FAYETTEVILLE — Late in fall practice Dave Van Horn was going over the probable starting lineup around the infield. Carson Shaddy's name was mentioned and Van Horn got serious.
“Some of our young players have gotten Carson's attention,” Van Horn said. “There are some who could take that spot at second base and he knows it.”
In particular, Van Horn was talking about freshman Casey Martin competing with Shaddy at second. Eventually, Martin settled in at third. That was mainly because Shaddy never provided an opening.
Shaddy has produced from the start until the end of the season. He was first team All-SEC second baseman after returning as a fifth-year senior. He went undrafted last June after his batting average dipped from .332 as a sophomore to just .279.
He hit .327 this year, including a team best .395 in SEC games. He led the team in slugging percentage in SEC games at .716.
“Carson had a really good year,” Van Horn said. “He was very good in the clutch, especially the South Carolina series. He was the only guy who hit that weekend and we won a doubleheader on his home runs and his defense.”
Shaddy will likely be drafted, although his leverage for a signing bonus isn't good because he is out of eligibility. But he's finishing as one of the SEC's top players and a definite pro prospect.
“Sure he is,” said one MLB scout watching practice Thursday ahead of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
The Hogs face Oral Roberts at 2 p.m. Friday to open the tournament. Dallas Baptist and Southern Mississippi meet in the other game at 7 p.m. Friday.
“Shaddy is on my list of guys to watch,” the scout said. “But it's a deep regional. I've got 25 names to write reports on. There are guys on all four teams that are prospects.
“But if you are the best player at your position in the SEC – like Shaddy – then you are going to be on the list. I'd think someone would want him. He's had a great season in a great league.”
Shaddy has always shown promise since he finished at Fayetteville as the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. He redshirted as a true freshman, battling arm issues. He eventually had Tommy John surgery and played just seven months later.
That was problematic. He was used at catcher, third and the outfield before settling in at second base last year. He made 37 errors in his first three seasons. There were 11 miscues this season, but only four in SEC games when he was among the best defenders on the team.
“I think he just had to learn the position and also get that arm healthy,” Van Horn said. “He made a lot of big-time plays this year. His range is very good. He got to a lot of plays and he made them. He turned some big double plays for us.”
The scout said, “Carson is no longer a defensive liability. He's turned the corner there at second. He's aggressive and makes the routine plays and makes some tough plays, too.”
The offense has been impressive. He hits to all fields, with power. Of his 10 homers, six were in league play. He leads the team with 47 RBI.
Shaddy began the season at the bottom of the lineup. Of late, he's hit in the second spot.
“What he did was become more consistent,” Van Horn said. “He always started hot, but then faded. He didn't fade this season.”
Shaddy said he's made minor adjustments after watching tape with new hitting coach Nate Thompson. They compared tape of his sophomore season to his junior campaign. He also sought some advice from Andrew Benintendi.
“We found some things that we could fix,” Shaddy said. “It was mainly things about timing. There were just a couple of things. The other thing I did was call Benny. I wanted to compare notes about some things he did with his hands that I might try.
“I watched Benny's hand patterns and copied some of that. I'd text him and he'd help me. I mimicked things from his sophomore year when he was (national) player of the year.
“So with the help of Coach Thompson and with some things Benny told me, I really changed my timing. It's all worked. I've felt good at the plate all year. I really found my timing about one/fourth of the way through this season.”
It helps to finally be healthy. The arm issue did bother him for two seasons.
“I came back early,” Shaddy said. “I just played through (some pain). It definitely did hurt at times.”
There aren't any arm issues now. He's had bruises on both hands when inside pitches landed on his fingers.
“One of them is fully healed,” Shaddy said. “It's just one now that hurts a little, but I'm a lot better.”
There is much excitement as Shaddy hopes to play two more weekends in his hometown. The Hogs would host the super regional next weekend if they can win this weekend.
“It's exciting,” he said. “We are in a good position to get to Omaha, but we were at home last year and we didn't take care of it. But we know there are four really good teams here and we will have to play well.”
The Hogs have a veteran core through the middle of the field that is outstanding. Catcher Grant Koch, shortstop Jax Biggers, center fielder Dominic Fletcher and Shaddy provide offense and defense to support a strong pitching staff led by Blaine Knight, Kacey Murphy, Matt Cronin, Isaiah Campbell, Jake Reindl and Barrett Loseke.
Shaddy, Koch, Biggers and Fletcher were featured on the cover of the Hawgs Illustrated baseball preview with the caption “Strong Up the Middle.” It's a motto that Fletcher said the Hogs try to live up to in every game.
“I think that's the key to playing good baseball, being strong up the middle,” Fletcher said. “We take pride in our defense. I think we have veterans all the way through the middle and we've had a good season. We want our pitchers to feel good about what they have behind them.”
That wasn't always Shaddy's strength, but Fletcher said he's seen some great play in front of him.
“Carson has been terrific,” Fletcher said. “I think he's really cut down on errors in the league and you've seen big plays from him. He's been one of our leaders. We want to keep things tight up the middle and he's done that.
“The main thing, Carson just went off in SEC play with the bat. He just exploded.”
Actually, Fletcher exploded in SEC play, too. After struggling through most of non-SEC games, Fletcher hit .325 in SEC games with five homers. He slumped during a trip back to California, his home, early in the season. Van Horn said he put too much pressure on himself on that week.
“Really, I didn't change my approach this year,” Fletcher said. “I got off to a good start, then we went to California and I struggled. I thought, 'OK, I'll be OK.' Then I kept struggling. You have that in baseball because it's a game of failure.
“Everyone wanted me to try to go opposite field, but I really didn't change my approach. I just tried to make sure I was swinging at strikes. I just didn't hit my stride until SEC games.”
Fletcher was still a valuable asset because of his spectacular play in center field.
“I think my defense probably helps me stay on the field when I'm not hitting,” he said. “You just always want to play great defense.”
Both Shaddy and Fletcher are excited about the regional. They have tried to speak to the younger players about what the atmosphere will be like at Baum Stadium with big crowds expected.
“You just have to treat it as another game,” Fletcher said. “I really didn't know what to expect last season since I was a freshman. I know now. What you have to do is try not to put too much pressure into the games.”
All 30 MLB teams will be represented by scouts. Shaddy said that's exciting news, but Van Horn said that should not be a concern.
“He's a prospect,” Van Horn said. “That's not the issue. He shouldn't worry about that. He just needs to go play baseball.”