Jack Wagner injury update: Dave Van Horn shares Arkansas senior 'seems to be OK'

Arkansas was initially unsure whether veteran Jack Wagner would be available for a weekend series against No. 8 Kentucky after he suffered an injury and had to exit Tuesday’s game against Missouri State.

Wagner was injured during an at-bat, stepping off the plate and favoring his right leg after he had taken a swing.

He limped off the field and was tended to by trainers, exiting the game for good.

“Yeah, he seems to be OK,” coach Dave Van Horn said on Wednesday. “Some type of, thought it was maybe a pull or cramp or might have even been some type of spasm. They’re not 100% sure, but he’s a lot better today than he was last night.”

The earlier update on Jack Wagner had been quite a bit less optimistic, so Arkansas fans will be encouraged by the latest developments.

“We’re not sure if it’s a pull or just a cramp,” Van Horn had said on Tuesday night. “I don’t know yet and neither do the trainers. They’re going to get him up there and really look at it. We really might not know until tomorrow.”

Jack Wagner is a key piece for the Hogs as a rotational player. He has played in 17 games while starting 13 of them. He’s hitting .267 on the season, with three home runs and 11 RBI.

Any firepower the Razorbacks can get in the lineup against the Wildcats will be helpful in a huge weekend series.

Arkansas and Kentucky currently sit tied atop the SEC standings with identical 16-5 conference marks, so someone will leave this weekend sporting an edge barring any cancellations. The two teams enter on a different run of form, though.

The Razorbacks have won six of their last seven contests, while the Wildcats have lost four of their last five.

Friday night’s game will begin at 6:30 ET, Saturday’s at 2 p.m. ET and Sunday’s at 1 p.m. ET. All three games will be carried on SEC Network+.