FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas’ baseball team won’t be picked No. 1 in any preseason polls after opening at the top of several this past season.
The Razorbacks might not even be ranked going into the 2014 season after losing 10 players who where drafted and signed professionally, including the bulk of a pitching staff that led the nation with a 1.89 earned average.
“I feel like we’ll be picked in the middle of the pack,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “It will be a rebuilding year, because we’ve lost all these pitchers and lost some hitters.”
Rebuilding doesn’t mean Van Horn expects the Razorbacks to miss the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas is one of seven programs in the country to make 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and Van Horn’s personal streak is 15 - his last four seasons at Nebraska and all 11 with the Razorbacks.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if I was at home during a regional weekend,” Van Horn said. “I’d probably go nuts.
“Our expectation is to always get to a regional. If you get to a regional, even with a young team, you have a chance.
“There’s so much parity now with the bats … the limited rosters. Guys are spreading out. Teams are a lot more even.
“The days of the big boys whipping up on the middle guys, it’s over. There’s always going to be a few of those mid-majors that will get after you.”
While the Razorbacks must find a new starting rotation and a closer with the losses of Ryne Stanek, Barrett Astin, Randall Fant and Colby Suggs, they return their top three hitters in Brian Anderson (.325), Joe Serrano (.295) and Tyler Spoon (.288).
Arkansas also will have a returning starter in senior catcher Jake Wise, who went undrafted after undergoing elbow surgery.
“This is a team that’s going to be reckoned with next year, too,” Ficociello said. “I mean, the talent on this team is unbeliveable. It always is.”
Among Arkansas’ signees is freshman Andrew Benintendi, a center fielder from Cincinnati who was named national high school player of the year by the American Baseball Coaches Association after he batted .564 as a senior. Benintendi was drafted in the 31st round of the recent Major League amateur draft, but did not sign with the Reds.
“All he did for four years up there was get hits,” Van Horn said. “I think he can come in right away and make an impact.”
Wise is expected to be ready to play by March after his surgery.
“When that happens to you in your draft year, you’re really disappointed and upset,” Van Horn said. “I think he’s over the hump now.
“I hope that he has a great senior year. He’ll have to lead early with just maybe verbally more, helping guys through the fall as he rehabs and helping us get better.”
Redshirt freshman Blake Baxendale figures to play catcher in Wise’s absence after having elbow surgery last year.
Van Horn said the Razorbacks’ goal remains reaching Omaha, Neb., where the College World Series is held. He’s taken five teams to the College World Series: two at Nebraska and three at Arkansas.
“For some programs, Omaha is a million miles away,” Van Horn said. “For us, we feel like it’s six or seven hours north of here.”
Sports, Pages 25 on 07/14/2013