Arkansas Insider: 2020s
December 10, 2016
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
The 2020 class has come out of the gate with some impressive prospects, and a group that has been lauded as one of the best classes talent wise in recent history in the state of Arkansas. Early signs are that this will be a deep class. Time will tell as some players plateau and other accelerate their game rapidly. Here is a look at five players that have impressed our staff early on.
G Allen, INF, Little Rock Christian Academy
Allen is a 6-foot-1 190-pound infielder with a large frame and physical build. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, he uses a leg lift as his load stride timing mechanism. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed with a slight uphill swing. He shows a feel for the barrel. Defensively he plays through the baseball with some stiffness to his actions. He uses a short arm action from a low ¾ arm slot to throw the baseball accurately across the infield. Overall Allen is a physical player with advanced offensive tools, he is a name to follow in the 2020 class.
Luke Davenport, RHP, Fayetteville HS
Davenport is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-hander with a large frame and a physical build. He pitches from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick arm. He repeats his simple tall and fall delivery, he finishes tall and to the first base side. His fastball works 82-84 mph up to 85 mph with slight sink. He shows a feel for his curveball thrown 70-73 mph with 11/5 shape and gradual break. He also showed a feel for a change up thrown with near fastball arm speed at 72-74 mph. Overall Davenport is a physical athlete with a quick arm and a feel for three pitches.
Clayton Gray, OF, Cabot HS
Gray is a 5-foot-10 150-pound outfielder with an athletic frame and build. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, he uses a slight load stride combination. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed and a line drive swing. he shows an advanced feel for the barrel and maintains balance through extension. He is a solid athlete showing above average ability to run. Defensively he plays through the baseball defensively, using an elongated arm circle from a H 3/4 arm slot .He throws the baseball accurately with carry. Overall Gray is an advanced player which will be followed closely as he physically matures.
Will Gross, RHP, Mountain Home HS
Gross is a 5-foot-10 160-pound RHP with a large frame and an athletic build. He uses a simple delivery which he repeats consistently to locate his fastball consistently. His fastball works 79-82 mph with slight sink. He compliments his fastball with a curveball thrown 69-72 mph with gradual break. He has shown the ability to throw it for strikes consistently. He pithces from a H 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm action. He would benifit from cleaining up some timing and finding a distinct balance point. Overall Gross has a large frame, a quick arm, and a feel to pitch.
Cayden Wallace, 3B/RHP, Greenbrier HS, AR
At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Wallace has a large frame and athletic build. He displays advanced arm strength both on the mound and defense. He plays through the baseball with fluid actions and makes accurate throws. Offensively, he starts with an athletic stance with a simple load and stride. He has a quick bat, shows advanced pull power and a feel for the barrel. He pitches with a simple delivery and a distinct balance point, throwing from a high-3/4 slot with a quick, clean arm. He shows the ability to command the strike zone with his fastball, which sits 82-85 and touches 86. He uses his breaking ball on a limited basis, but shows advanced feel for the pitch.
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