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Field Notes

April 1, 2016

Bob Smith
Arkansas Media Director

We travel the state looking for the best players and today we take a look at the guys we encountered and were thoroughly impressed by

2019 LHP Zach Morris, Cabot HS

Morris is a 6-foot 190-pound lefthander with a large frame and an average body. He located his fastball 78-80 mph with boring action for strikes in the lower half of the strike zone. He complimented the fastball with 1/7 curveball with late break thrown 67-69 mph for strikes. He pitches from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick arm. He uses easy effort from a tall and fall balance point. Overall Morris is a projectable player that should be interesting to watch throughout the career.

2018 LHP Evan Hiatt, Catholic HS

Hiatt is a 6-foot-1 180-pound left-hander with a large frame and an average build. He works from an H ¾ arm slot with a loose quick arm action. His mechanics are repeated consistently with little effort. He command his fastball at 84-85 mph with late sink. He threw a power curveball with fastball arm speed at 73-77 mph with 1/7 shape. He did not throw his change up in game, but did not need to due to the effectiveness of his fastball curveball combo  Overall Hiatt is an advanced left-hander with tremendous upside, as he shows the arm speed to throw a power breaking ball with a clean arm action.

2018 RHP Connor Noland, Greenwood HS

Noland is a 6-foot-1 180-pound right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He pitched from a H ¾ arm slot with advanced arm speed. He repeats his delivery with a good balance point and some rhythm. His fastball command was solid, locating it at 87-89 mph in the bottom half of the strike zone. He flashed 90 twice in his three innings pitched. He also used a 10/4 slider with late action thrown 78-80 mph, and a two seem fastball thrown 83-85 mph with arm side run. Overall Noland is a projectable right-hander with elite arm speed and sound repeatable delivery.

2018 RHP Bennett Shoptaw, Little Rock Christian Academy

Shoptaw is a 6-foot 170-pound right-hander with an athletic frame and build. He uses a quick arm from a H ¾ arm slot to throw his fastball 83-84 mph. He threw his 11/5 curveball 70-72 mph with 12/6 break with depth. He located both pitches which led to his success striking out 8 over 4 innings. He uses a simple delivery that he does a sound job repeating. Overall Shoptaw is a solid athlete with a clean arm that should continue to get better over time.

2018 LHP Kaleb Hill, Watson Chapel HS

Hill is a 6-foot-4 170-pound left-hander with a large frame and a lanky build. He uses a quick loose arm from an H ¾ arm slot. He uses a simple tall/fall delivery that is repeated. He has inconsistent rhythm, breaking his hands inconsistently. When he is on time he projects to throw much harder. His fastball worked 83-85 mph with slight downward action. His secondary pitch is a 67-68 mph sweeping breaking ball thrown with slowed arm speed. Overall Hill’s loose arm and projectable frame, makes him an intriguing prospect for the next for years.