The Mets/Bonfield thread

[Baseball Hog]

Don't be surprised to see Spoon or Serrano at 2B

Been saying since I saw him play from day 1, if he's going to play anywhere it has to be 2B.  I know DVH and staff are smart enough to have tried him there after all the 2B conflict we've had, so I'm assuming he just can't do it.

[Kevin]

Spoon will start in right field , and will have to fail at the plate to be sent to the bench.

He will get the first shot.  That is how dvh has operated since coming here.

[ucahogfan]

Spoon will start in right field , and will have to fail at the plate to be sent to the bench.

He will get the first shot.  That is how dvh has operated since coming here.

But at the same time, we are entering unchartered waters in the DVH era by bringing in a player of Bonfield's caliber to compete against a returning starter.  Bonfield is Fico/Cox caliber and they both started as freshmen.  It's not like we are benching Spoon in favor of a nobody.  We are saying Spoon will be behind one of the best hitters DVH has brought to campus.

[bulldog04]

Spoon will start in right field , and will have to fail at the plate to be sent to the bench.

He will get the first shot.  That is how dvh has operated since coming here.

This is true

[onebadrubi]

All irrelevant till Bonfield gets to campus.  Just saying

[booogaga]

All irrelevant till Bonfield gets to campus.  Just saying

thinking the same thing. until he comes to campus i am assuming spoon will be in right field.

[Kevin]

But at the same time, we are entering unchartered waters in the DVH era by bringing in a player of Bonfield's caliber to compete against a returning starter.  Bonfield is Fico/Cox caliber and they both started as freshmen.  It's not like we are benching Spoon in favor of a nobody.  We are saying Spoon will be behind one of the best hitters DVH has brought to campus.

i just don't see him changing his ways that much, i hope we get to see how it plays out

[ucahogfan]

i just don't see him changing his ways that much, i hope we get to see how it plays out

But this is a situation we haven't encountered that I can remember.  The last two top 100 offensive players DVH has gotten to campus was Cox and Fico.  Cox replaced Forsythe at 3B after he got drafted and Fico replaced Wilkins.  I assume DVH had Bonfield penciled in to replace Serrano/Spoon after this season because I don't think DVH would have expected either back before the season started.  We haven't seen the situation where an elite hitter comes to campus to replace a starter who struggled at the plate albeit due mostly to injury.  I think with the news of Conforto agreeing to sign for slot that Bonfield comes to campus and we get to see this situation play out.

[Kevin]

But this is a situation we haven't encountered that I can remember.  The last two top 100 offensive players DVH has gotten to campus was Cox and Fico.  Cox replaced Forsythe at 3B after he got drafted and Fico replaced Wilkins.  I assume DVH had Bonfield penciled in to replace Serrano/Spoon after this season because I don't think DVH would have expected either back before the season started.  We haven't seen the situation where an elite hitter comes to campus to replace a starter who struggled at the plate albeit due mostly to injury.  I think with the news of Conforto agreeing to sign for slot that Bonfield comes to campus and we get to see this situation play out.

also, i always thought serrano would come back. he is a man without a position. wasn't sure about spoon, but as the year went on, definitely knew he was come back.

i think we see some shocking names transfer out of the program before august

as coaches say, the numbers will work themselves out

[ucahogfan]

i think we see some shocking names transfer out of the program before august

What do you mean by shocking names?

Here are the players that I would be absolutely shocked if they transferred:

Serrano
McAfee
Stone
Spoon
Killian
Poche
Eagan
Benintendi
Baxendale
Taccolini
Teague
Jackson

[ricepig]

What do you mean by shocking names?

Here are the players that I would be absolutely shocked if they transferred:

Serrano
McAfee
Stone
Spoon
Killian
Poche
Eagan
Benintendi
Baxendale
Taccolini
Teague
Jackson

I'd concur with that, might have to think on one or two of them.

[ucahogfan]

I'd concur with that, might have to think on one or two of them.

Yeah, there are a couple on that list I wouldn't be as shocked, but those are the returning players I expect DVH to build the 2015 team around.

