ARKANSAS BASEBALL

Starting rotation key for Razorbacks' success

Arkansas pitcher Dominic Taccolini throws a pitch during the Razorbacks' first practice of the spring on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- While the Arkansas baseball team sorts out its new outfield and third baseman and its batting order and options at first base early this season, the Razorbacks should have a good support group on hand with its pitching staff.

Arkansas returns starting pitchers Keaton McKinney, Dominic Taccolini and James Teague from last year's College World Series team, as well as starter-closer Zach Jackson, a preseason-All-America, and a fresh crop of arms battling for innings.

Coach Dave Van Horn, speaking at the year's first meeting of the Swatters Club on Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn, said the pitching staff has looked solid in the team's early scrimmages.

"Obviously if Keaton McKinney is 100 percent healthy, he's going to be a conference starter," Van Horn said, referencing McKinney's off-season hip surgery. "That's what he is.

"Dominic Taccolini, he has great stuff. He could also be a great middle relief-closer guy with that sinker, getting ground balls, bringing him in in tight spots. But I see those two starting. The third spot, not quite sure yet."

McKinney (6-2, 3.21 ERA), who used mostly a fastball and change-up last season, is working to hone a curve and slider, Van Horn said.

"If he develops [another breaking pitch], the next couple of years he'll fly up the draft board," Van Horn said.

Taccolini (6-4, 4.32) is coming off surgery for a blood clot that caused him to lose part of a rib.

The Razorbacks open on Feb. 19 with a three-game series against Central Michigan, so Van Horn and pitching coach Dave Jorn have more than two weeks to put together a pitching plan. The good news for them is there are plenty of options.

Jackson, who made three starts early in the season, helped turn the Razorbacks into a title contender with his work in the bullpen, where he had nine saves. Jackson struck out 89 batters, and walked 38, in 60 innings, and posted a 2.10 earned run average. He allowed only 43 hits.

It's clear Van Horn and Jorn would rather have Jackson as the team's closer, but Jackson has expressed some interest in returning to the rotation.

Asked by a fan where Jackson would pitch this year, Van Horn said, "We love having Zach at the end of the game. What would you do?"

The concern with Jackson as a starter is his high pitch counts.

Teague (6-4, 3.36 ERA) started 10 games and relieved in 13 and could swing either way.

"We like James Teague out of the pen and he likes to come out of the pen," Van Horn said.

Freshman right-hander Blainie Knight, a 6-3, 165-pounder from Bryant, could get a look as a weekend or weekday starter, Van Horn suggested.

Unlike last season, when little-used Kyle Pate was the team's only left-handed pitcher, the Razorbacks could find southpaws to work in all kind of situations this season from the group of freshmen Ty Harris, Weston Rogers, Kacey Murphy and Michael Brawner and junior college transfer Jordan Rodriguez.

"Rogers is the one that's throwing the most strikes," Van Horn said. "Harris has a good arm and he's got a good breaking ball ... and he's a tough kid.

"It'd be nice to have one of those left-handers start for us, whether it's a Sunday or a Tuesday."

Van Horn said the starting pitchers were on 40-pitch counts for last weekend's scrimmages and the counts will move up by about 10 pitches per week prior to Feb. 19.

"Opening weekend, if a guy's healthy, 100 percent, he could go 65-75 pitches max," Van Horn said.

Sports on 02/02/2016