Watch Tigers draft pick Jack Kenley mash a home run for Arkansas

The 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season ended as a heartbreaker for the Arkansas Razorbacks. They went down to defeat to Oregon State in the College World Series. This year, they’re looking to erase that heartbreak as one of the favorites to win the tournament. A recent Tigers’ selection in the 2019 draft has something to with that, and he had a big day on Saturday for the Hogs.

Razorbacks’ second baseman Jack Kenley was selected by the Detroit Tigers with their eighth round pick. Kenley spent his first two years struggling for playing time behind established upperclassman but has come into his own with consistent playing time this season.

On Saturday, he helped the Hogs to a dominant win over Ole Miss in game one of the Fayetteville Super Regional.

Kenley’s three-run bomb sparked an eruption from the Razorbacks’ offense, and they ran away with the game by a final score of 11-2. Ace Isaiah Campbell didn’t need that much help as he tossed 8 ¹⁄₃ innings of two-run ball in this one. Campbell was selected in Compensation Round B of the 2019 draft this week by the Seattle Mariners.

Nice to see that short, compact stroke producing that kind of power, wind and metal aided as it was. Kenley is known for a strong defensive game, but his bat has come on strong this season with regular playing time. His likely ceiling is as a utilityman, but as long as there’s development, there is hope. So let’s hope this is just the beginning.

The Razorbacks can close out Ole Miss and advanced to the College World Series with a victory on Sunday. You can find a game recap here, and a quick profile of Kenley here.