Arkansas Insider: Northwest Arkansas

March 9, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Some programs have been blessed enough to continue to play, but for the most parts of Arkansas there has been very little baseball the past couple of days and that will continue to be the case over the few days. So while games are on hiatus, we wanted to look at a few players from each region to keep an eye on, when the rain delay ends. Here is a group from Northwest Arkansas

2016 Cooper King, MIF, Harrison HS
A 5-foot-8, 185-pound middle infielder, King has a medium frame and physical build. His swing is compact with a line-drive path and good bat speed. Defensively, he has soft hands and smooth actions as he plays through the baseball. His exchange is quick and he makes accurate throws with carry. He has first-step quickness and good lateral movement. He’s a hard-nosed player and is consistent with his game.

2017 Jacob Williams, RHP, Bentonville HS
Williams is a 6-foot, 170-pound right-hander with a medium frame and an athletic build. He works from a H3/4 arm slot with a short quick arm. He struck out 3 in 2 innings of work by locating his fastball 83-86 mph and an 11/5 curveball with sharp late break 72-74 mph. He did a good job repeating his mechanics, I would like to see him lengthen the arm action, but it is a quick arm that throws strikes. At this point in time, Williams is very intriguing due to his arm speed and his advance feel for his breaking ball.

2018 RHP Mason Shaw Fayetteville HS
Shaw is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-hander with an athletic frame and build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a short quick arm action. He uses a drop and drive balance point and drives to the plate with an athletic finish. His fastball worked 80-83 mph with late arm side run. He mixed in two secondary pitches a curveball and changeup. The curveball had 11/5 shape with gradual break thrown at 67-69 mph. He threw his changeup with fastball arm speed and late arm side run thrown at 71-73 mph. Overall Shaw projects to throw harder due to his pure arm speed. He has an advanced feel for his secondary pitches for his age.

2019 OF/RHP Blake Adams Har-Ber HS
Adams is a 6-foot-1 180-pound two way player, with a large frame and an athletic build. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance he uses a slight load and attacks the baseball with fast bat speed. He maintains rhythm and balance through extension. He would benefit from staying in his lower half longer and driving through the baseball with his hips. He produced exit velocities up to 85 mph. Defensively he plays through the baseball with a clean exchange and an accurate arm throwing the ball 80 mph from the outfield. On the mound Adams is impressive showing advanced power stuff. He works from H ¾ arm slot with a quick loose arm. He commanded the strike zone with a fastball of 83-86 mph touching 87 mph. He compliments the fastball with a curveball thrown 74-77 mph and a change up 68-70 mph. Both pitches he throws with near fastball arm speed. Overall Adams is a physical player with an abundance of tools.

Arkansas Insider: Northwest Arkansas

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