[booogaga]

If the dude signed for slot money then there should be a little more to offer bonfield correct?

[ucahogfan]

If the dude signed for slot money then there should be a little more to offer bonfield correct?

Conforto has agreed to terms for slot money.  I don't know if it is a done deal yet, but he will get slot money.

That leaves the Mets about 560K below the pool amount if they want to pay the draft tax up to the 5% limit.  While they could pay Bonfield 660K without losing a 1st round pick, it won't be enough from what I have heard.  If Conforto would have signed for a couple hundred K below slot, I would have been worried, but right now, I would be shocked if Bonfield signs.

Sure Bonfield grew up a Mets fan and it is probably a dream to play for them, but he has been open about his excitement for attending Arkansas and playing at Baum if the money in the draft wasn't right.  I think we can stop worrying about him signing because he seems like the person who will hold pretty firm to a number and won't take a huge cut in signing.

[OnTheHillHogFan]

just announced he is not signing and coming to Arkansas! :razorback:

[Ben Steiger]

WPS!!!!!!!!!!!

[ucahogfan]

Jeff Sullivan @JSully12     ·   12m   

Luke Bonfield going to school. That type of bat doesn't make it to school often. Was a top 5 pure hitter on the showcase circuit last year!

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   19m   

I have made my decision and I have decided to by pass Pro ball for now and honor my commitment to Arkansas #WPS #OmaHogs 🐗⚾️

[ricepig]

Good news!

[Fort Dweller]

Fan-friggen-tastic!

[Super Hog]

GREAT news!!! WPS!!!

[00AR]

Great signing class we're actually getting to campus this year. Woo Pig!!

[hillbilly]

Bonfield coming to Arkansas. Glad to be wrong on this one!

[Ray Piggers]

HOH YEAH!

[Ray Piggers]

Love the tweet from Kyle Pate "Y'all are welcome"

[Maddhog]

Those two (Luke and Kyle) are having a good time on Twitter with all the fans giving them love.   Excited about this class but now DVH will have some decisions to make.

[Scott7703]

WPS! Thankfully the mets ran out of money!

[Scott7703]

Love the tweet from Kyle Pate "Y'all are welcome"

Big news! Kyle played a huge role here! That is for sure.

[dotnet]

This is awesome. McKinney, bonfield, wiggins, Rodriguez, etc... It'll be fun to have some hitting...

[onebadrubi]

thinking the same thing. until he comes to campus i am assuming spoon will be in right field.

Haha boy did we get shown up!

[josh_sec33]

So we lost only one of our recruiting class?

it's a miracle. This might get fun!

[onebadrubi]

Big news! Kyle played a huge role here! That is for sure.

Why am I thinking Pate said some things about the program in recent years that weren't so positive.  Am I making this up?

[Scott7703]

Why am I thinking Pate said some things about the program in recent years that weren't so positive.  Am I making this up?

I've never heard anything but positives from Kyle about the university and our baseball program.

[Kevin]

Awesome news, finally a draft class that stays intact

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

AWESOME NEWS!  WPS!

[rhog1]

Wps!! Great news.

[booogaga]

It will be interesting to see what Spoon does from here.

[onebadrubi]

It will be interesting to see what Spoon does from here.

Now we can have that discussion!  Lol. Bonfield still has to prove he can hit the college ball.  Spoon will probably start but have Bonfield hot on his heels.  I personally think its serrano's position in the outfield that is the big worry.  If I remember from a healthy spoon, he has a + arm

[Ray Piggers]

Why am I thinking Pate said some things about the program in recent years that weren't so positive.  Am I making this up?

Pate is on his way here, and is a HUGE  reason Bonfield is coming. I just don't see him saying negative stuff about the program.

[onebadrubi]

I've never heard anything but positives from Kyle about the university and our baseball program.

Then I'm thinking of a different person, past player, that said some things after leaving the program. 

[ucahogfan]

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   4h   

S/O to @Kyle_Pate for everything he has helped me with and has showed me what Arkansas is all about.. He was the first one to recruit me

Pate and Bonfield playing summer ball together last summer and the bond they formed is probably the main reason why Bonfield will be in Fayetteville in the fall.  I'm glad to see something like this play out.

