The No. 2 Arkansas Razorbacks are through two weeks of the 2024 season, and after eight games of action, the everyday starting lineup remains a bit up in the air as the Hogs look to sort out a few more position battles.
It hasn’t exactly been a roaring start for the Razorbacks offensively, despite a 21-run outing on Tuesday against Grambling. Between an injury to Peyton Stovall, the undeniable emergence of Jared Sprague-Lott and the struggles from some of Arkansas’ top hitters, the lineup picture is a bit murky, but the Hogs have plenty of options, so we’re going to take it position-by-position and assess the state of the union for each spot in the lineup.
[KEY: Batting Average/On-Base Percentage/Slugging Percentage]
Catcher
Position Battle Status: Two-Man Race*
Jr. Hudson White: 27 AB, .222/.364/.481, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R
Fr. Ryder Helfrick: 13 AB, .154/.313/.385, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R
The numbers have not been great thus far for Arkansas’ two primary catchers, but this is not exactly a position of concern for the Razorbacks. Dave Van Horn is a huge fan of Helfrick, who he has compared to James McCann on multiple occasions, and White is a proven hitter (.296, 11 HR last year at Texas Tech) who will see his name in the lineup one way or another.
The only real question is whether or not the Hogs trust White to be the everyday catcher, a role he did not have last season at Texas Tech. He’s certainly improved as a defender, but Helfrick appears to be the better defensive option, and the Hogs have one of the more overqualified backups in the country in Parker Rowland to provide good defense, if needed.
Helfrick and White have both logged starts at designated hitter in the early going, a trend that will likely continue for at least one of them. Will the freshman prove to be too hard to keep out of the starting group on the weekend, or will White solidify his spot behind the plate these next two weeks before conference play? The ‘battle’ seems likely to continue for the next several weeks, and I’d imagine both guys will get plenty of starts behind the dish.
First Base
Position Battle Status: Solved
Sr. Ben McLaughlin: 29 AB, .310/.429/.414, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R
Sr. Jack Wagner: 9 AB, .333/.500/.556, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Benny Barrels is going to be starting everyday for the Hogs, and it appears first base is the place that’s going to happen. He’s been as consistent as any Razorback hitter in the early going after emerging as a key bat down the stretch last year, and his glove has found a real home on the corner.
McLaughlin leads the team in RBI, has drawn as many free passes as he has strikeouts, and he hasn’t made an error. Wagner has performed well in his limited opportunities, but it seems DH is the more likely option for him at this point, at least as a starter.
Second Base
Position Battle Status: Solved*
Sr. Peyton Holt: 27 AB, .333/.438/.407, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R
Fr. Nolan Souza: 7 AB, .286/.500/.571, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R
Jr. Petyon Stovall: TBD
The elephant in the room here is that Peyton Stovall will be returning to action in the next few weeks or so, and he’ll likely move right back into this spot in the field. In fact, he told Coach Van Horn recently that he doesn’t plan on ever leaving the lineup when he gets back, to which DVH replied ‘I hope so.’
In his absence, Peyton Holt has done a good job being Peyton Holt and bringing a spark to the lineup and a solid glove to the infield. Holt recently moved to the nine-spot in the lineup for Tuesday’s game, which could be an ideal place for him and his skill set. He leads the team in runs scored and has only struck out twice in 32 plate appearances, but he’s not the only Razorback infielder off to a strong start at the plate…
Third Base
Position Battle Status: Solved…for now
Sr. Jared Sprague-Lott: 24 AB, .458/.606/.750, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R
Sr. Peyton Holt: 27 AB, .333/.438/.407, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R
With Stovall out of the lineup and Holt filling in at second base, Richmond transfer Jared Sprague-Lott has stepped in and turned out to be as pivotal as any piece in the lineup. He’s been charged with five errors, thanks to some unfortunate scoring in Arlington, but Van Horn has previously referred to him as one of the best defenders in the country, and his production at the plate so far has been a nice surprise.
Sprague-Lott currently leads the team in average and has been bumped near the top of the order, which gives you a pretty good indication that it might not be as simple as bumping him out and slotting Stovall/Holt back to their expected spots. The Hogs will have quite the decision on their hands when that time comes, and these next two weeks before SEC play will do a lot to provide closure to the situation.
