BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas junior outfielder Luke Bonfield is donning a bright yellow, almost sleeveless T-shirt with the word “Hulkmania!” written across the front at practice this week.
It’s a badge of honor.
The shirt, which belonged to Arkansas assistant coach Tony Vitello, is bestowed each week by Vitello on the player who has the most quality at-bats, what he calls “quabs,” the previous week.
“The story behind a quality at-bat is like a hard-hit ball, get on base, a hit, obviously, a walk, an eight-pitch at-bat, those types of things,” Bonfield said.
The players asked Vitello, the team’s hitting coach, if they could cut the sleeves up to the shoulder and were given the go-ahead.