Get to Know Razorbacks Baseball for Opening Day

In-depth coverage provides strong knowledge for Arkansas fans as Hogs begin season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Welcome to what may be the most anticipated opening day in Arkansas history. 

Yes, some of that has to do with the extreme level of talent on this team, particularly at pitcher and behind the plate. Also, as ESPN recently put it, it's impossible to swing a bat at Arkansas and not accidentally hit a super talented freshmen. 

However, expectations are always high for the Razorbacks baseball team. It's hard to remember a time it wasn't reasonable to think the Hogs would find themselves in Omaha once again.

The heightened anticipation actually has little to do with Arkansas as it gets set to host James Madison at 2 p.m. today for the first of a four-game series. Much of it has to do with how desperate the fan base is for any feeling of positivity following disastrous football and basketball seasons that have left Razorbacks fans pushing through life as if they were the walking dead.

With so much interest in a fresh start, a new lease of hope among the Hogs' fandom, the allHogs staff kicked it into overdrive to make sure no bases went uncovered in preparing Arkansas fans for opening day. So, with that in mind, here is a collection of everything a well-informed Razorbacks fan needs to get the season started.

WEEKEND ROTATION
TO FEATURE THREE-HEADED MONSTER

FAYETTEVILLE Ark. — Few things are more important in college baseball than a lights-out weekend rotation. Having three guys who can mow down SEC-caliber hitting to give the team a shot to win each game is imperative. It makes Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn's job infinitely easier. The Razorbacks have three clear...

ARKANSAS TURNS TO FAMILIAR SOLUTION
WITH STOVALL OUT AT SECOND BASE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Adversity is not a foreign concept to Arkansas' baseball program over the past few years. When it comes to the injury bug, the Razorbacks' star players seem to be more than prone to dealing with...

VAN HORN FINALLY MAKES DECISION ON STARTER
AT CATCHER FOR OPENING DAY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - There seems to always be a constant over the past decade for Arkansas, and that's always having that one catcher to rely on. For the Razorbacks, this season is different as all four candidates are vying for the starting slot on opening day. Texas Tech transfer Hudson White, Hudson Polk and Parker Rowland all boast plenty of college experience, while Ryder Helfrick...

OPPORTUNITY TO SEE 2024 RAZORBACKS IN PERSON
LONG SINCE GONE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When Furman came to town Monday night, Bud Walton Arena was relatively empty. There was just no hunger to show up to watch Arkansas play a team without big name recognition. However, when McNeese State rolls into Baum-Walker...

PAIR OF HAWAIIANS EXPECTED TO HAVE HUGE IMPACT
ON HOGS' ROAD TO OMAHA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's right around this time of year when people begin to seek refuge in Arkansas baseball. Now fans have an exciting group of transfers and freshman recruits to learn who are looking to play a part immediately. Spearheading the new players fighting for infield spots are two middle infielders from Hawaii...

WITH NO VOLS, VANDY, NOR HORNS, WHAT FIVE GAMES SHOULD RAZORBACKS FANS LOCK IN ON THIS SEASON?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With no basketball worth watching over the weekend to speak of, Arkansas fans were left riding out the cold next to the warmth of a fireplace staring out at the snow imagining how far off baseball must be from such a scene. However, the reality is...

SMITH'S PRESEASON HONORS
UNDERLINE HIS IMPORTANCE FOR ARKANSAS THIS SEASON

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas ace Hagen Smith has been selected to the Perfect Game All-America team. He becomes the first Razorback starter since Ryne Stanek in 2013. Smith capped off a successful 2023 campaign...

RAZORBACKS RETOOL OUTFIELD YET AGAIN

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Another year, another brand new outfield for the Razorbacks. Jace Bohrofen, Jared Wegner, and Tavian Josenberger were all drafted and have started their pro careers. It was time for coach Dave Van Horn to reach into his bag of tricks...

ARKANSAS LOSES KEY PIECE
TO PITCHING ROTATION

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will need to alter the pitching rotation a tad as Hunter Dietz will miss the beginning of the season, per Kendall Rogers of D1 Baseball. Dietz went through a minor procedure following fall ball. The team expects...

TWO PLAYERS CAPABLE OF PUSHING HOGS
TO PINNACLE IN 2024

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — To keep the major three sports seasons at Arkansas from being a wash, it’s baseball time in Fayetteville. Like the basketball team, Dave Van Horn’s Razorback team is considered a national title contender once again. Returning to the Razorbacks are a pair of stars in...

VAN HORN EXPECTS FORMER 5-STAR PLAYER
TO DROWN OUT NOISE, HAVE BREAKOUT SEASON

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When Dave Van Horn met with the media Thursday afternoon, one of the first topics was how sophomore utility player, Jayson Jones, is performing ahead of the season opener. The Savannah, Texas, native was the No. 5 prospect in the country...

