Dave Van Horn reveals what he learned from watching the 2023 College World Series

Dave Van Horn was watching from home, but he tried to learn a thing or two during the 2023 Men’s College World Series.

The Arkansas Razorbacks had a tremendous season, but they were on the outside looking in when it came to Omaha. Speaking with the media, Van Horn explained what he learned from his perspective of the competition, and how the Razorbacks can get better for it.

“I mean, I watch most of the games, at least part of them,” started Van Horn. “Usually the start, if I could get there, in front of a TV or whatever to watch it, or on my phone. Just to see how it goes. Yeah, I think as a coach, you’re always evaluating other teams and how they’ve built their teams, and their rosters and their bullpens. I mean, everything.

“You know, the Series games were super competitive. Obviously the wind blew in probably seven out of the ten days up there. Games were really low scoring. Not very many home runs. Then the wind shifted out of the North West and West pretty much the last three days, and that ball was flying. It’s interesting how that ballpark plays. It did a 360. It’s all about the wind. If there’s no wind, or wind is blowing out, the ball really travels up there in June. If it’s blowing in, you have to really hit it, or hit it down the lines. But it was a great Series to watch, a lot of good teams.”

While Dave Van Horn’s Arkansas squad had a tremendous season, they’ll be hoping to get further in the postseason than they were able to this past season next year. It’ll be fun to watch Van Horn’s squad attempt to do so, as they figure to be one of the SEC’s top squads again next season.

Dave Van Horn reveals the summer plans for Brady Tygart

In other Arkansas news, during a season in which he was named a Freshman All-American, Arkansas pitcher Brady Tygart hit some setbacks during the 2023 campaign. A sprained UCL limited him to just 10 games on the season.

Tygart appeared in four contests before suffering the sprained UCL in a game against Illinois State on March 1. He wouldn’t appear again until April 28.

This summer Tygart received an invitation to play for Team USA but will not take it up as he focuses on rest and recovery.

“Just kind of resting. We were really trying to take it easy with him there at the end of the season for the most part, keeping an eye on him and just don’t want to aggravate anything,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “Just want him to heal up and be ready to go in the fall. So yeah, he didn’t go.”

Tygart finished the 2023 season with a 3-1 record and a 3.20 ERA. He pitched 25.1 innings and gave up 11 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits, while striking out 31 and walking eight. He surrendered four home runs.

That came one year after Brady Tygart boasted 51 strikeouts in 37.2 innings of work, pitching mainly from the bullpen.