2017 Rankings Release:No. 20-No.16

August 13, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

On Wednesday we look at the players who ranked numbers 25-21 in the 2017 Arkansas Rankings. C/OF Mckinley Williams from Sheridan ended our break down yesterday coming in at 21. We will continue our countdown to No. 1 with a breakdown today of No. 20-16.

No. 20 Tyler Moreland, RHP, Genoa Central HS
Moreland is a 6-foot-2 180 pound right hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He locates his fastball 83-86 mph up to 87 mph down in the strike zone. His secondary stuff lacks command and shape. He possesses a quick loose arm from an H3/4 arm slot. He rushes through his delivery and gets very little extension or help from his lower half. Overall Moreland is a physical athlete with a clean arm as he continues to develop physically and mechanically, he projects to be a solid collegiate pitcher.

No. 19 Cole Strange, C, Fayetteville HS
Strange is a 6-foot-3 225-pound catcher with a large frame and a physical build. Defensively he is sound behind the plate, he receives with proper arm angles and shows effort, combined with solid technique while blocking. He throws 2.0-2.15 pop times with an elongated exchange. Offensively a physical player with bat speed. He attacks the baseball with a slight uphill swing with some rotation to it. His overall raw strength allows him to show pull power. Overall Strange is the best catcher in the 2017 class, he has a high ceiling as he gets more experience moving forward.

No. 18 Jaylen Deshazier, RHP, Pine Bluff HS
Deshazier is a 6-foot-1 175-pound right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He possesses a loose quick arm. He has repeatable mechanics and rhythm. His fastball works 82-84 mph touching 85 with late cut action. He compliments his fastball with a sharp 12/6 curveball with late action thrown at 72-74 mph. One of the more intriguing players in this class as he projects to be a special talent.

No. 17 Ryan Flake, MIF, Greenbrier HS
Flake is a 6-foot 175 pound middle infielder with an athletic frame and build. Offensively he has a compact line drive swing that keeps his barrel in the hit zone for an extended period of time. Defensively he shows smooth actions and footwork as he played through the ball. He has a quick release and an accurate arm from short stop. Overall Flake is a sound player with an above average skill set at all phases of the game.

No. 16 Tajhnick Bishop, Ashdown HS
Bishop is a 6-foot 160-pound middle infielder with a large frame and a thin build. Defensively he has smooth actions as he plays through the baseball with a quick exchange a strong accurate arm. Offensively he has a line drive swing that produces on a consistent basis. He has fast bat speed and does a good job maintain balance through his swing. Overall Bishop is an above average athlete with raw tools as he develops physically he will be a sound middle infielder at the collegiate level

2017 Rankings Release:No. 20-No.16

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