Names to Know: 2018 Uncommitted Players
December 14, 2016
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
Our staff has dug through our notes, and found a group of players that have impressed us on a consistent basis, that may be flying under the radar. Here is five reports on 2018 grads from across the state.
Matt Aiken, MIF, Woodlawn High School
Aiken is a 5-foot-11 170-pound middle infielder with an athletic frame and build. Defensively Aiken plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, a quick exchange an accurate arm from a 3/4 arm slot. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, he uses a leg kick and a backward hand load, during his load stride combination. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed with a line drive swing, he stays through the contact zone into extension on a consistent basis. Overall Aiken is a well rounded player that competes at a high level.
Alex Day, C, Ashdown High School
Day is a 5-foot-11 185-pound catcher with an solid frame and build. Offensively he starts with an athletic stance, he attacks baseball with fast bat swing and an uphill swing with length at times. He shows the ability to hit balls to the pull side with power. He starts from a balanced stance, he maintains proper glove actions while receiving. He uses a quick exchange and a strong accurate arm to throw pop times between 1.97-2.07. Overall Day is a solid defender that has shown the ability to hit for power.
Preston Fleeman, RHP, Benton High School
Fleeman is a 6-foot-1 170-pound with a large frame with and a thin build. His fastball showed late life through the strike zone working 82-84 mph touching 85 mph. He also threw a curveball that worked 68-70 mph with fastball arm speed and inconsistent break. Mechanically he repeated his simple delivery with consistency. He showed late hand separation with limited extension. A quick loose arm that shows projection and is trending in the right direction 6 mph velocity jump in the last year. Overall Fleeman is a projectable arm to watch moving forward.
Parker Gavazzi, OF, Conway High School
Gavazzi is a 5-foot-9 150-pound outfielder with a medium frame and a thin build. He is an above average runner that runs a 6.71 in the 60. Defensively he shows good instincts with the ability run balls down in either gap from centerfield. He plays through the baseball and throws the ball 79 mph from the outfield. Offensively he starts from a tall stance with a minimum load. He drops his hands and pushes the bat through the zone on a line drive swing plane with average bat speed. He produced exit velocities up to 75 mph. Overall Gavazzi is a solid defender with good athleticism.
Aaron Mann, CIF, Little Rock Central High School
Mann is a 6-foot-3 180-pound infielder with a large frame and an average build. Offensively he starts from a tall stance, using a minimum load and a slight leg lift as his stride. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed and a line drive swing. He uses part of his lower half. He has shown the ability to square balls up on a consistent basis. Defensively he plays through the baseball with some stiffness. He uses a normal exchange and loose arm from a H 3/4 arm slot, that he throws accurately across the infield. Overall Mann is an advanced hitter with a large frame.