Bohrofen hitting his stride in middle of Arkansas order

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas proper fielder Jace Bohrofen is displaying the potential on the plate that made him one of many Razorbacks’ most intriguing hitters when he transferred from Oklahoma 20 months in the past. 

Coming into Wednesday’s 3 p.m. sport in opposition to Illinois State at Baum-Walker Stadium, Bohrofen, a junior from Oklahoma Metropolis, leads Arkansas’ every-day gamers with a .450 batting common and 1.321 OPS.

Throughout a week-long stretch that included single video games in opposition to Oklahoma State and Grambling State, and a 3-game sequence in opposition to Jap Illinois, Bohrofen went 8 for 14, scored 7 runs and had 5 RBI. Throughout that stretch he homered as soon as, doubled 3 instances, drew 5 walks and was 2 for two in stolen-base makes an attempt. 

“It feels good,” Bohrofen mentioned following the Sport 2 victory over Jap Illinois. “I feel confidence is the whole lot.”

Bohrofen’s team-high six walks have been a key stat to Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, who moved him from sixth to fifth within the lineup final week. Bohrofen was additionally hit by a pitch throughout the EIU sequence. 

“When he will get down within the rely, he’ll battle you slightly bit,” Van Horn mentioned. “He’s taken his walks, which is large. After which when he’s gotten a pitch he likes…he’s getting his swing off and he’s letting it go and he’s hitting the ball arduous.” 

Bohrofen had two doubles throughout final Saturday’s 10-3 victory over EIU. He almost had a 3rd when he hit a ball arduous to the right-field wall, however was restricted to a single as a result of base runners in entrance of him had been solely in a position to advance one base apiece.

He homered in his first at-bat the next day with a 379-foot shot that landed on prime of the Hunt Heart in proper discipline. The homer had an exit velocity of 106 mph. 

Bohrofen has heated up faster than in 2022 when he was hitless in his first 17 at-bats. As soon as he discovered his swing final 12 months, an harm sidelined him for a number of weeks. 

Bohrofen was 3 for five with 5 RBI throughout the second sport of a doubleheader in opposition to Southeastern Louisiana final March 5, then injured his left shoulder whereas monitoring a fly ball in apply earlier than the group’s subsequent sport.

Bohrofen bats from the left and throws along with his proper hand. 

“It was a very freak deal,” Bohrofen mentioned throughout the preseason of final 12 months’s harm. “I feel anybody that is aware of me is aware of I wish to compete and I wish to go arduous at just about the whole lot that I do. We had been taking some pre-game fly balls within the outfield…and I went again to trace it down. I assumed I had slightly extra time than I did. I used to be on the warning monitor and thought I had yet one more step, and I didn’t.

“I caught the ball in form of an ungainly spot in opposition to the wall. My arm form of hyperextended and went backward.”

Bohrofen didn’t return to the lineup till April 1. He mentioned it took a few extra weeks earlier than the shoulder stopped bothering him whereas swinging a bat. 

“It was powerful mentally,” Bohrofen mentioned.

Bohrofen’s function by the top of the season was as a late-game substitute, however he saved a optimistic angle. 

“Once I obtained again I wasn’t feeling pretty much as good as I did earlier than,” Bohrofen mentioned, “and at that time I needed to tackle a special function of being a superb teammate and getting my guys able to play each single day within the dugout, and selecting them up once they’re down.” 

Bohrofen’s team-first angle seemingly contributed to him being voted a group captain previous to this season, together with second baseman Peyton Stovall and pitcher Zack Morris. 

“I used to be clearly part of the group final 12 months, however I wasn’t like an every-day starter. I didn’t have the best season ever,” Bohrofen mentioned. “I feel (being voted captain) form of simply speaks to my character as a teammate and as an individual on that group. 

“It means so much as a result of it means your teammates respect you.” 

Now Bohrofen is gaining respect of opposing pitchers along with his latest play. 

“I’m actually pleased for him,” Van Horn mentioned on the Razorback Sports activities Community previous to the EIU sequence finale. “It actually helps our group so much. For him personally, he labored arduous. It is a large 12 months for him and we want him to be the participant he’s being proper now, that’s for certain.”