Rankings Review: 2017 Rankings

January 13, 2017

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The next two weeks we will be evaluating the best from all corners of Arkansas. After we have up to date data we will work through our rankings in each class and even release the first ranking of the 2020 class. Before we rework the rankings let us review the top players from each class. Today is a look at the 2017s.

Casey Martin, MIF, Lonoke High School
Martin is a 5-foot-11 175-pound MIF/OF with an athletic frame and build. He is a premium athlete running a 6.65 in the 60. Defensively he is a versatile player with arm strength. He throws the ball 84 mph across the infield and 88 mph from the outfield. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance with a smooth load. He has fast bat speed with a slight uphill swing path. He has shown the ability to hit the ball to all fields and has flashed some pull power. Overall Martin has shown a 5 tool player that needs to continue to refine his game.

Hunter Milligan, LHP, Greenbrier High School
Milligan is a 6-foot-4 200-pound left-hander with a large frame and a sturdy build. He competes in the strike zone with a fastball that works 85-87 mph with slight arm side run. He has a feel for his mid-70’s curveball with a slowed arm action. He throws his changeup 79 mph. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with some stiffness and a deliberate delivery. Overall a physical player that can pitch with some project ability.

Evan Hooper, OF, Cabot High School
Hooper is a 5-foot-11 175-pound OF/RHP with a wide shoulders and an athletic build. Defensively he is sound with the ability to defend gap-to-gap due to his overall sped. He runs a 6.34 in the 60. He has a short arm action that is accurate with carry at 85 mph. Offensively he has a line drive swing with fast bat speed. He produces exit velocity up to 95 mph. He repeats his mechanics and stays balanced through extension. Overall Hooper is a rare athlete with a ton of tools, over time he should develop more offensively finding barrel on a more consistent basis.

Austin Kelly, RHP, Bryant High School
Kelly is a 6-foot 200-pound RHP with a large frame and physical build. He pitches from an H 3.4 arm slot with a fast arm. He repeats his delivery with an up-tempo rhythm. He commands the strike zone with a fastball that works 87-90 mph with late boring action. He compliments his fastball with slider with 10/4 action and late break thrown 74-77 mph. Overall Kelly is a physical player with a fast arm speed and a sharp slider.

Paxton Wallace, 3B/OF, Greenbrier High School
Wallace is a 6-foot 200-pound with a large frame and a physical build. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance, he transitions with a smooth load. Once he gets loaded he attacks the baseball with fast bat speed, with a slight uphill bat path. He does a good job maintain balance through extension. Wallace has advanced bat speed and strength generating exit velocity up to 100 mph. Defensively he does a sound job at first base with some stiffness to his actions. He runs a 7.13 in the 60. He impresses on the mound showing advanced arm strength working 86-89 mph with the ability to reach up to 91 mph. He also locates a curveball thrown 76-78 mph with late action and change up thrown with fastball arm speed. He repeats his simple delivery consistently. Overall Wallace is a legitimate prospect as a position player or as a pitcher.

6	Logan Easley	AR	Heritage	2017	3B	Wichita State
7	Jaylen Deshazier	AR	Pine Bluff	2017	RHP	Arkansas State
8	Mathew Goodheart	AR	Magnolia	2017	2B	San Jacinto JC
9	Ross Carver	AR	Benton High School	2017	RHP	Crowder JC
10	Andrew Roach	AR	Springdale	2017	RHP	Cowley County CC

Rankings Review: 2017 Rankings

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