The 2019 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2019 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Razorbacks were coached by Dave Van Horn, in his 17th season with the Razorbacks, and played home games at Baum–Walker Stadium. Arkansas ended the 2018 season as runners-up in the College World Series (CWS). Five starting fielders and two starting pitchers from the 2018 team had moved on to professional baseball or graduation. Expectations were high for the 2019 team, picked to finished third in the SEC West and ranked between #12-25 in preseason polls.
Arkansas finished with a 46–18 (20–10 SEC) record, winning the SEC West and entering the postseason ranked #4-6 nationally. The Razorbacks swept the Fayetteville Regional and defeated Ole Miss in the Fayetteville Super Regional to clinch the school's tenth CWS, making back-to-back trips for the first time in school history. Arkansas lost two one-run games in Omaha.
Preseason Arkansas scheduled two preseason exhibition games in Fall 2018 following a rule change by the NCAA. The first was scheduled against Oklahoma at L. Dale Mitchell Park on September 22, but was cancelled due to rain. The Razorbacks played Wichita State (coached by longtime Arkansas assistant coach Todd Butler) at home on October 5, playing 14 innings. The Razorbacks traveled to Little Rock to play the Little Rock Trojans for a second exhibition game. The exhibition match-up at Gary Hogan Field was the first for the Razorbacks against an in-state opponent in program history. The final week of fall practice was a best-of-five annual intrasquad Fall World Series.
In November, it was announced pitching coach Wes Johnson has been hired by the Minnesota Twins. Arkansas hired Matt Hobbs, who had coached the previous four seasons at Wake Forest. Head coach Dave Van Horn was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in January 2019.
Preseason All-American teams
1st Team Matt Cronin - Relief Pitcher (Baseball America) Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (Perfect Game) Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (D1Baseball) Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (NCBWA) Casey Martin - Shortstop (D1Baseball) Casey Martin - Shortstop (NCBWA) 2nd Team Casey Martin - Third Baseman (Perfect Game) Matt Cronin - Relief Pitcher (Perfect Game) Matt Cronin - Relief Pitcher (D1Baseball) Dominic Fletcher - Outfielder (Baseball America)
3rd Team Matt Cronin - Relief Pitcher (NCBWA) Dominic Fletcher - Outfielder (Perfect Game) Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder (Baseball America) Casey Martin - Shortstop (Collegiate Baseball)
SEC media poll The SEC media poll was released on February 7, 2019, with the Razorbacks predicted to finish in third place in the Western Division.
Media poll (West) 1 LSU 88 (10) 2 Ole Miss 65 (1) 3 Arkansas 59 (1) 4 Auburn 57 (1) 5 Texas A&M 48 (1) 6 Mississippi State 47 7 Alabama 21
Preseason All-SEC teams
1st Team Casey Martin - Shortstop Heston Kjerstad - Outfielder Dominic Fletcher - Outfielder Matt Cronin - Relief Pitcher
Roster
2019 Arkansas Razorbacks roster Pitchers 13 Connor Noland - Freshman 20 Elijah Trest - Freshman 21 Jacob Burton - Freshman 26 Travis Hester - Freshman 28 Kole Ramage - Sophomore 29 Angus Denton - Sophomore 31 Caleb Bolden - Sophomore 32 Matt Cronin - Junior 33 Patrick Wicklander - Freshman 34 Steven Sanchez - Freshman 35 Jacob Kostyshock - Junior 37 Caden Monke - Freshman 39 Evan Taylor - Freshman 45 Kevin Kopps - Junior 46 Carter Sells - Freshman 49 Liam Henry - Freshman 52 Collin Taylor - Sophomore 54 Will Barker - Freshman 55 Isaiah Campbell - Junior 57 Cody Scroggins - Junior 88 Zebulon Vermillion - Sophomore Catchers 12 Casey Opitz - Sophomore 16 Andrew Stanley - Freshman 48 Zack Plunkett - Senior Infielders 3 Zack Gregory - Freshman 4 Trevor Ezell - Senior 5 Jacob Nesbit - Freshman 7 Jack Kenley - Junior 8 Jordan McFarland - Junior 10 Matt Goodheart - Sophomore 14 Caleb Denny - Freshman 15 Casey Martin - Sophomore Outfielders 18 Heston Kjerstad - Sophomore 24 Dominic Fletcher - Junior 25 Christian Franklin - Freshman 27 Dillon Lifrieri - Freshman 41 Trey Harris - Freshman 43 Curtis Washington Jr. - Freshman Dave Van Horn - Coach
Schedule and results Legend Arkansas win Arkansas loss PostponementBoldArkansas team member