2016 Recruiting and Beyond

[Razrpig256]

Looks like we've picked up another commitment for 2017. From Jheremy Brown on Twitter:

"Looks like #Arkansas picked up a big commit for 2017, grab ultra-athletic Alerick Soulaire. 6.71 @ National, #104 per @PerfectGameUSA #WPS"

[bulldog04]

Looks like he already committed to LSU

Yep he did.  Will be hard to get him to campus though

[bulldog04]

Jax Biggers a JUCO MIF that played a Cisco College committed for next year. He will be a sophomore.m

[Kevin]

Jax Biggers a JUCO MIF that played a Cisco College committed for next year. He will be a sophomore.m

On the 2017 roster?

[bulldog04]

On the 2017 roster?

2016.  He said he was coming in next year and Taco tweeted him saying "see ya in August".  I guess he got Stobbe's spot

[Waldron_Hog]

Wonder if he has the ability to hit 10-12 homeruns?

[bulldog04]

Wonder if he has the ability to hit 10-12 homeruns?

If he's related to Ray he does

[jry04]

He hit .385 with 50 RBI and 7 HR in 239 at bats as a freshman. Had a .446 OBP and .556 SLG. Looks like he started SS for a 48-16 team.

[jry04]

Just read Tyler Benninghoff had TJ surgery this week. Probably best for everyone that he signed.

[Scott7703]

He hit .385 with 50 RBI and 7 HR in 239 at bats as a freshman. Had a .446 OBP and .556 SLG. Looks like he started SS for a 48-16 team.

Good looking numbers. Could be our starting shortstop.

[dotnet]

Just read Tyler Benninghoff had TJ surgery this week. Probably best for everyone that he signed.

that sucks

[ucahogfan]

Good looking numbers. Could be our starting shortstop.

Both he and Hunter Wilson are playing summer ball this year.  Will be interesting to see how they perform.  Could be a 3 way battle with those two and Jaxon Williams.  That also doesn't mention the other HS MIF signees that we have and will make it to campus.

[ucahogfan]

A 2017 kid in TN was interested in the Hogs. He received several offers and committed to MS St this past summer. Fastball clocks around 92-93. May still have some interest in the Hogs.

Is it Aaron Brown from Mount Juliet?  If so, we just landed his HS teammate LHP Dylan Bonds today so it might help bring him on board as well.

[Tortfeasor]

Is it Aaron Brown from Mount Juliet?  If so, we just landed his HS teammate LHP Dylan Bonds today so it might help bring him on board as well.

Bonds is a hard throwing lefty. I'm sure Coach Johnson saw him while scouting AA Brown. I text AA's dad and he said he was sticking with MSU. Maybe a chance we can get him though. You never know with these kids. That makes 4 kids from that HS team with D1 commitments: Hogs, Vandy, Tenn and MSU.

[ricepig]

https://twitter.com/TreyBiddy/status/748222002540863488

[The_Iceman]

https://twitter.com/TreyBiddy/status/748222002540863488

That's good news. Is he a draft risk? Don't know much about him other than he is a 6'3" LHP.

[Jaxhog]

Looks like incoming freshman LHP Matt Cronin had a real nice outing at a Perfect Game in Florida this week.  12K in 6 innings of work.  Fastball was up to 91 although sitting 87-89.  Was the tournament MV Pitcher.

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=12697

[jry04]

Just saw that Biggers had offers from Baylor, Auburn, Houston, and Arizona.

[hawgcraZ]

https://twitter.com/eastcoastbball/status/749249355903795200

[PorkRyan]

2018 OF/RHP Elijah Trest from White Oak, TX just committed to Arkansas.  6'2" 180, bats left, throws right.  Was clocked at PG at 82 as a 15u.  Can't find anything more recent. 

[bulldog04]

https://twitter.com/canaansmith_/status/750327665459167233
https://twitter.com/coleturney14/status/750327761500270596

I will have to see it to believe it.  Turney felt left out and then says he's coming to Arkansas.  He could be a top 10 pick

[PorkRyan]

Another commit.  2018 Carter Sells of Brentwood, TN.  Also, this is the 2nd commit that is from Brent Pourciau's Top Velocity program.

[PorkRyan]

Casey Opitz a 2017 C from CO just committed.  PG has his best pop time at 1.83 and BF has him at 1.78.  Rated a 9.5 on PG. 

[dotnet]

Casey Opitz a 2017 C from CO just committed.  PG has his best pop time at 1.83 and BF has him at 1.78.  Rated a 9.5 on PG. 

