Hogs look for leadership post-Benintendi

Carson Shaddy (right) of Arkansas prepares for the pitch Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, during practice at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
Carson Shaddy (right) of Arkansas prepares for the pitch Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, during practice at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

— Andrew Benintendi's impact in two seasons at Arkansas was undeniable, particularly last year when the center fielder led the Razorbacks to the College World Series.

Now Arkansas must find a way to fill the void left by the nation's top amateur baseball player if it hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament for a 14th straight year under coach Dave Van Horn.

The Razorbacks, who recovered from an 11-12 start last season to finish 40-25 and reach Omaha for the fourth time under Van Horn, open their season by hosting Central Michigan on Feb. 19.

They'll do so with the usual lofty expectations that have become commonplace under Van Horn, though this season they'll be without the team-leading .376 batting average and 20 homes runs Benintendi produced last year on his way to winning the Golden Spikes Award, the baseball equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Benintendi was selected seventh overall by Boston in last year's Major League Baseball draft, following a season in which he also stole 24 bases, scored 62 runs and had 57 RBIs in 65 games.

"I mean, no one is going to be able to replace Benintendi; that guy is a freak of nature," Arkansas junior Clark Eagan said.

To try to make up for Benintendi's lost production, Van Horn is counting on more of a "collective effort" from the Razorbacks — who also lost Tyler Spoon's .327 average and 54 RBIs to the professional ranks.

"You can't replace a guy like (Benintendi) statistically," Van Horn said. "It has to be four or five guys having a little better year, driving in an extra 10 runs to start making up for losing a guy like Andrew."

Eagan is one of the candidates to replace Benintendi's often-times spectacular defense in center field, and the junior is expected to be a key contributor offensively after hitting .288 last season.

Also, senior Rick Nomura (.298 average a year ago) and sophomore Carson Shaddy (.337 in limited action) are likely to play important roles as the Razorbacks try to return to the College World Series for the fourth time in eight seasons.

"We're looking at it as a challenge, but everybody knows what they can do," Shaddy said.

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