Arkansas Pitcher Carson Wiggins Nearing Return to Mound

Head coach Dave Van Horn believes Wiggins will pitch for the Razorbacks before the season ends.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Arkansas baseball head coach Dave Van Horn said that draft-eligible sophomore pitcher Carson Wiggins, who underwent Tommy John surgery late last season, is trending towards being able to pitch for the Razorbacks this year. Van Horn noted that Wiggins has been throwing bullpen sessions and his velocity has already reached the low 90s, a positive sign in his recovery.

Why it matters

Getting Wiggins back, even for a late-season push, would be a major boost for the Razorbacks' pitching staff, which has been solid through the first 12 games of the season. Wiggins was a key contributor out of the bullpen last year before his injury, and the team is hopeful he can return to that form and potentially even become the ace of the staff in 2027.

The details

Wiggins suffered a UCL injury late last season against Florida that required Tommy John surgery. There was speculation that fans had seen the last of him pitching for Arkansas, given the timing of the injury and his draft status. However, Van Horn said Wiggins has been throwing bullpen sessions, with his velocity already reaching the low 90s after starting in the upper 80s. The coach believes Wiggins will be able to pitch for the Razorbacks before the season is over.

  • Wiggins suffered the UCL injury late in the 2025 season against Florida.
  • Wiggins has been throwing bullpen sessions recently.

The players

Dave Van Horn

The head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team.

Carson Wiggins

A draft-eligible sophomore pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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What they’re saying

“We got to get him on the mound for the first time and throw 10 pitches, and I think the first pitch that came out of his hand was upper-80s. Coach Hobbs said, 'oh, easy now. Slow down, big boy.' The other day, the first pitch came out of his hand, he was in the low 90s. We're like slow down, let's keep it in the upper 80s now.”

— Dave Van Horn, Head Coach (on3.com)

“He's such a specimen, physical. His brother went through it. Carson, he's a strike thrower. Now it seems like he's throwing strikes already. We'll see. Like I told you, he's two-year draft eligible and he's going to be drafted — or he might not because he wants way too much money. In a perfect world for us, he gets to pitch for us at the end of the year and we get him back next year and he pitches on Friday nights.”

— Dave Van Horn, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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