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Jack Wagner’s first home run as Hog was long time coming

Jun 20, 2018; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Dave Van Horn waits out a rain delay / Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas led 8-0 when Jack Wagner came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth, not exactly the highest of leverage spots. 

The game was in hand, but for Wagner and the Razorbacks, the homer meant more. A mundane 388-foot solo shot in a blowout in a midweek contest isn’t something out of the ordinary, but this wasn’t any ordinary solo homer.

For starters, this was Wagner’s first homer in a Razorback uniform, an accomplishment in its own right. More than that, he was entrenched in a battle with Ben McLaughlin for first base duties throughout the fall and spring. The Tarleton State transfer came off of a 2023 campaign hitting .337 with 15 homers, and made a good account of himself in the Razorback intrasquad scrimmage before starting two of the three games against James Madison.

But then McLaughlin took the job and ran with it, hitting .316 in 23 games securing his spot in the middle of the Hogs line-up. While trying to reclaim more playing time, Wagner sustained an injury while taking at-bats inside the Razorbacks’ facility.

“We’re trying to get some guys some at-bats that hadn’t played a lot against some of our pitchers that needed to pitch,” coach Dave Van Horn said. “It was inside and he fouled one off straight off the top of his foot, so that threw him back a little bit. So, it was good to see him hit that pitch today with two strikes and I really liked the swing.” 

Wagner played in 81 games over the past two seasons (43 at Kansas in 2022, and 48 at Tarleton State last year). Despite not seeing playing time for 23 days, his attitude and energy never wavered. 

“He’s been great in the dugout,” Van Horn said. “He has been very mature about it. I met with him like three weeks ago about some things. He hasn’t played a lot since. He got hurt, somebody else doing well or whatever and he didn’t come [into my office]. He knew that he had to keep fighting and he was going to get his chance. He hasn’t played in a conference game yet.” 

His homer also underscores the line-up depth of the Hogs. Wagner is the 13th Razorback to hit a home run. Both he and Peyton Holt got their first start in over two weeks and both got on base and drove in a combined three runs. 

“We really wanted to get [Wagner] a start today and see what he can do,” Van Horn said.  “His first at-bat, he gets jammed, but some good base running when we get a sac fly on a ball that bloops into short left. Then he hit a homer. The team was super excited for him because he pulled for them all the time. It was really good to see.”

Arkansas welcomes No. 8 LSU to Baum-Walker Stadium Thursday through Saturday. Game 1 of the series is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

HOGS FEED:

• Razorbacks launch big push for Arkansas Edge

• Van Horn counting on shift in rotation to provide edge against No. 9 LSU

• Hogs' bats heat up in cold weather, send Little Rock home early

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(Steven Branscombe – USA TODAY Sports)