2019 Rankings: No.1-No.5

September 6, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The 2019 rankings were reconfigured and released on Tuesday. Here is a look at the players who were ranked in the top of 5.

No.1 Blake Adams, RHP/OF Har-Ber High School
Adams is a 6-foot-1 185-pound RHP/OF with a large frame and physical build. He impresses on the mound with a fastball that works up to 91 mph. He pitches 86-89 consistently at the bottom half of the strike zone. He compliments his fastball with a curveball thrown 72-74 mph with 11/5 shape and gradual break. He pitches from H ¾ arm slot with a fast arm. He repeats his delivery with consistent rhythm and balance. Overall Adams possesses a big time arm and has a feel for the strike zone with his fastball, as he learns to throw the secondary pitches with better arm speed, the better both pitches will be.

No. 2 Cason Tollett, C Little Rock Christian High School
Tollett is a 6-foot-1 185-pound catcher with a large frame and an athletic build. Defensively he works from a wide stance, he has fluid foot work. He has a quick exchange and clean arm action. He throws pop times 1.98-2.07 with accuracy. He has advanced receiving skills maintain proper glove angels and receives with soft hands. He shows solid technique and effort while blocking. Offensively, he starts from a tall stance with a slight load. He attacks the baseball with a line drive swing. He maintains balance through extension. Overall Tollett is advanced catcher with a projectable bat.

No. 3 Peyton Holt MIF Greenwood High School
Holt is a 5-foot-9 160-pound middle infielder with an athletic build and frame. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance. He uses a slight hand load and a leg kick, he attacks the baseball with a line drive swing. He maintains balance through extension and has shown the ability to hit the ball to all fields. He produces exit velocities up to 88 mph. Defensively he plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, he as a fluid exchange and throws the ball accurately from multiple arm slots. He runs a 3.98 home to first time. Overall Holt is an advanced athlete with a solid skill set, he is intriguing to watch over the next two years.

No. 4 Brandon Ulmer OF Booneville High School
Ulmer is a 5-foot-9 160-pound outfielder with a slight frame and an athletic build. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, he uses a minimum load and stride. He uses a line drive swing, and works primarily to the pull side. He manipulates the barrel well enough to keep it in the hit zone for an extended period of time. He stays balanced through extension and gets down the line well running a 3.89 home to first. Defensively, he works through the baseball with fluid footwork. He throws the ball accurately using H ¾ arm slot and a loose arm. He throws the ball 79 mph from the outfield. Overall Ulmer is a premium athlete with a feel for the game, time will tell as he physically matures on his ceiling.

No. 5 Zach Morris LHP Cabot High School
Morris is a 6-foot-1 200-pound left-hander with a large frame and a solid build. He pitches from an H 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm. He uses a simple repeated delivery that with some effort. He locates his fastball in the bottom half of the strike zone with a fastball 82-84 mph. His curveball is thrown 71-73 mph with 1/7 shape with depth. He threw his changeup on limited bases 72-73 mph. Overall Morris a large framed left-hander with a quick arm, which leads to me projecting a high ceiling.