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Path to the NCAA Tourney (7-8 SEC wins)

Just starting this thread before the Hogs game at Mizzou tomorrow. Realize most people have already thrown in the towel after the 0-4 conference start and will become increasingly disinterested if the Hogs lose @ Mizzou to move to 0-5.

I found 7-8* games where Arkansas would be favored today. Still think 7-11 or 8-10 is likely good enough to get an SEC team into the NCAAT.

vs Georgia
vs Oklahoma
vs LSU
vs Mizzou
vs Texas
@ South Carolina
@ Vandy*
vs Mississippi St

Feel free to bump this thread throughout the season (if you're still watching).
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One month(ish) out, give me your baseball projections

We're Hagen Smith days away (33) from Opening Day for the Diamond Hogs, so give me your lineup projections, starting rotation, other key arms and finally, inform HawgBea of who "your guy" is this season...

LINEUP:

1. Charles Davalan, CF (L)
2. Wehiwa Aloy, SS (R)
3. Logan Maxwell, COF (L)
4. Brent Iredale, 3B (R)
5. Kendall Diggs, 1B (L)
6. Ryder Helfrick, C (R)
7. Nolan Souza, DH (L)
8. Rocco Peppi, COF (R)
9. Camden Kozeal, 2B (L)

Guys who could fit into lineup discussion: Justin Thomas Jr., Gabe Fraser, Reese Robinett, Brenton Clark, Kuhio Aloy, Carson Boles (?), Michael Anderson (?)

ROTATION:

Fri: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP
Sat: Zach Root, LHP
Sun: Gage Wood, RHP

KEY ARMS:

Landon Beidelschies, LHP
Carson Wiggins, RHP
Cole Gibler, LHP
Christian Foutch, RHP
Colin Fisher, LHP
Ben Bybee, RHP
Will McEntire, RHP
Lance Davis, RHP

MY GUY:

Logan Maxwell

Arkansas Baseball 2025 Lineup Projection: CF Charles Davalan

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We are nine days away from Arkansas baseball, and it's time for HawgBeat to begin its annual lineup preview series for the 2025 Diamond Hogs.

With scrimmage coverage, analysis, interviews, previews, the Diamond Hawgs Podcast and more, HawgBeat provides the best Arkansas baseball coverage around.

We begin things with the leadoff spot, which center fielder Charles Davalan is projected to fill...

#24 - Charles Davalan - CF​


So. | L/R | 5-9 | 190

Montreal, Quebec, Canada / TNXL Academy/Florida Gulf Coast

2024: 56 games, .290/.417/.520, 17 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 29 BB/35 K, 13 SB


One of Arkansas' best non-pitcher transfer portal additions of the offseason, Charles "Chuck" Davalan has top three round MLB Draft buzz, according to ESPN Baseball Insider Kiley McDaniel, after an impressive freshman campaign at Florida Gulf Coast in 2024.

Davalan's .290 batting average included a 4-for-11 (.364 AVG) series against TCU and a 2-for-4 (.500 AVG) performance against Florida State. He collected his season-high of three hits three different times, and racked up a season-high four RBIs against Florida Atlantic.

Defensively, Davalan played 33 games at second base and 29 games in right field, according to Baseball Reference, with 105 total putouts and seven errors for a .960 fielding percentage.

Like former Arkansas second baseman Robert Moore, Davalan's smaller stature isn't to be underestimated, as he possesses legitimate pull-side power and the ability to shoot baseballs to the opposite field gap. He'll also fight you at the plate and earn walks, a valuable trait for a leadoff man.

Once he reaches base, he's a threat to steal and will likely be utilized in that department with Arkansas' offseason focus of becoming more offensively versatile.

Coach Dave Van Horn put it simply Oct. 5, saying, "Davalan, he'll steal a base and then hit a ball 400 feet."

During fall ball with the Diamond Hogs, Davalan went 12-for-40 (.300 AVG) at the plate with four doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs, three walks and four strikeouts, according to stats compiled by local media.

"The guy that (was) really impressive in the fall in the outfield was Charles Davalan," coach Dave Van Horn said Jan. 15. "He had an incredible fall, and then he got big and strong in the weight room. Lot of personality. Great attitude."

Through six spring preseason scrimmages, Davalan has hit 4-for-16 (.250 AVG) with three strikeouts, two walks and one RBIs, according to stats available on the GameChanger app.

Arkansas will host Washington State at Baum-Walker Stadium on Friday, Feb. 14 for Opening Day. The first game of the season is set for a 3 p.m. CT first pitch.

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HawgBeat's Lineup Breakdown Series​


1. #24 - Charles Davalan - CF
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

More of HawgBeat's Arkansas baseball content​


- Arkansas preseason odds to win College World Series
- Diggs touts Arkansas bats: 'Most talented lineup I've ever seen'
- Arkansas outfielder Logan Maxwell can 'flat-out hit'
- Can Souza, Helfrick make Year 2 jump?
- Van Horn talks 2025 Diamond Hogs: 'They're on a mission'
- Jimenez remains ahead of schedule for Diamond Hogs
- Diamond Hogs to lean on Ohio State transfer pitcher
- Dylan Carter hoping for strong super senior season
- Freshman outfielder to know in 2025
- Canadian outfielder gives Diamond Hogs speed
- Diggs '100% cleared' for big return to Arkansas lineup
- Arkansas ranked No. 5 in D1Baseball preseason poll
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Wernes on third, Polk on first

I have confirmed that Bobby Wernes will coach third base and Hudson Polk will coach first base this season for Dave Van Horn's squad. Wernes has been coaching first base with Nate Thompson at third base, while Polk was a catcher for the past two seasons.

Wernes was promoted to full-time assistant for the first season last year. This will be his fifth season with DVH's staff.

If you were there, you may have noticed the two were lined up this way for the exhibition matchups with Oklahoma State in the fall.

Arkansas ranked No. 5 in D1Baseball preseason poll

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Fresh off their second-straight NCAA Tournament regional appearance, the Razorbacks will open the 2025 campaign as D1Baseball’s No. 5 team in the nation.

Last year was another strong regular season for head coach Dave Van Horn’s squad. The Diamond Hogs were crowned SEC West champions for the fifth time in six seasons and ninth in program history, and Arkansas earned the No. 5 national seed in the postseason as a result.

The Razorbacks fell short of their College World Series aspirations after dropping games to Kansas State and Southeast Missouri State in the Fayetteville Regional. It was the second year in a row Arkansas was eliminated in its own home regional.

Arkansas last made it to Omaha during the 2022 season, when a 2-0 loss to Ole Miss placed it just one game short of the finals.

To begin 2025, the Hogs join nine other teams from the SEC in the top 25 — No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 8 Georgia, No. 10 Florida, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 18 Mississippi State and No. 19 Texas.

The Razorbacks will open their season Friday, Feb. 14, against Washington State at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

Full rankings (Jan. 13)​

1. Texas A&M
2. Virginia
3. LSU
4. Tennessee
5. Arkansas
6. North Carolina
7. Oregon State
8. Georgia
9. Florida State
10. Florida
11. Duke
12. Oregon
13. NC State
14. Wake Forest
15. Clemson
16. Vanderbilt
17. Oklahoma State
18. Mississippi State
19. Texas
20. Dallas Baptist
21. Arizona
22. UC Santa Barbara
23. TCU
24. Nebraska
25. Troy
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