2017 Ranking Release: No.5 - No.2

August 16, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

We started on Wednesday counting down 5 players from each day. We have looked at 20 players, today we look at No. 5 through No. 2. These four players have advanced skills and athletic ability. All of these players have started garnering attention from some of the top programs in the Mid-South.

No.5 Pierce Mitchum OF, Heber Springs HS
is a 5-foot-9 160-pound outfielder with a medium frame and physical build. He played through the baseball with a fluid exchange and an accurate arm. He registered up to 83 mph throwing from the outfield. Offensively he has a short lined drive swing with fast bat speed. He produced exit velocity up to 89 mph. Mitchum is a premium athlete running a 6.59 and the 60. As he continues to develop Mitchum should turn into one of the better prospects in the 2017

No.4 Paxton Wallace CIF/RHP Greenbrier HS
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 96 mph. Defensively he does a sound job at first base with some stiffness to his actions. He runs a 7.13 in the 60. Prior to his sophomore season Wallace was impressive on the mound pitching with a fastball down in the strike zone 82-85 mph up to 86 mph. He complimented that with a curveball and changeup with fastball arm speed. Overall Wallace is a physical athlete with raw power and is intriguing to follow as he gets back on the mound this fall.

No. 3 Hunter Milligan LHP Greenbrier HS
A 6-foot-4, 195-pound left-hander, Milligan commands his fastball to both sides of the plate. He has a clean arm action and has already touched 90. His curveball has good shape with 11-to-5 action. He could benefit from using his lower half more, but is mechanically sound. Overall Milligan is a big talent he has had a rough year battling back injuries, so has not pitched since early spring.

No. 2 Evan Hooper OF/RHP Cabot HS
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. As a pitcher Hooper works from below 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm. He attacks the bottom half of the strike zone with a fastball 83-86 up to 88 mph. The fastball has sink with slight cut. He compliments his fastball with a Frisbee breaking ball thrown 70-72 mph, and a change up with arm side run thrown with fastball arm speed and a He has repeatable mechanics and rhythm. Overall Hooper has good deception and stuff, I project him more as an outfielder but it isn't far-fetched to see him pitch out of the bullpen at the next level either.

2017 Ranking Release: No.5 - No.2

Related Content