haven't played yet. I don't want to put that much pressure on them."
Sports on 06/19/2015