Kendall Diggs injury update: Dave Van Horn says Arkansas outfielder is ‘full-go’

Following a standout sophomore season in 2023, Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Kendall Diggs took a step back in 2024 while battling injuries. That includes a shoulder injury that he has had to battle into the offseason.

Despite those struggles with injuries, Kendall Diggs is now taking full batting practice, and head coach Dave Van Horn says that he’s going to be full-go moving forward. Now, the challenge is getting his game back to where it had previously been.

“Well, he’s 100 percent cleared to do everything now,” Dave Van Horn said. “Now, it’s all about timing at the plate. It’s about getting that bat speed back that he’s had in the past, seeing live pitching, and just feeling confident. I think he has a great personality. He’s easy to be around, easy to talk to. Players gravitate to him.”

In 2023, Diggs’ sophomore season, he was an All-SEC second-team selection. That came on the back of a season where he played in 58 games and hit .299 with a .436 OBP and a .983 OPS. He had 12 home runs and 63 RBIs while walking 46 times to 47 strikeouts. Unfortunately, in 2024, he was dealing with a shoulder issue and saw his numbers slip. He finished that junior campaign hitting .229 with a .346 OBP and a .741 OPS. He had seven home runs and 34 RBIs while walking 34 times but striking out 58 times.

Now that Diggs is healthy, Van Horn knows that the Razorbacks are going to be leaning on the senior outfielder and looking to get a bounce-back season from him.

“So, now it’s not about him feeling part of the team, because he’s going to be a big part of our team, it’s just a matter of how soon. We know what he can do when he’s full-go. He’s stronger than ever,” Van Horn said. “Even with the shoulder injury, he’s had a chance to work on his lower half and he’s a full-grown man now. It’s time to go. I think he’s excited about being out there.”

Along with his time playing for Arkansas, Diggs has also played in the Appalachian League and the Cape Cod Summer League. He similarly flashed his potential during that time in the Appalachian League.

Now, Kendall Diggs will have a few more weeks to get healthy before the regular season starts for Arkansas baseball. That first game is scheduled for  Friday, February 14th at home against Washington State.