HawgBeat - Van Horn talks Diamond Hogs on MLB Network
Arkansas Razorbacks baseball head coach Dave Van Horn talks Diamond Hogs on MLB Network
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Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn and the Diamond Hogs are just nine days away from the first pitch of the 2024 season and excitement around the program is at an all-time high.
Ranked in the preseason as the No. 3 team in the country according to D1Baseball, the Razorbacks have all of the pieces for another deep postseason run to Omaha for the College World Series.
Van Horn took the time to talk about the Diamond Hogs in front of a national audience on the MLB Network on Wednesday, and he shared a lot about the program, himself and more.
Here's everything the esteemed Arkansas head coach had to say:
On the 2024 team and Hagen Smith:
DVH: "Well it starts with pitching,” Van Horn said. “We’ve got some kids back from last year that gained a lot of experience. Hagen Smith is at the top of the rotation and he’s done it all for us here. He’s been a starter, a reliever, a long reliever and a closer. He’s pitched some of the biggest innings we’ve ever had here. I think back to his freshman year, we have a one-run lead, two-run lead and bases loaded. Bottom of the eighth, let’s see who is going to go to the Super Regional at Oklahoma State.
"We had older kids in the bullpen and we went to him. He finished it off for us and we ended up beating North Carolina the next weekend and made it to the College World Series. So, this is a guy that’s been there, done that. He just turned 20 in August, this will be his third year in college, so he’ll still be 20 at the draft. He’s incredible. And there’s more, I won’t go through all of them but we’re excited about our pitching staff.”
On staying at Arkansas for 22 years:
DVH: "I left the University of Nebraska after five years there, my last two years at Nebraska we went to Omaha. When you’re in Lincoln and you make it to the World Series, man they treat you unbelievably well. It was hard to leave, but this is where I always wanted to be. Played here, met my wife here, got married in Fayetteville, I could go on and on.
"The SEC at the time is what I thought I wanted to do. After a year or two here, I thought ‘Man, this is pretty difficult.’ But, it’s been fun, very fortunate to be able to stay at the same place basically my whole career. The fans have been amazing, the teams have been great and it’s a special place here in Fayetteville."
On recruiting strategy:
DVH: "Well, small population (in Arkansas), but number one we want to get the best kids out of the state. We miss on one every now and then, and it’s a credit to those kids for developing maybe a little later or maybe they just wanted to go somewhere else. But number one is to get the kids in Arkansas, and then maybe the border of the state. And then after that, I’m telling you it’s all over the place. If you look at our roster, we have kids from Hawaii, we get them all over."
On relationship with Pro Hogs:
DVH: "The great thing about it is, those kids, they’re appreciative of the program and their time here. We tell kids when we’re recruiting them and once they get here, we’re working, we’re practicing, we’re trying to get you ready for pro ball but we’re getting you ready to fight through the minor leagues. You have to be tough to get through the minor leagues to get to the big leagues. Whether you play two years in the big leagues or 12, in most cases unless you’re just a super talent, you got to outwork people and be dedicated.
"We try to preach that here a little bit honestly and our kids come back. Even when they’re in the big leagues, they come back and workout. Some all the time, some for a couple weeks here and there. They come back to our facility and I think they just feel comfortable here. You got it all here facility-wise."
On the legendary John Daly:
DVH: "You know what, John’s awesome, he’s just a fun guy. I’ve got to tell a quick story. 2015, we’re in the Super Regional, game three, we ended up winning it. I don’t know how he got on the field, and it’s like 100 degrees and he gave me a bear hug and he was soaking wet and I’ll never forget it. That’s all I’m going to say. He’s a good guy and he’s a great Arkansas fan, he’s something else."
