Tygart travels, but will not pitch at Georgia; Rowland out with injury

Arkansas closer Brady Tygart delivers a pitch Wednesday, March 1, 2023, during the Razorbacks’ 10-9, 11-inning win over Illinois State at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas right-hander Brady Tygart was not included on the 27-man roster for the Razorbacks' baseball series at Georgia. 

Tygart will not pitch against the Bulldogs as he continues working toward a comeback from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament that has kept him out of game action since a March 1 game against Illinois State.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Tuesday that Tygart might be available to pitch in the series at Georgia. He traveled for the series and threw a bullpen Wednesday.

"He's probably about there, but we just feel like we need to go one more week," Van Horn said following Thursday's 6-5 loss to Georgia. "We went ahead and threw him a bullpen yesterday. He threw really well. It's not like he was throwing a lot of pitches. I feel like one more [week] and we'll feel a little bit safer. Next weekend [against Texas A&M] we should get him out there, and that was the target date all along, so we just thought let's stick with it." 

Tygart also traveled for series against LSU and Ole Miss since his injury. The travel party can include more than the 27 players who are on the available roster. 

Arkansas might also be without its No. 1 catcher for the duration of the Georgia series. Parker Rowland missed Thursday's game with a back injury and was replaced in the lineup by Hudson Polk, who started an SEC game for the first time since March 25 at LSU. 

"I don't know if he's going to be ready or not," Van Horn said of Rowland. "He's having some back issues, so I doubt it. We'll see." 

In other personnel news, Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com reported Thursday that Georgia will be without left-hander Jaden Woods during the series because of soreness. Woods has been the Bulldogs’ No. 1 starter, but was not listed as one of the starters for the series. 

Woods is 3-2 and has a 5.59 ERA in 46 2/3 innings.