TAT: Razorbacks Seek Fielding Improvement this Season

This article originally appeared in the February 12, 2014 special baseball issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

Fielding errors plagued the Arkansas baseball team last season. The Razorbacks’ .964 fielding percentage in 2013 was 172nd in the NCAA and last in the Southeastern Conference.

In SEC play, Arkansas committed at least one error in all but six of its 29 conference games.

The Razorbacks started conference play by committing an error in each of their first 18 games. During that stretch, they committed 38 errors and had a fielding percentage of .949.

However, their fielding improved in their final 11 conference games, as they committed only eight errors and had a fielding percentage of .981.

This season, Arkansas’ infield will be made up of four players who got significant playing time last year. Juniors Eric Fisher, Brian Anderson and Brett McAfee have solidified starting positions at first base, second base and shortstop.

This consistency in the infield, compared to last season, when head coach Dave Van Horn used seven different infield combinations during SEC play, will improve the team’s fielding, Anderson said.

“When you’re in and out of the lineup, it’s hard to play and let it go,” Anderson said. “Just having the confidence that you’re going to be in the lineup (will help).

“People know what to expect and where they’re going to play. That gives us a better sense of consistency.”

Van Horn said that junior college transfers Michael Bernal and Bobby Wernes would compete for the starting role at third base.

Sophomore outfielder Tyler Spoon said that he can tell this team’s infielders are working a lot more than last year’s team, which has led to improved fielding. The Razorbacks are on the field every day taking ground balls and working on throws.

Also, last season Anderson played shortstop, third base and outfield, meaning there were several different combinations of shortstops and second basemen. Shuffling players in and out like this doesn’t allow them to develop timing in the middle infield.

“The middle infielders have been working a lot more together,” McAfee said.

Anderson said that his move to second came after a practice this fall, when Van Horn watched him field ground balls there and liked what he saw.

“It was an open spot in the infield,” Anderson said. “I think it was a point of need.”

Arkansas’ fielding woes last year can also be contributed to mental mistakes, McAfee said. Once a player made a mistake, it stuck with him and sometimes spread to the entire team.

“We had a very talented team last year,” McAfee said. “The errors that happened shouldn’t have happened.”

The Razorbacks should be better defensively in the outfield, too. Spoon is the only returning starter, but a pair of newcomers have impressed him. Freshman Andrew Benintendi has already been named the starting centerfielder, while the other outfield spot is still an open competition.

One player vying for the spot is redshirt freshman Garrett Rucker.

“He’s an unbelievable defender,” Spoon said. “It’s going to be good to have him in the outfield.”