FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas baseball pitcher Ben Bybee will debut in a starting role Tuesday when the No. 1 Razorbacks host Arkansas-Little Rock at 3 p.m.
Bybee has not pitched in a game since he was cleared to return from mononucleosis earlier this month. He was expected to challenge for Arkansas' No. 4 starter role before he became ill in February.
Freshman left-hander Colin Fisher started the Razorbacks’ first three midweek games against Grambling State, Central Arkansas and Oral Roberts. Fisher threw 39 pitches over 2 2/3 innings during the series finale at Auburn last Saturday.
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The sophomore right-hander was available but did not pitch during a March 12 game against Oral Roberts. He has not been on the 27-man roster of available players for Arkansas' games since — SEC series against Missouri and Auburn — but was on the travel roster to Auburn last week.
Bybee pitched well in his preseason debut Jan. 29 when he was pulled early due to a hamstring issue that caused him to sit out the following weekend’s scrimmaging. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Bybee struggled with command in his final outing of the preseason Feb. 11, which was indoors and closed to the public.
After an up-and-down freshman campaign (2-1, 7.24 ERA, 2.05 WHIP in 27 1/3 innings), Bybee pitched well at the California Collegiate League last summer. Pitching for the Santa Barbara Foresters, Bybee had a 1.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, struck out 26 and walked 6 in 21 2/3 innings.
Bybee will be the third Razorback to make his debut this month. Second baseman Peyton Stovall (broken foot) and right-handed reliever Dylan Carter (Tommy John surgery) returned for the March 9-10 series against McNeese State.
Van Horn said last Thursday that left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz was within about 10 days of being able to return from an offseason procedure to address a stress fracture in his elbow.