Rankings Review: 2018 Rankings

January 14, 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 2018.

Connor Noland, RHP, Greenwood High School
Noland is a 6-foot-2 185 right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He uses a simple delivery with consistent rhythm. He commands his fastball 86-88 mph flashing 90 mph. He compliments his fastball with a sharp 11/5 curveball with late break and solid depth. He has a feel for his change up but throws it on a limited basis. He pitches from H 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm, with a high elbow . Overall Noland is an advanced pitcher with a quick arm.

Evan Hiatt, LHP, Catholic High School
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.

Jaden Hill, 3B/RHP, Ashdown High School
Pitcher: Hill is a 6-foot-4 195-pound right-hander with a large frame and physical build. He pitches from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick clean arm. He has a repeatable delivery with a distinct balance point. He finishes tall and online to home plate. He commands his fastball 88-90 mph touching as high as 92 mph. He compliments the fastball with a slider 76-79 mph with sharp 10/4 action. Overall Hill is a big physical athlete with a quick arm and a feel for a solid slider.

Position Player: Hill is a 6-foot-4 195-pound third baseman with a large frame and physical build. Offensivley he starts from an athletic stance, he sits down into his legs as his load, combined with a toe raise as his stride. He attacks the baseball with a level swing, maintaining balance through extension. He produces exit velocity up to 89 mph. Defensively he plays through the baseball with fluid foot work and solid actions. He has a fluid exchange and a quick clean arm. He throws the baseball 88 mph across the infield. He runs a 4.43 home to first time. Overall Hill is a physical player with some rawness to his offensive game, and is a solid defender.

Kaleb Hill, LHP, Watson Chapel High School
Hill is a 6-foot-4 left-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He pitches from a H 3/4 arm slot with a loose arm. He uses a simple repeated delivery. He does not use a distinct balance point which causes his arm to lag behind at times. His fastball works 83-86 mph and shown the ability to throw up to 88 mph. He throws a curveball and changeup as his secondary pitches with limited command. Overall Hill has a very projectable frame and arm action. He projects to throw hard in the near future.

Wade Beasley, RHP, Horatio High School
Beasley is a 6-foot-2 200-pound right-hander with a large frame and build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a fastball 86-89 mph with slight sink. He compliments his fastball with a sharp 10/4 slider thrown 72-74 mph. He repeats his mechanics with a simple delivery. Overall Beasley is a large framed right-hander with a quick arm and a feel for the slider.

6	Tyler Johnson	AR	Bentonville	2018	1B	Arkansas
7	Connor McCullough	AR	Maumelle	2018	RHP	Oklahoma
8	Hank Hannah	AR	Catholic	2018	LHP	Arkansas
9	Andrew Stanley	AR	Searcy	2018	C	Arkansas
10	Jordan Wicks	AR	Conway	2018	LHP	Arkansas State

Rankings Review: 2018 Rankings

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