MLB Draft Rewind: 2012

For the third time in his Arkansas tenure, Van Horn guided the Razorbacks to Omaha and the College World Series in 2012. Arkansas used a dominant pitching staff, timely hitting and strong defense to win the Houston Regional and Waco Super Regional to advance to the seventh College World Series in program history. The Razorbacks won their first two games of the College World Series and finished in a tie for third, equaling the second-best finish to a season in school history.

Arkansas finished the season with a 46-22 record, the most wins for UA under Van Horn and the sixth-highest single-season win total in school history. The Razorbacks also won 40 games for the fourth straight season and for the 18th time in program history. Arkansas finished the season ranked in the top six in all four of the major college baseball polls, including a No. 3 national ranking in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, the NCBWA poll and the Collegiate Baseball poll.

Arkansas had a knack for winning the close games in 2012. The Razorbacks played 32 games decided by one or two runs and went 19-13 in those games. Arkansas was 14-9 in one-run games during the 2012 season and had a streak of seven straight one-run victories late in the season. Six of the Razorbacks’ seven wins in the NCAA Tournament were by one run, including a pair of 1-0 victories.

The 2012 draft featured eight Arkansas selections, and the seventh-straight year one became an MLB player.

2012 MLB DRAFT
Matt Reynolds (INF) – New York Mets – 2^nd Round (71)
Nolan Sanburn (RHP) – Oakland Athletics – 2^nd Round (74)
DJ Baxendale (RHP) – Minnesota Twins – 10^th Round (310)
Tim Carver (INF) – Philadelphia Phillies – 19^th Round (608)
Sam Bates (OF) – Kansas City Royals – 28^th Round (853)
Randall Fant (LHP) – Cleveland Indians – 29^th Round (893)
Derrick Bleeker (OF/RHP) – Baltimore Orioles – 37^th Round (1,122)
Jacob Morris (OF) – Cleveland Indians – 37^th Round (1,133)

Reynolds, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, played three years for the Hogs on the left side of the infield (2010-12). He only appeared in 24 games as a freshman, recording 13 hits and 13 runs, but saw more action as a sophomore, producing 49 hits, 11 doubles, a triple and three homers to go with 22 RBIs and 36 runs scored in 59 games. In 2012, Reynolds hit .323 in 67 games, tallying 76 knocks, 27 for extra bases including 20 doubles and seven homers, driving in 45 and scoring 48 times, earning All-America status and First Team All-SEC honors. He spent five years working his way to the big-league level, making his debut for the Mets in 2016, playing in 47 games as a rookie with 20 hits, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored. He played in 68 games in 2017, recording 26 hits, before getting traded to the Washington Nationals in 2018. Reynolds worked most of his 2018 and 19 seasons in Triple-A, racking up 111 hits in 111 games for a .295 average last year, driving in 55 runs and scoring 65. After the season, he signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals and is currently assigned to the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Sanburn, a native of Kokomo, Indiana, joined the Hogs from 2011-12 after passing up a 34^th round spot in the 2010 draft with the Tigers. In his first year at Arkansas, he pitched 24 times, all in relief, posting a 2-4 record with a 3.62 ERA and eight saves, working 32.1 innings and striking out 35. As a sophomore, he put together a 4-1 mark and a 2.43 earned run average in 22 appearances on the mound, starting four times. He struck out 49 batters in 40.2 innings and allowed just 11 earned runs during his last year on campus. Entering the draft as a sophomore, Sanburn went to Oakland as a second-round pick and spent three years with the club, before moving to the White Sox in 2014 in a trade. He would pitch for the Chicago minor league teams for two years, wrapping up his pro career in 2017 in the Washington Nationals organization. As a pro, Sanburn won 10 games and pieced together a 3.89 earned run average, posting 15 saves after pitching 141 games, 118 in relief, while punching out 273 hitters.