It's so hard to get top catchers to campus... But here's to hoping

[hawgcraZ]

I'm really enjoying the new content WholeHogsports has been providing and the increased coverage into baseball recruiting.  They were good before but it seems they've taken it to a new level with their recent merger.  Pumped about the baseball coverage since we typically have to dig ourselves amongst us on the board.

https://twitter.com/wholehogsports/status/751137208547979264

[dotnet]

I'm really enjoying the new content WholeHogsports has been providing... Pumped about the baseball coverage since we typically have to dig ourselves amongst us on the board.

Yeah, they're only two days behind porkryan now.  About a 2-3 month improvement.

[hawgcraZ]

Don't expect them to be breaking Intel but we have never really had insight into interviews with signees after commitments unless it was by their own hometown newspaper.  Just want them to know I for one am appreciative.

[PorkRyan]

Just to update some of the 2018-2019 kids.  Arkansas has offered 2018 LHP Kaleb Hill from Watson Chapel.  Connor Noland has been clocked at 87-89 most of the Summer, DVH and Tenn both had him at 91, but PBR and PG have him at 89.  2018 Kam'Ron Hunt hit 91 this Summer.  Arkansas has offered Blake Adams in the 2019 class.  He also hit 91 this Summer.  2018 Ark commit Evan Hiatt has touched 89.   He is the most polished pitcher of all of the 2018 kids, imo.  2018 Jaden Hill has hit 93 and worked 89-91 on a couple of different occasions.  The 2018 class will probably end up with around 10 high caliber SEC level players.  It's probably time to start talking about 2020 Cayden Wallace who is one of the most advanced hitters in the country.  He hit 3 HR's in a 16u tourney this weekend in 4 games.  I posted last year that I would like for us to start looking at the younger kids a little sooner, because that is what a lot of other schools are doing.  That seems to be our strategy now as we have 3 commits from the 2019 class and have offered multiple other players.  7 of the top 10 from the 2019 PG rankings are already committed.  My 2020 played against at least 5 kids this Summer that are already committed.     

[PorkRyan]

Nate Wohlgemuth.  He was sitting 86-89 at WWBA.  He has an electric arm and a huge frame.  When we were 10s we were waiting to play and he threw a ball from the RF corner on a 210 field all the way home on a line.  One of the craziest things I've ever seen on a youth field.  His velocity has jumped every year.

Also, we got to face this kid this year.  He hit 91 against us and has hit 92 in other events  He struck out 14 in our game.  He will be the #1 on the 15u Team USA national team.  He is close enough to Fayetteville to keep an eye on but if he continues to progress I doubt he ever sees a college campus.         

[Chief_Osceola]

It's probably time to start talking about 2020 Cayden Wallace who is one of the most advanced hitters in the country.  He hit 3 HR's in a 16u tourney this weekend in 4 games.     

I got to watch him this weekend, as he played with my son's team.  The 3rd home run he hit was an absolute bomb.  It would've been gone in any ballpark.  It was hit to dead center, and landed in a tree about 30 feet above the center field wall.  I think he's still only 14 and is an absolute beast at the plate.  If he continues to progress he may never step foot on a college campus.

[PorkRyan]

Blake Adams has committed to Arkansas.  We are loading up in the 2019 class.

[FraggleHog]

Bryson Kemp RF/CF ('19 recruiting class) committed to the Hogs today:

https://twitter.com/Bry6Bryson

http://www.power-showcase.com/10th2015-event/10th-rosters/10th-future-stars-advanced-age-14/texas-bryson-kemp

[dotnet]

BA released a chart of where the unsigned top 500 are going.  Arkansas is tied for fifth, with a few teams, with four players.

A top 5-10 class is nothing to sneeze at.  Arkansas has had them before and usually makes the CWS with them.  If Tony, as he did with TCU, can string a few together....

[dotnet]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/top-2016-unsigned-hs-players-headed-college/#lZw39oG6AdCew0C5.97

[PorkRinds]

Connor Noland from Greenwood committed as a two sport athlete today. Pitcher and QB.

[thebignasty]

Connor Noland from Greenwood committed as a two sport athlete today. Pitcher and QB.

I think he's a 2018 kid.

[ricepig]

I think he's a 2018 kid.

He is, so 2016 and beyond, lol.

[hogwild04]

 Area Code games in Long Beach had 4 Arkansas commits playing in the prestigious event,
Cole Turney  Outfield and Bryce Bonnin Utility/RHP both from Houston Area representing the Texas Rangers where both were named players of the Game vs Reds, Turney went 2/3 with a triple and Bonnin went 2 innings, no hits and 4ks topped 94 mph,  Bonnin and Turney also played in the Texas Scout Association game in July, where both stood out, Turney went 1 for 3 with a huge HR, Bonnin went 1 for 3 with a RBI single and pitched to 5 batters striking out 3, again hitting as high as 94 mph.
Jackson Rutledge and Zebulon Vermillion- represented the Chicago White Sox
2017 recruits look very strong, if all make it to campus.