Jeff Sullivan @JSully12     ·   4h   

Luke Bonfield and Blake Wiggins? Wow. Some impact hitters coming into Arkansas.

Sullivan had both Bonfield and Wiggins in his top 100 HS players and maybe top 100 draft prospects.  Both are absolute studs at the plate and should make an immediate impact in 2015.

Kendall Rogers @KendallRogersPG     ·   3h   

Big news for #Arkansas: OF Luke Bonfield (Ranked No. 60 nationally), announces he'll join the #Hogs, turning down @Mets. @PerfectGameUSA

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   2h   

"One year from today we will be playing in this"- @Kyle_Pate

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   1h   

Arkansas fans are by far the best fans in college baseball... I can't wait to help the team and get em back to the CWS

[hoglady]

We need those bats.
Baseball season can't get here fast enough.
Very exciting to see this draft class not get decimated by MLB.

[ucahogfan]

Now we can have that discussion!  Lol. Bonfield still has to prove he can hit the college ball.  Spoon will probably start but have Bonfield hot on his heels.  I personally think its serrano's position in the outfield that is the big worry.  If I remember from a healthy spoon, he has a + arm

Bonfield has shown to be at least an average defender with an average arm.  He is one of the top hitters in high school and might be the best pure hitter passing up the draft in his class this year.  It's not like he lit up lower level pitching and struggled against top pitching.  He went 6-6 at PG National last year which is an invite only type deal to the top 300 or so players in the country.  He makes consistent loud contact and barrels up the ball.

Spoon has shown to be a very good defender, but struggled at the plate both years against SEC pitching whether he was healthy or injured.  I hope he comes back and has a huge year, but I think Bonfield is the better hitter right now.

Serrano might not have a position on D, but his bat can't be questioned.

[ucahogfan]

My sources tell me that DVH was seen in Cary, NC taking shots with Rob Childress when Bonfield tweeted out that he would be attending Arkansas and pass up the draft.  DVH was rejoicing the fact that he was getting maybe the best hitter he has signed while Childress was drinking away his sorrows about having to face a hitter the caliber of Bonfield.

[OnTheHillHogFan]

Then I'm thinking of a different person, past player, that said some things after leaving the program.

Kyle Robinson said some things on twitter last year about DVH.

[onebadrubi]

Kyle Robinson said some things on twitter last year about DVH.

That's it!  Thank you

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   4h   

S/O to @Kyle_Pate for everything he has helped me with and has showed me what Arkansas is all about.. He was the first one to recruit me

Pate and Bonfield playing summer ball together last summer and the bond they formed is probably the main reason why Bonfield will be in Fayetteville in the fall.  I'm glad to see something like this play out.

Jeff Sullivan @JSully12     ·   4h   

Luke Bonfield and Blake Wiggins? Wow. Some impact hitters coming into Arkansas.

Sullivan had both Bonfield and Wiggins in his top 100 HS players and maybe top 100 draft prospects.  Both are absolute studs at the plate and should make an immediate impact in 2015.

Kendall Rogers @KendallRogersPG     ·   3h   

Big news for #Arkansas: OF Luke Bonfield (Ranked No. 60 nationally), announces he'll join the #Hogs, turning down @Mets. @PerfectGameUSA

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   2h   

"One year from today we will be playing in this"- @Kyle_Pate

Luke Bonfield @LukeBonfield     ·   1h   

Arkansas fans are by far the best fans in college baseball... I can't wait to help the team and get em back to the CWS

Man, oh man , oh man , oh man , oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man.......................gonna have to find my twitter password. 

[onebadrubi]

Man, oh man , oh man , oh man , oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man.......................gonna have to find my twitter password.

Anything other than 1234 I'd be screwed. 

[Kevin]

I still say there will be a shocking name or two that is not on the roster come august

[Scott7703]

I still say there will be a shocking name or two that is not on the roster come august

The ones mentioned in this thread will both be on the team an contributing.

[TNhawgfan]

Man this is some good news. I can't wait to see what the lineup looks like next year come conference play