Baxendale, an Arkansan from Jacksonville, pitched three years for the Razorbacks from 2010-12, totaling 68 games on the mound, 35 as a starter. He worked 29 games as a freshman, 26 in relief, recording seven saves in 60.1 innings of work, striking out 44 for a 3.58 ERA. His sophomore season was spectacular, starting 12-of-19 games he pitched in, racking up a 10-2 overall record and three saves with a 1.58 earned run average, allowing just 15 earned runs in 85.1 frames, striking out 77 to earn Second Team All-SEC honors in 2011. His ERA in 2011 ranks sixth all-time at Arkansas for a single-season, while his 20 starts in 2012 still stands as a school record. For the second consecutive year, Baxendale led the team in wins with eight, becoming a workhorse on the mound for Van Horn’s club, pitching in 107.0 innings, ringing up 96 hitters for an ERA of 3.11. As a 10^th-round pick, he spent all eight years of his pro career in Minnesota’s organization, working his way up to the Triple-A Rochester by his fifth year. He pitched four seasons for the Red Wings, winning seven games with two saves, appearing in 111 games with 18 starts and 192 strikeouts in 205.3 combined innings. His minor league career consisted of 36 victories, four saves, 216 games, 97 starts, 566 strikeouts and 685 innings worked. He joined the Arkansas coaching staff for the 2020 season as a student assistant, serving as one of the bullpen coaches for the Hogs.

Carver, a hometown kid from Fayetteville, was a four-year player for Van Horn from 2009-12, totaling 219 collegiate games during his time on the Hill. He played in 35 games as a freshman, recording 19 hits. He moved into a starting role as a sophomore, lining up mostly at shortstop, seeing 60 games of action in 2010, producing 62 hits, 11 doubles, a triple and four homers, with 36 RBIs and 33 runs. As a junior, Carver tallied 41 hits in 57 games, then came back with a vengeance as a senior, laying down 79 knocks, 15 doubles and two homers, with 30 RBIs and 38 runs in 67 games for a .299 batting average. After a 67-game college season, he went on to play 50 games for Single-A Lakewood, recording 38 hits, 14 RBIs and 21 runs in his lone pro season.

Bates, another Arkansan from Cabot, transferred to the university after playing two years at Crowder College and turning down a 39^th round selection as a 2010 draftee. He totaled 70 games on the Hill over the two years, producing 45 hits, 32 RBIs and 26 runs for a two-year average in the mid .200’s. He turned his 39^th round pick into a 28^th rounder to the Kansas City Royals. He played two years of pro ball, producing 63 hits in 71 games, including 30 for extra bases with 17 doubles and 12 homers, driving in 43 runs and scoring 39.

Fant, from Texarkana, Texas, was also a four-year pitcher for the Hogs (2010-13). He started all 10 games he appeared in as a freshman in 2010, going 3-2 with a 4.37 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Nearly half of his outings became relief appearances in 2011, winning three games while putting together a 3.89 earned run average and 35 strikeouts in 69.1 innings of work. He lowered his ERA again as a junior to a 3.27 season mark, starting 14-of-15 games played, striking out 39 and winning two contests. He was drafted in the 29^th round by the Cleveland Indians, but elected to return for his senior season…

Bleeker, native of Longmont, Colorado, came to Arkansas after two years at Howard College, turning down a 37^th round pick by the Nationals to head to the Hill. He pitched in two games in relief, striking out three over 1.1 innings of work. He went on to play three years of pro ball in the Orioles organization, totaling 32 relief appearances, winning two games and earning five saves, striking out 59 in 59.1 frames on the mound.

Morris, from Coppell, Texas, turned down a 35^th round selection out of high school to join the Hogs in 2011. He played in 23 games as a freshman, recording 13 hits. As a draft-eligible sophomore, Morris played in 52 contests, tallying 33 hits, 23 RBIs and 27 runs, with nine doubles, three triples and three homers. As a 37^th round pick in the 2012 draft, he decided to return to campus for another year with the Razorbacks in 2013…

On June 1, we’ll take a look at the 2013 draft, which featured a record 11 Razorbacks selected by pro teams.