FAYETTEVILLE — The top hitter on the Arkansas baseball team is finally healthy. That bodes well for the start of the 2017 season.
Carson Shaddy led the Hogs with a .332 average last year and was second in 2015 at .337.
"I'm more healthy than I've ever been," Shaddy said. "My arm is finally all right."
Shaddy (5-11, 185 pounds) underwent Tommy John surgery following the 2015 season. The elbow injury was sustained during his high school career at Fayetteville, but he played through it as a catcher and outfielder in his freshman season.
After rehabbing from the injury, Shaddy played third base and center field last year. After struggling with errors on the hot corner, he was moved to second base during practice last fall.
There was some pain in his throwing elbow during the fall, so surgery was scheduled to remove possible scar tissue and check on other potential problems.
“After the scrimmages were done, I had minor surgery to my elbow," Shaddy said. "They removed some bad tissue and some bone spurs. I can throw or swing the bat with zero pain. I'm 100 percent. I think the bone spurs were a surprise and that's what was probably causing the issues.
“Last year when I had pain with my arm, the thought was that it was just post operative pain. But it turned out to be bone spurs.”
Shaddy is happy with the new position. He's also listed as an emergency catcher, the third option behind Grant Koch and Alex Gosser.
“I love it," Shaddy said of playing second base. "It's my favorite position, by far. I feel free there. I don't worry about the throw from there. It's a lot easier throw than third base. I don't worry about my elbow playing there. I think I've done well there.
“I felt really good about what I learned there. I know that what Coach (Dave) Van Horn tells me is right. He played there. In fact, he was my dad's second baseman when they played (together at Arkansas).
"I know to trust him on everything. I'm learning it from a legend, a hall of fame coach. He's helped a lot. Most everything I know about playing there came from Coach Van Horn.”
Van Horn and Shaddy agree that second base is the best position for Shaddy, and the one to which he best projects for minor league baseball.
“The scouts say that," Shaddy said. "I don't know if I'll be drafted, but I know I'm not fast enough to play center field at the next level. Really, my spot at the next level is utility. I can play a lot of places and there is a spot for a guy like that. I can catch or play several other places.”