By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Sometimes when he thinks about it, Peyton Stovall discovers that he doesn’t really want to think about it.
It was three years ago when he made that first drive from Haughton on his way to the University of Arkansas. He thought he knew exactly how it was all going to happen.
But it didn’t.
There have been injuries and position changes and the inevitable baseball-is-hard slumps that never seemed to happen when he was playing in high school for the Buccaneers and was considered a Top 30 MLB draft pick.
“I remember coming in and being so immature and not knowing how to deal with or handle adversity or failure,” Stovall says.
That’s not the same Peyton Stovall who will be leading the Arkansas Razorbacks into the Fayetteville Regional today as the NCAA Baseball Tournament begins.
The adversity has changed him. And he couldn’t be happier about it.
“I’m so much more mature,” he says. “The experiences I’ve gained and the opportunities that I’ve been given, I honestly can’t put a price tag on it. It’s just molded me into a better person. Not just a better player, but a better person.”
Stovall is the leading hitter (.349) on the No. 5-seeded squad in the 64-team tournament. He also leads the Razorbacks in hits, doubles and is second in home runs, total bases and RBI.
He also probably leads the team in injuries over the last 12 months.
A year ago, he had his season cut short by a shoulder injury.
“Last year right before conference my shoulder started bothering me,” he says. “Obviously as a competitor, I just wanted to play and wasn’t worried about imaging or seeing if something was actually wrong.”
But in the end, he had to shut down his sophomore season and had to watch as his teammates went on to win the SEC and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
“It was super tough,” he says. “I truly believe it made me a better player. But I knew that once I got back, I wasn’t going to regret anything and play 100 percent.”
He came back ready to go this year as a junior, but a freak accident to his foot in an early February scrimmage put him out again. “It was brutal,” Stovall says. “To have to sit and wait after having to watch last year, but I knew that when I was ready to go, I was going to be all-in and super excited.”
He missed the first 12 games of the season, but didn’t waste any time making his presence felt, getting six hits in his first four games.
“I’ve had a blast this year,” he says. “It has gone by so fast. I wish it would slow down sometimes. But I’m just glad to be back out there and healthy.”
After playing shortstop at Haughton, Stovall found his way into the Arkansas lineup as a freshman by playing first base.
“When I was a freshman, there were a lot of older guys playing there and I just wanted to do what I could to get on the field and play as much as I could,” he says. “The opportunity presented itself at first base and so I went out there and did the best I could.”
You could certainly say that. He batted .295 (fourth on the team) in his first year and helped lead the Razorbacks to the College World Series.
As a sophomore, he moved to second base. “I’ve always thought of myself as a middle infielder and probably more second base than shortstop,” he says. “The last two years at second, Coach (Dave) Van Horn has helped me a ton. I really believe he’s the best infield coach in the country. He’s made me such a better player and I’ve been blessed to be able to play the infield under him.”
Stovall is considered a Top 100 prospect for the June MLB Draft and a top five second base prospect. But that’s news to him.
“I’ve done a really good job of not paying attention to any of that,” he says. “I’ve just put my head down and played. I’ve just been worried about winning. I told my advisor and my parents that we should just worry about that when the season’s over with. We haven’t had one conversation about it. The only thing I’ve been worried about is going out there and playing. Whatever I can do to put our team in the best position to win and be successful. The rest will take care of itself.”
No matter where that takes him, he is thankful for his time as a Razorback.
“I’ve learned how to be more of a teammate and a leader and I think that translates into how I play,” Stovall says. “Overall, I’ve gained so much more maturity and level-headedness. Staying in the middle and not getting too high or too low. I can’t even explain how fast it’s gone by. I’m just trying to soak it all in and I’m so grateful for it.”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com