Arkansas Razorbacks
Overall Rank: #24
Conference Rank: #6 SEC
The 2011 SEC West Division Champs won 40 games for a third straight season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive year. Tenth year Head Coach Dave Van Horn brings back all the key members of his pitching staff and four position players who started 57 or more games. On a team that lost five to the draft, Van Horn retained a veteran group for this upcoming spring. With 36 home games, and 20 of the first 23 at home, the Razorbacks are set to get off to a good start in 2012.
2011: 40-22, 15-15
2011 Postseason: NCAA, Eliminated in Tempe Regional (losses to Charlotte and Arizona St.)
Coach: Dave Van Horn, 10th Season
Field Players:
Senior Jo Bigham provides experience at 2B, playing all but one game last season. A team captain for 2012, he hit .291, with 20 RBI and 17 steals. In conference play he led the Razorbacks, hitting .319. USA National Team player Mark Reynolds led the Razorbacks in walks, stole 16 bases and scored 36 times. The junior infielder was also named team captain for the upcoming campaign. Newcomer Jacob Mahan should add some pop to the Razorback lineup. The junior transfer, from Oxnard College had an outstanding offensive season and was named California College All-American in 2011.
Pitchers:
The Razorbacks bring back all their 2011 starters and most of their relievers. Headlining the staff is All-Conference pick DJ Baxendale. The junior is Arkansas’ third team captain for 2012. Last spring he was 10-2 with a 1.58 ERA and struck out 75 in 85.1 innings of work. Relievers Barrett Astin and Nolan Sanburn were both named Freshman All-Americans in 2011. Astin, a sophomore right hander, made 27 appearances, was 5-2, finished with a 2.72 ERA, fanning 57 in 59 innings. Sanburn, also a sophomore righty, came on in relief two dozen times, striking out 35 in 32 innings, posting a 3.62 ERA. Juniors Cade Lynch and Randall Fant, as well as sophomores Brandon Moore and Ryne Stanek, are the other returning starters. Collectively they were 15-12 with an ERA around 3.61.
Who to Watch:
Sophomore Dominic Ficociello led the Razorbacks in five offensive categories last season. The Freshman All-American infielder hit .335 in 224 at bats, tallied 75 hits, 15 doubles and drove in 50. Dane Phillips, a transfer from Oklahoma State., hit .339, with 4 bombs and 33 RBI as a Cowboy last year. Freshman Joe Serrano from Tucson, Arizona was a 12th round pick by the Cincinnati Red last spring, but chose to join the Razorbacks. The Salpointe Catholic High product was sensational his senior year, hitting .541 with 11 home runs, set state records in RBI (69) and doubles (26), all in just 28 games.
Final Projection:
An experienced team will take the field for the Razorbacks this season. Coach Van Horn will field a quality pitching staff. The starters accounted for 25 of Arkansas’ wins last year and, with every one of them coming back, that number will likely go up. Relievers Astin and Sanburn anchor the bullpen veterans that recorded 15 saves and struck out 162 in 155 innings. The entire infield also comes back for Coach Van Horn. If Ficociello, Bigham, Reynolds and Serrano can lead the way on offense and the Razorbacks can take advantage of their many home games, they can be competitive in the SEC and have an excellent opportunity to return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Dominic Ficociello, INF, 224
Hits: Dominic Ficociello, INF, 75
Home Runs: Dominic Ficociello, INF, 4
RBIs: Dominic Ficociello, INF, 50
Runs: Bo Bigham, INF, 41
Stolen Bases: Tim Carver, INF, 24
Wins: DJ Baxendale, P, 10
Innings Pitched: DJ Baxendale, P, 85.1
Strikeouts: DJ Baxendale, P, 77
Saves: Nolan Sanburn, P, 8
Madness 2012 MLB Draft Rankings:
#51 Nolan Sanburn
#107 Dane Phillips
