Realigned defense aids Hogs' upturn

Cody Scroggins of Arkansas makes the relay to first base on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, during practice at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' baseball turnaround has coincided with Carson Shaddy's move to center field and Cody Scroggins replacing him at third base.

Arkansas center fielder Carson Shaddy previews the Razorbacks' upcoming series against No. 2 Texas A&M.

Carson Shaddy - Aggies Preview

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Arkansas pitcher Zach Jackson previews the Razorbacks' upcoming series against No. 2 Texas A&M.

Zach Jackson - Aggies Preview

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Arkansas second baseman Rick Nomura previews the Razorbacks' upcoming series against No. 2 Texas A&M.

Rick Nomura - Aggies Preview

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The Razorbacks are 4-1 since Coach Dave Van Horn made the change, including taking two of three games at Kentucky last weekend and beating Big East-leading Creighton and No. 22 Oklahoma State at home.

Today’s game

No. 2 Texas A&M at Arkansas

WHEN 6:30 p.m.

WHERE Baum Stadium, Fayetteville

RECORDS Arkansas 25-16, 6-12 SEC; Texas A&M 33-8, 12-6

SERIES Texas A&M leads 38-36

RADIO Razorback Sports Network statewide network. Not all games will be carried by all affiliates. Check local listings.

TELEVISION None

INTERNET SEC Network-Plus

"So far, so good," Van Horn said. "It's worked."

The Razorbacks (25-16, 6-12 SEC) hope it keeps working when they play No. 2 Texas A&M (33-8, 12-6) this weekend at Baum Stadium. The teams open a three-game series at 6:30 tonight.

"Cody's an amazing fielder," Shaddy said. "He's definitely a better fielder than me.

"We were just lucky we had a backup third baseman that could play better defensively than I could. It's been a good switch. I think everybody's been pretty happy with it."

Shaddy, a redshirt sophomore, played catcher and the outfield at Fayetteville High School and last season for the Razorbacks before moving to third base. In addition to dealing with a position switch, he is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow from last summer.

In 34 games at third base, Shaddy committed 12 errors.

"Shaddy was struggling throwing the ball," Van Horn said. "You could see it in his face and watching him in practice.

"His arm's not healed yet. Nine months out from Tommy John surgery, he just isn't quite there yet. I know by next year his arm will be ready to go."

Shaddy, hitting a team-high .344 with 5 home runs and 28 RBI, said he feels comfortable being back in center field, where he hasn't had any defensive issues.

"I played it growing up," Shaddy said. "It comes natural to me. I like to run and use my athletic ability to catch balls."

Scroggins, a freshman who played shortstop and pitched at Bentonville High School, has made a smooth transition to third base, where he's played errorless ball in five starts.

"Going from high school to college, the ground balls are hit a lot harder," Scroggins said. "You have to be on your tippy-toes all the time.

"The key is to stay relaxed. You're going to be a little nervous, but you've got to get over that and say, 'OK, I'm the right man for the job. I'm here for a reason.' "

Van Horn said he was confident Scroggins could handle third defensively.

"He's not scared," Van Horn said. "He wants to play. He's not really bothered by the environment.Whether it's a big crowd or people getting on him, he's pretty confident. We knew with him coming in here he'd be a guy that mentally would be ready to go."

Arkansas senior second baseman Rick Nomura said he's been impressed by Scroggins' maturity.

"You think freshmen are going to have a lot of jitters, but Cody's a real calm kid," Nomura said. "He's had a lot of things put on his shoulders this season, and he's doing a great job with it.

"He's making all the plays he needs to make."

Before getting his shot to play third base, Scroggins pitched in relief against Missouri, Ole Miss and Florida, allowing 1 run in 3 innings.

"He's one of those guys that's going to do whatever he can to get on the field, which is the kind of mindset you've got to have as a freshman," Arkansas junior pitcher Zach Jackson said. "I think him getting to start in these weekend series is something he's been waiting to do."

Scroggins is batting .138, including 1 of 14 in his starts at third, although he has two sacrifice bunts and a walk in those games.

"He's frustrated he's not hitting very well, but he knows he's in there to play good defense, and he's done that," Van Horn said. "There are some hits coming. He's hit some balls on the nose. He'll get more comfortable."

Scroggins has 29 at-bats on the season.

"I've just got to get more reps," he said.

Shaddy is 8 of 20 since moving to center field. He hit an RBI triple in the eighth inning of the Razorbacks' 7-6 victory over Oklahoma State on Tuesday night and scored what proved to be the winning run on Luke Bonfield's sacrifice fly.

"Sometimes Carson's a little fast-twitched, and that's a spot where he can kind of relax and let the ball come to him as opposed to being so jumpy," Jackson said of Shaddy in center. "Taking that pressure off him on the infield -- whether he wants to admit it or not -- I think is going to help him at the plate, too."

With Shaddy in center, Clark Eagan moved to first base, where he played much of last season.

Eagan replaced Cullen Gassaway, who has been bothered by a shoulder injury he suffered March 12 when Western Illinois outfielder Steve McShane -- who also plays running back for the Leathernecks -- barreled into him after a bunt.

"His shoulder has really never gotten 100 percent healed," Van Horn said. "It's limited him a little bit as far as the throws he can make."

Van Horn said he plans to use Gassaway as the designated hitter against Texas A&M.

"We've been resting him," Van Horn said. "I think he'll be ready to go this weekend."

Winning a series against the Aggies could be crucial to Arkansas' NCAA Tournament hopes.

"They're really good, but so are we," Shaddy said. "So we're going to come at them."

Sports on 04/29/2016