Was told yesterday that outfielder Kendall Diggs is pretty much pain-free and will be ready to go for the 2025 season, as expected. Was told he started hitting late November.
As a reminder, Diggs had a complete tear in his labrum (DVH said front and back, whatever that means) early last season that he ended up playing through. It’s a crowded outfield, but if he’s healthy, we all know his potential.
Peyton Stovall really turned things around last season after also tearing his labrum back in 2023.
“We’d love to have him back,” Van Horn said of Diggs on June 26. “He would have to miss all of Fall. It’s his non-throwing shoulder. It’s his left shoulder. You’ve got to give him credit. How tough was he to play all year long with that injury? He hurt it a couple of more times throughout the season. He ran into the wall at Kentucky. There was another time he hurt it. He made diving catches. He just played through it. Hats off to him.
“It really hurt his offense. It altered his swing, it took away a little quickness. I know it probably had to hurt when he swung at certain pitches in certain areas. In a way, he disguised it. I’ve got to give credit to him with how tough he was. I hope we have an opportunity to coach him next year. Because he can get back and play. (Matt) Goodheart had the same injury, (Trevor) Ezell had the same injury. Those guys did nothing but hit here. Ezell’s was on his throwing arm and he hurt before he got to Arkansas when he was at SEMO. We took him in anyway and he learned how to throw side-armed. He played first base for us. Goodheart, it was pretty bad. He got through it and did a good job for us.
“Kendall, if he comes back, will have an opportunity to play outfield. Honestly, obviously he could DH, play outfield. Who’s to say he didn’t play in the infield for us as well because that’s what he came here as so we’ll see. I’ve been in contact with him a lot, when I say a lot, a few times since season ended. Through texting recently, couple of phone calls. I wiil talk to him in the next day or two about some things. He was invited to the combine to go do some conversations. I don’t know how many he had, if any. Appreciate him trying because he was hurt.”
As a reminder, Diggs had a complete tear in his labrum (DVH said front and back, whatever that means) early last season that he ended up playing through. It’s a crowded outfield, but if he’s healthy, we all know his potential.
Peyton Stovall really turned things around last season after also tearing his labrum back in 2023.
“We’d love to have him back,” Van Horn said of Diggs on June 26. “He would have to miss all of Fall. It’s his non-throwing shoulder. It’s his left shoulder. You’ve got to give him credit. How tough was he to play all year long with that injury? He hurt it a couple of more times throughout the season. He ran into the wall at Kentucky. There was another time he hurt it. He made diving catches. He just played through it. Hats off to him.
“It really hurt his offense. It altered his swing, it took away a little quickness. I know it probably had to hurt when he swung at certain pitches in certain areas. In a way, he disguised it. I’ve got to give credit to him with how tough he was. I hope we have an opportunity to coach him next year. Because he can get back and play. (Matt) Goodheart had the same injury, (Trevor) Ezell had the same injury. Those guys did nothing but hit here. Ezell’s was on his throwing arm and he hurt before he got to Arkansas when he was at SEMO. We took him in anyway and he learned how to throw side-armed. He played first base for us. Goodheart, it was pretty bad. He got through it and did a good job for us.
“Kendall, if he comes back, will have an opportunity to play outfield. Honestly, obviously he could DH, play outfield. Who’s to say he didn’t play in the infield for us as well because that’s what he came here as so we’ll see. I’ve been in contact with him a lot, when I say a lot, a few times since season ended. Through texting recently, couple of phone calls. I wiil talk to him in the next day or two about some things. He was invited to the combine to go do some conversations. I don’t know how many he had, if any. Appreciate him trying because he was hurt.”
