FAYETTEVILLE — Follow along for updates as Dave Van Horn previews the upcoming season at Arkansas baseball media day:
Dave Van Horn
-Van Horn says Keaton McKinney and Cody Scroggins are going to be available after going through Tommy John rehab the past year. McKinney pitched in yesterday's scrimmage and hit 93 mph on the radar gun. Van Horn says McKinney has worked "incredibly hard" to get back into shape. Scroggins will throw an inning or two in Sunday's scrimmage. He has been throwing in the low 90s.
-Van Horn says this is the deepest roster he has had at Arkansas, offensive and on the mound.
-On Grant Koch, Van Horn says he has longer hair and a stronger body. "The ball is jumping off the bat and he looks incredible to me."
-Behind Koch are redshirt junior transfer Zack Plunkett (TCU) and freshman Casey Opitz. Van Horn says Opitz is one of the best freshman receivers he has had, while Plunkett has one of the strongest arms.
-Evan Lee will play some first base this season. He might play some outfield and will definitely pitch.
-Eric Cole had a single, double and home run in Friday's scrimmage. He will start in right field. Van Horn says he could hit leadoff or in the three hole this season.
-Luke Bonfield will be the Razorbacks' designated hitter for much of this season. He hit a home run "over the green seats in left field" Friday. He also will play some in the outfield.
-Among the freshmen, Van Horn cites Bryce Bonnin, Jackson Rutledge, Caleb Bolden and Kole Ramage as those who have stood out. Hunter Milligan, a freshman lefty, "could be exciting if he does what we're seeing in the bullpen." Milligan has not been cleared to throw against hitters yet after an off-season shoulder surgery, but should be ready in about two or three weeks. His velocity is between 87-90 mph.
-Jackson Rutledge could be a starter or a closer. Several roles have yet to be determined.
-Jack Kenley is the leading candidate to start at third base.
-Van Horn says freshman third baseman Casey Martin is a candidate to play early on. He hit a home run into the wind yesterday. "I think he'll be all-conference before he's done here and will play for a long time," Van Horn said.
-Van Horn says some of the midweek games this year are going to be nationally televised. He can't say which ones yet.
-Asked about the SEC's expanded replay this year, Van Horn says "I think I do" like it. Coaches will receive a couple of challenges. "i'm not sure if we get a red flag to throw on the field."
-Bryce Bonnin will focus just on pitching this season. He could be a two-way player (infielder) in the future.
-Cole Turney, one of the top hitters in high school last year, is coming off shoulder surgery. Van Horn thought he could be a first round pick last summer. Van Horn says he has been impressive in batting practice. "He has Chad Spanberger power, plus," Van Horn said. He could be a DH, but can't play in the outfield yet while he continues to recover. Turney also is dealing with an ankle injury.
-Van Horn says freshman Kole Ramage could be the team's top set-up pitcher. He has a plus-breaking ball, Van Horn says. "I have no problem putting him in in the eighth inning to get us some outs."
-This year's captains are Grant Koch, Jax Biggers and Isaiah Campbell. Koch was a captain last year.
-Van Horn says Dominic Fletcher "is doing real well. He is impressive. Defensively, he is better than ever. He is real strong."
-Van Horn says the team has one case of the flu right now and four more are going to be tested. "It's a little spooky."
-Former players Colby Suggs (volunteer) and Jake Arledge (student assistant) are on this year's staff. Suggs "really wanted to coach," Van Horn said, after suffering some injuries playing professional baseball.
-Van Horn said college baseball staffs could be getting a third full-time assistant coach soon. He said he thinks he will know something by August. "It might only be Power 5 programs," he said.
NOTE: Van Horn said during his press conference that Blaine Knight was voted a team captain. A team spokesperson later clarified that Knight was not a captain this year.