Smith's Preseason Honor Underlines Importance to Hogs

Arkansas ace Hagen Smith has been selected to the Perfect Game All-America team. He becomes the first Razorback starter since Ryne Stanek in 2013. 

Smith capped off a successful 2023 campaign which included being a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year. The Bullard, Tex. native worked a variety of roles across 71 2/3 innings to a 3.64 ERA with a team-leading 109 strikeouts. He started the season as the Friday night starter before being forced to move to a bullpen role due to injuries to other members of the staff. 

Now firmly entrenched as the Hogs' ace, Smith looks to iron out the only thing that hampered him in 2023, the command. Smith allowed 42 walks, thus hampering his ability to pitch deep into games, his longest outing only lasting 5 2/3 innings. 

In a limited sample size in the offseason, Smith seems to have ironed out some of the command issues while also having picked up increased fastball velocity. Smith pitched for Team USA on the Collegiate National Team and only surrendered one walk in 5 2/3 innings of work while striking out six. In his one appearance in intrasquad scrimmages in the fall, he struck out all three batters he faced on 13 pitches. The stadium radar gun read upwards of 99 miles per hour. 

"We are so fortunate to have a really good bunch of kids and a good bunch of arms," coach Dave Van Horn said about his pitching staff.  Let me tell you. Obviously, it starts with Hagen Smith." 

He also has gained the respect of his peers, being named captain alongside outfielder Kendall Diggs and second baseman Peyton Stovall.

"I don’t know if I’ve ever had one player get so many votes," Van Horn said. It was almost unanimous. Forty-something guys. Super excited about him."

Smith and the rest of the Razorbacks open the 2024 season with a four-game series against James Madison 3 p.m. Feb. 16.