Smyly, Stanek Advance to World Series

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – An Arkansas Razorback will win a World Series ring in 2021.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Drew Smyly and Houston Astros pitcher Ryne Stanek, both former student-athletes under head coach Dave Van Horn, will square off in this year’s World Series. The best-of-seven Fall Classic is scheduled to begin Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Fact: An Arkansas Razorback will win a #WorldSeries ring in 2021. pic.twitter.com/4MVEZHw9YZ

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) October 26, 2021

Smyly, who pitched for the Hogs in 2009 and 2010, had an 11-4 record with a 4.48 ERA in 126 2/3 innings pitched (23 starts) for the National League East champion Braves during the 2021 regular season. The left-hander has made one appearance this postseason, coming out of Atlanta’s bullpen for 3 1/3 innings in game four of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and striking out two while allowing two runs on two hits and a walk.

Stanek, a Razorback from 2011-13, logged a 3-5 record with a 3.42 ERA in 68 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for the AL West champion Astros this regular season. The right-hander has been one of Houston’s go-to relievers this postseason, logging 6 2/3 innings out of the bullpen (eight games) and striking out six while allowing only one run on three hits and a walk.

Four former Hogs have won a World Series, including Dick Hughes with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967, Eric Hinske with the Boston Red Sox in 2007, Dallas Keuchel with the Astros in 2017 and Andrew Benintendi with the Red Sox in 2018.

Smyly and Stanek are the first pair of former Razorbacks to clash in the World Series since Keuchel (Astros) and Logan Forsythe (Dodgers) went head-to-head in the 2017 Fall Classic.

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