MLB Draft Rewind: 2009
May 26, 2020
Thirty years after its first appearance in Omaha and four College World Series later, Arkansas returned to Omaha for the sixth time and second under a Norm DeBriyn protégé in Dave Van Horn in 2009. Much like the 1979 team, the 2009 team used a postseason push to reach the College World Series semifinals, and did it the hard way away from home.
The 2009 Hogs finished the year with 41 wins and fourth in the SEC Western Division, but was able to reach the postseason and win three-straight games in the Norman Regional, knocking off national seed Oklahoma. They followed that with two-straight wins on the road against No. 5 Florida State in the Tallahassee Super Regional to cap an improbable sixth run to Omaha.
On college baseball’s grandest stage at historic Rosenblatt Stadium, Arkansas split its first two games, beating Cal State Fullerton and then losing to LSU. The Razorbacks found themselves one out away from elimination against Virginia before Brett Eibner lifted a two-run home run to left field to tie the game. Arkansas went on to win an instant classic, 4-3, in 12 innings, and finish the series in third place.
During the regular-season, Arkansas earned its first No. 1 ranking in school history and defeated Arizona State in front of a then-Baum record 11,014 fans in the facility’s first matchup between top-ranked teams; the Sun Devils were also ranked No. 1 at the time in other national polls.
The 2009 draft featured six draft picks, including another big leaguer in Dallas Keuchel, who continues to pitch today for the Chicago White Sox, reunited with former Arkansas catcher James McCann.
2009 MLB DRAFT
Dallas Keuchel (LHP) – Houston Astros – 7th Round (221)
Stephen Richards (LHP) – Florida Marlins – 8th Round (248)
Scott Lyons (INF) – Kansas City Royals – 15th round (452)
Ben Tschepikow (INF) – Kansas City Royals – 17th Round (512)
Mike Bolsinger (RHP) – Oakland Athletics – 33rd Round (993)
Ryan Cisterna (C) – Los Angeles Angels – 34th Round (1,041)
Keuchel, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, pitched three years for the Razorbacks from 2007-09, moving into the primary starting role as a sophomore. He put together a 6-3 record in 2007, pitching in 24 games, starting nine, with one save and a 5.88 ERA over 52.0 innings pitched. He struck out 49 as a freshman, earning Freshman All-SEC accolades in 2007, then upped it to 61 his sophomore season, working 74.2 innings over 19 games, starting 11. Keuchel finished the 2008 campaign at 4-3 with a 4.58 ERA, and carried that momentum into a team-best record of 9-3, 3.92 ERA, 69-strikeout showing as a junior, starting 17-of-18 games and totaling 108.0 innings, heading to the Astros as a seventh-round pick. He worked his way through the organization in four years, consistently posting low ERA numbers and high strikeout totals before making his debut for the Astros in 2012. His first two seasons in the Bigs were a little rocky, going 3-8 with a 5.27 ERA in 16 starts in 2012, with a 6-10 mark and a 5.15 ERA in 31 games and 22 starts in 2013. However, Keuchel rung up 123 batters in 2013, setting the tone for at would become a string of dominant years on the mound. In 2014, he posted a 12-9 record in 29 starts with a 2.93 earned run average, punching out 146, earning a Gold Glove for his performance in his third year in the majors. Year four arguably was his best, going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 33 starts, pitching three complete games and two shutouts, striking out a career-high 216 in 232.0 innings, winning the American League Cy Young Award while finishing fifth in MVP voting. Keuchel’s streak of 100+ strikeouts made it six consecutive seasons, with 144 in 2016, 125 in 2017 and 153 in 2018, missing it last season by nine. He currently sits at 1,036 career strikeouts at the big-league level, pitching the 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves.
Richards, a native of Plano, Texas, also pitched for the Hogs from 2007-09, used primarily as a reliever for Van Horn’s club. He pitched in 22.1 innings and struck out 20 as a freshman, finishing with one win and one save. In 2008, he posted two wins and three saves in 17 games, ringing up 36 in 25.2 frames of work. His junior season was his best, going 6-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 31 appearances, one start, racking up nine saves. He punched out 52 in 37.0 innings before heading to the Jamestown Jammers for two years. Richards pitched in Low-A for the Marlins organization in 2009 and 2011, totaling 21 appearances and 25 strikeouts as a pro pitcher.
Lyons, from Covina, California, transferred to Arkansas after his freshman season at Cal State Northridge, playing the 2008-09 years for the Hogs, but had to overcome injuries late in his career. He tallied 20 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs in 33 games as a junior, but followed it up with 71 knocks, 11 doubles, a triple and eight homers, to go with 46 RBIs and 37 runs scored during his senior season to hit .295. He would go on to get drafted by the Royals in the 15th round, but did not play any pro ball following his time as a collegian.
Tschepikow, the hometown kid from Fayetteville, was the rare five-year player at Arkansas, lining up in the infield at shortstop for Van Horn’s teams, dealing with injuries for much of his time as a Hog. He had remained healthy for the better part of his junior and senior seasons before a pitch off his left ring finger at the College World Series ended his season. During his five years, Tschepikow improved at the plate and in the field each season and after a career best .317 batting average in 2009, completed his Razorback stint with a .302 average, 125 RBI, 154 runs scored and 94 walks. In 2009, Tschepikow had career bests in average (.317), runs (54), hits (76), triples (4), home runs (9), RBI (47), slugging percentage (.513), walks (31), on-base percentage (.396), stolen bases (17) and fielding percentage (.970). He played two stints in rookie league and then made a four-game appearance at Triple-A Omaha in 2009, recording three hits, an RBI and scored twice in 12 at-bats.
Bolsinger, from McKinney, Texas, pitched three years for the Razorbacks from 2008-10, entering the 2009 draft as a junior after playing his freshman season at Grayson College. He went 4-1 as a sophomore with a 3.73 ERA in 15 games, striking out 39 of 31.1 innings of work. He posted a 6-4 record and a 2.99 earned run average a year later in 30 games, ringing up 79 batters over 69.1 frames on the mound. He would return to Arkansas after being selected in the 33rd round, looking to improve his draft placement, but more on that later…
Cisterna, a native of Gilbert, Arizona, was also a transfer after two years at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona, playing two years for the Hogs in 2008-09. He recorded 31 hits, five doubles and nine homers, with 20 RBIs and 25 runs in 44 games in 2008. As a senior, he played in 42 contests, producing 15 hits, seven for extra bases, with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Cisterna went on to play in rookie league and High-A for the Angels in 2010, playing seven games between the two levels. He improved his draft stock from a 46th round pick before Arkansas to a 34th round selection in 2009.
On May 27, we’ll take a look at the 2010 draft, which featured eight Arkansas draft picks, including a first-round pick and four that would turn into big leaguers, the most from one class under Van Horn.
