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Dave Van Horn gives an update on Carson Wiggins
FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore right-hand pitcher Carson Wiggins is unlikely to pitch in a game this season, Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Monday at the Swatter’s Club Luncheon.
Until recently, Van Horn thought Wiggins would be able to pitch in May or June. Wiggins underwent Tommy John surgery last May after suffering an injury against Florida on April 27.
“Carson has been to the doctor and he’s 100% healthy, but as of right now, they’re not going to let him pitch,” Van Horn said. “That’s all I’m going to say. I’m not real happy about it.”
The draft-eligible sophomore, who will turn 21 on June 1, could be selected in the early rounds of this year’s MLB Draft regardless of whether he pitches this season. MLB Pipeline ranks Wiggins the No. 83 draft prospect this year and Baseball America has him at No. 141.
Before suffering an injury last season, Wiggins made 14 appearances on the mound, posted a 1-1 record with a 3.21 earned run average and 20 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. He logged three saves and limited opposing hitters to a .152 average.
Because Wiggins could return for his junior season, Van Horn has said he is hopeful he will return to improve his draft stock in 2027.
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn addressed the situation surrounding pitcher Carson Wiggins, making it clear that financial considerations and medical decisions are playing a major role in whether he returns this season.
“They’re going to have to pay him a lot of money,” Van Horn said. “I’m sure he’ll go to the [draft] combine. He wasn’t happy. He’s not happy about it, believe me. He wants to pitch. That’s probably about all I should say on it.”
When pressed for clarification on who he meant by “they” in determining Wiggins’ availability, Van Horn pointed directly to the medical side of things.
“Who do you think?” Van Horn replied. “The doctor.”
Van Horn also expressed skepticism about any change in that decision as the season progresses, indicating it’s unlikely Wiggins will be cleared to return.
Asked if he thought the doctor, the surgeon who performed Wiggins’ surgery in Dallas, would change his mind before the season ended, Van Horn said, “I doubt it.”
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Van Horn hires staffer DJ Baxendale as General Manager
Van Horn said former Arkansas pitcher DJ Baxendale (2010-12) will become the Razorbacks’ general manager on July 1.
Baxendale has spent the last seven seasons in a support staff role with the Razorbacks as the director of analytics.
“He’s very smart and his part-time job, besides helping us, is working at a law firm with some agent-type people,” Van Horn said.
Van Horn said Baxendale will work as part of Remy Cofield’s office. Cofield was hired as a deputy athletic director and general manager to oversee the Razorbacks’ Name, Image and Likeness operations.
We need somebody to be able to handle a lot of things — talking with the guys that are on our team … toward the end of the season, talk to their advisors and then maybe even the kids that are coming in, the high school kids or the transfers. We have to talk to them and you just have to get some things straightened out. It’s the way it should be.”
Van Horn added that Baxendale is a good fit for the role because he is familiar with the program, professional baseball and many agents.
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn explained that adding a general manager would ease the workload for both him and his staff, particularly with the growing demands off the field.
“Van Horn said a GM will take a lot of off his plate and that of his assistant coaches. During a SiriusXM interview last month, Van Horn said coaches are “fundraisers now, we’re GMs now. We’d really like to coach our teams. The teams that get the most help, they have a little bit of a head start on a lot of people.”
He also pointed out how significantly the administrative side of college baseball has evolved in recent years, emphasizing the increased responsibilities that now come with the job.
On Monday, Van Horn said the front office aspect of baseball has changed a lot in five years with “just the phone calls and all the things that are involved there. It’s so needed now.”
Even with those added resources, Van Horn noted that coaches will continue to play a role in fundraising efforts moving forward.
Van Horn said coaches will still be involved in the fundraising aspect.
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Other Injury Updates
Arkansas first baseman Reese Robinett might be able to play within the next two weeks.
Robinett injured his knee while sliding into home plate during a game against Northwestern State last Wednesday. He did not play in any three games the Razorbacks played against Ole Miss over the weekend.
“When it first happened we thought he might be done for the year,” Van Horn said. “I don’t know all the details. … It’s a little different injury, but I think they’re going to make a brace for him where he can play in it when the swelling goes down and knee gets better. It’s getting a lot better.”
Van Horn said Robinett is “iffy … at best” to play against Oklahoma this weekend but did not entirely rule him out.
“Maybe he could just come in and play defense; I don’t know,” Van Horn said. “We’re giving them today off, tomorrow off … and we’ll probably know more [Wednesday].”
Van Horn said freshman left-hander Joey Lorenzini is also injured after a fan asked him his status.
“He is hurt, but he wasn’t pitching very good when he wasn’t,” said Van Horn, who later added, “I like him, though.”
Lorenzini allowed 5 runs on 5 hits, including 2 home runs, over 1 inning against Oral Roberts and Northern Colorado in March. He did not record an out against Northern Colorado on March 18 and has not pitched in a game since.
