FAYETTEVILLE — One of the biggest bats in Arkansas’ lineup is returning for another season.
First baseman Brady Slavens announced via Twitter on Monday that he will play for the Razorbacks in 2022. Slavens was eligible for this year’s MLB Draft, which began Sunday and runs through Tuesday.
“After a lot of thought and consideration, I’ve decided to come back to Arkansas for my Junior season!!” Slavens wrote. “Very blessed and can’t wait to get back to work.”
Slavens, who has two years of eligibility remaining, hit .284 over 57 games in his first season at Arkansas. He led the Razorbacks with 63 RBI and finished tied for second on the team with 14 home runs.
In Southeastern Conference play, he hit five home runs and drove in 24.
Slavens was not listed among Baseball America’s top 500 prospects for the draft, but D1Baseball rated him the 19th-best college prospect entering the second day of the draft.
With Slavens returning, Arkansas will retain at least three every-day position starters from its 2021 team that went 50-13 and won the SEC regular-season and tournament championships. Second baseman Robert Moore and outfielder Cayden Wallace will also return in 2022.