RAZORBACKS UNVEIL DOMINANT LEFTY DUO
IN SEASON-OPENING SCRIMMAGE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith likes to quickly remind fans caught up in the preseason hype that the Razorbacks are currently 0-0. However, he also demonstrated Friday afternoon the first intra-squad scrimmage of 2024 season why that hype is...

ARKANSAS, LSU SOAK UP RESPECT FROM COACHES
IN SEC PRESEASON POLL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The pre-season accolades for Arkansas continue to roll in. The Razorbacks were tapped by SEC coaches to finish...

CHANCE TO PLAY WITH STOVALL DREAM COME TRUE
FOR NEW ARKANSAS SHORTSTOP

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy kept tabs on Arkansas from afar. A fan of SEC baseball, he knew about the prowess of second baseman Peyton Stovall. Now, the transfer from Sacramento State will be...

VAN HORN HEAPS PRAISE ON FRESHMAN,
DRAWS COMPARISON TO MLB ALL-STAR

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn compares an incoming freshman to an MLB All-Star, you listen. True freshman Ryder Helfrick is next in line to follow a tradition of...

RAZORBACKS LOSE OPENING DAY STARTER
JUST 10 DAYS BEFORE OPENER

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' highly touted transfer Wehiwa Aloy once said he dreamed of playing alongside the Razorbacks' second baseman Peyton Stovall in an official game. It looks like that dream...

POWERFUL TRANSFER READY TO MAKE PRESENCE KNOWN ON BIG SEC STAGE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Six years into college, Kansas transfer Jack Wagner is finally ready to hit the big SEC stage. He's not one to lack experience, playing at Kansas (2019-2022) and Tarleton State (2023) before finishing his baseball career at Arkansas. Since 2019, Wagner has appeared in 122 games across both schools. In 2023, Wagner also showed his versatility all over the field...

SPEEDSTER WILMSMEYER GETS ACCLIMATED
TO NEW SEC COLORS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One never knows what impact a mundane baseball game can have. After all, Arkansas plays over 60 a year. Some stand the test of time and are replayed and talked about for years to come. Most are forgotten as life...

HOGS BIG HURLER POISED FOR HUGE SEASON
OUT OF THE BULLPEN

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One of the best arms in college baseball will return to the Arkansas bullpen. Will McEntire, a Bryant native, is poised for another big season following a career-season in 2023. The Razorbacks' pitching staff appears to be deep on paper and are glad to have...

MCLAUGHLIN, WAGNER LOCKED IN BATTLE
FOR PLAYING TIME

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Much of Arkansas will be new faces in the lineup that fans will have to meet for the first time in Baum-Walker Stadium. However, Ben McLaughlin returns with SEC experience and a full offseason under his belt. He is ready to potentially start at...

RAZORBACKS FANS BETTER PAY INTERNET BILL
IF THEY WANT TO WATCH HOGS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas baseball fans had better make sure the internet bill is paid and check to make sure they're as close to a gig of internet speed as possible if they plan on watching games from home. Of the 55 regular season games...

VAN HORN OFFERS CANDID TAKE
ON HOW MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT NOW AFFECTS HOGS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's just not okay to have the MLB Draft in July. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn minced no words about that. It seemed like such an innocent move at the time. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that starting in 2022, the first-year draft would be...

HOGS HAVE BETTER GRASP
ON HOW TO HANDLE CLOCK RULE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — With the wheels falling off the basketball season, it's now time to shift to better news. Arkansas baseball is roughly a month away from first pitch. If you need a quick reminder, the way baseball is played was fundamentally changed. Both a run rule and a pitch clock...

VAN HORN GETS PAINFULLY HONEST
ABOUT ROLE OF NIL IN RAZORBACKS BASEBALL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With baseball just two weeks away, coach Dave Van Horn gave his expectations of the season and his standard preview of the new players on the team. He mentioned lefty starter Mason Molina and power-hitting shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. In a radio interview on "Out of Bounds" on 103.7 The Buzz took a sharp...

ALL THESE YEARS AND VAN HORN
HASN'T DROPPED OFF LEVELS OF SUCCESS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It was my welcome to Arkansas baseball moment. Last year, when Arkansas won its 40th game. No one said a word. Finally, I asked the other members of the Razorback media, how many years coach Dave Van Horn has won 40 games at Arkansas in a season and...

INSIDE THE TEXAS TOWN
THAT GAVE DAVE VAN HORN HIS SHOT AT BASEBALL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There was exactly one car in the parking lot when coach Rick Butler pulled into the parking lot at 7 a.m. inside McLennan Community College all those years ago in Waco, Texas. It had a Missouri license plate. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn had made the trip...

VAN HORN SHARES RECRUITING PHILOSOPHY,
WHY RAZORBACKS REMAIN NATIONAL STAPLE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn made a guest appearance on Hot Stove of the MLB Network last week. He detailed his time during the minor leagues, why he chose the Razorbacks over any other program and the type of player he recruits. As the Arkansas brand continues to grow...