Shortstop
Position Battle Status: Solved
So. Wehiwa Aloy: 33 AB, .182/.270/.242, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R
Despite an extremely slow start at the plate for Aloy, who leads the team with 11 strikeouts, it’s far too early to create any controversy regarding the shortstop position at Arkansas. For starters, he hasn’t been charged with an error yet this season, and he was the team’s best hitter in the offseason after hitting .376 with 14 homers a year ago as a freshman, so he’s going to get a lot more benefit of the doubt than some fans likely expect.
There’s no question that Aloy has been fighting it at the plate a little bit, but this is a talent the Hogs simply can’t afford to not have out there. Whatever the best version of this Arkansas team is, it’s going to include Aloy handling the shortstop position and bringing a ton of pop at the plate, which will be coming from this spot in the near future.
Left Field
Position Battle Status: Wide Open
So. Jayson Jones: 20 AB, .200/.273/.500, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 R
Jr. Will Edmunson: 12 AB, .250/.471/.333, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7 R
Sr. Ross Lovich: 10 AB, .400/.455/.400, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
One could argue this is the most important position battle on the team, and it’s easily the one with the least amount of clarity. The sample size isn’t particularly large for either guy, and nobody has exactly run away with it in their time on the field.
Tuesday’s game against Grambling saw Edmunson and Jones notch two hits apiece, with both of Jones’ being home runs. Edmunson has gotten back-to-back starts in the leadoff spot in the lineup and worked an impressive five free passes to just one strikeout in 17 plate appearances. Lovich has been the clear No. 3 option in this race all offseason, but he picked up three hits off the bench on Tuesday and offers the most SEC experience.
This race likely won’t have a definitive conclusion anytime soon, but DVH has been pretty adamant that the position must produce consistent offense. The bat of Jones features the obvious power potential, and he’s typically good at working his walks, but will he make consistent enough contact to lock it down? Edmunson has made a career of overachieving and was the more consistent hitter throughout the offseason, and Lovich’s experience and left-handed bat make him an intriguing option.
Center Field
Position Battle Status: Solved
Sr. Ty Wilmsmeyer: .269/.367/.385, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R
Jr. Will Edmunson: 12 AB, .250/.471/.333, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7 R
It’s not that Wilmsmeyer is the best player on the team or anything, but his position might be as stable as anyone with the way he defends in center field and with the wealth of quality experience he brings to the table. He’s far from an explosive presence at the plate, but this is a guy who hit over .300 in the SEC a year ago and brings a ton of athleticism. Unless he just completely fails to produce anything at the plate, expect him to be the guy on the weekends patrolling the outfield.
Right Field
Position Battle Status: Solved
Kendall Diggs: 30 AB, .400/.526/.567, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R
Diggs has not hit his first home run of the year after hitting 12 a year ago, but he’s done just about everything else you could ask for out of a big-time hitter near the top of the order. He’s got five doubles in the early going and has drawn eight walks to just three strikeouts in 38 plate appearances.
Diggs’ defense has consistently improved in right field, and he’s as well-rounded as any hitter on the team and in the SEC. There is no controversy at this spot unless something crazy happens.
Designated Hitter
Position Battle Status: ????
Sr. Jack Wagn
Jr. Hudson White: 27 AB, .222/.364/.481, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R
Fr. Ryder Helfrick: 13 AB, .154/.313/.385, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R
You could pretty much make a case for whoever you want here, and you’ll probably get what you want at one point or another. Ultimately, the catcher position is going to impact this spot directly. Both Helfrick and White started games at DH in Arlington, so they will both be in clear consideration for as long as their bats will keep them there, and Wagner was viewed as a likely starter all offseason.
Of the three names listed above, White is the only one we can safely assume will be in the lineup just about every day. So if he’s not catching, he simply will start at DH. If he’s catching, which he will do quite often, it comes down to who you want there between Helfrick, Wagner, whatever outfielder isn’t starting, whatever infielder ends up getting left out of the Holt/Stovall/Sprague-Lott trio, and don’t be shocked if sophomore Reese Robinett ends up getting a start at this spot despite not appearing yet this season. DVH also mentioned Hudson Polk, who hit a 113 MPH grand slam on Tuesday, as a potential option.