FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas baseball pitcher Ben Bybee will be available to pitch during the Razorbacks’ game against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, a team spokesman said.
Bybee, a sophomore right-hander, has not played this season due to a diagnosis of mononucleosis last month. Speaking last week at the Swatter’s Club, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn targeted the ORU game for a possible return by Bybee.
It is not known whether Bybee will pitch in Tuesday's game, but he is on the list of available players for the first time this season.
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Bybee entered the preseason as a potential No. 4 starter and key bullpen piece for the Razorbacks (13-2).
He pitched well in his preseason debut Jan. 29 but was pulled early due to a hamstring issue that caused him to sit out the following weekend’s scrimmaging. Van Horn said Bybee struggled with command in his final outing of the preseason in February, which was indoors and closed to the public.
After an up-and-down freshman campaign for the Razorbacks (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 is the third Razorback to return to the list of available players in the past week, a good sign for the nation's top-ranked team.
Second baseman Peyton Stovall debuted in a designated hitter role last weekend against McNeese State, nearly five weeks after he suffered a broken foot. Right-hander Dylan Carter also made his season debut against McNeese State in a Sunday relief appearance that came 10 months after he underwent Tommy John surgery.