Parker Rowland: U of A Baseball Alum’s Journey from JUCO to the SEC

Sports Reporter Collective

Reagan Skarda | Aspiring Journalist

April 3, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For University of Arkansas baseball alum Parker Rowland, the journey from junior college ball to the SEC was nothing short of a dream come true. One moment, he was playing in front of 100 fans; the next, he was making his first start as a Razorback at Globe Life Field against Oklahoma State, with 20,000 people watching.

“That moment was surreal,” Rowland said. “It was everything I’d dreamed of and a perfect welcome to what SEC baseball is all about.”

“It was everything I’d dreamed of and a perfect welcome to what SEC baseball is all about.”

The transition wasn’t just about bigger crowds—it was about embracing the intense competition and expectations that come with playing for one of the premier programs in the country. Rowland had always wanted to compete at the highest level, and Arkansas gave him that opportunity.

Playing for legendary head coach Dave Van Horn made the experience even more special.

“Coach Van Horn is one of the best ever,” Rowland said. “Playing for him was a privilege. He taught me how to stay calm in pressure situations. No matter what was happening, you always felt like we were gonna be fine.”

That poise became a defining trait of Rowland’s game. Whether behind the plate as a catcher or in the dugout supporting his teammates, he understood that baseball is a game of ups and downs. Learning how to handle adversity was key to his success.

His biggest advice for young players? Love the process.

“This game is built on failure,” he said. “If you focus too much on results, you won’t last. My dad always told me, ‘The man who loves the journey will always walk further than the man who loves the destination.’ That’s something I still live by.”

‘The man who loves the journey will always walk further than the man who loves the destination.’

Rowland’s story is proof that perseverance and passion can take a player from small crowds to the big stage—and beyond. His time at Arkansas reinforced the values of hard work, resilience, and trusting the process, lessons he now carries with him into the next chapter of his baseball career. Whether on the field or off, Rowland remains a Razorback at heart, forever grateful for the journey that led him to Fayetteville.

-30-

REPORTER’S BIO | Raegan Skarda is a junior majoring in journalism in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Raegan Skarda