By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Last week most of the committed players, in the state signed their National Letters of Intent.  That seems to have kicked off a push in recruiting with several players making their commitments this week.

2017 OF/RHP Ethan Holmes committed to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday. Holmes is a 6-foot-1 160-pound athlete with high baseball IQ and project-ability. He commands the strike zone consistently on the mound. In the outfield he is sound defensively playing through the baseball with fluid footwork. Offensively he uses a compact swing, and maintains balance through extension. Holmes competed in the Top Prospects Games in June at Arvest Ball Park

2017 OF Kyle Mckeown committed to Ottawa University on Wednesday. Mckeown also competed in the Top Prospects Games. Mckeown is a 5-foot-8 160-pound outfielder. Offensively he starts from an athletic stance with a minimum load stride, he attacks the baseball with a line drive swing, and he maintains balance through extension. Defensively he plays through the baseball with sound footwork, he throws the baseball accurately with a short arm action. Overall a solid player, that plays the game with a high motor.

2017 RHP Chase Hutson committed to Williams Baptist College. Hutson is a 6-foot-5 180-pound RHP with a large frame and an athletic build. He pitches from a ¾ arm slot with short arm action. He repeats his simple tall and fall delivery consistently, with limited extension to home plate. His fastball works 82-84 mph with slight arm side run. He shows the ability to locate it on both sides of the plate. He mixes in a curveball to keep hitters off balance. His curveball is thrown 68-71 mph with a sweeping action. Overall Hutson is a big athlete with some projection as he becomes more physical.

2017 RHP River Hunt committed to Three Rivers CC. Hunt is a 6-foot-2 180-pound right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He pitches from a H 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm action with a slight reach on the back side. He commands the strike zone with a fastball that works 82-85 mph with slight run. He commands his curveball thrown 73-75 mph with late action and 11/5 shape. Overall Hunt is a large athlete with some projections.

2017 CIF/RHP Cade Tucker committed to Eastern Oklahoma, after decommitting from Missouri Southern last week. Tucker is a 6-foot-1 190-pound CIF/RHP with a large frame and a physical build. As a pitcher he works from a low ¾ arm slot working 83-85 mph with command of a change up and slider He commands his changeup in all counts. As a hitter he starts from a balanced stance with slight load and stride. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed producing exit velocities up to 93 mph. Defensively he plays through the baseball average actions. He has a fluid exchange and a strong accurate arm. Overall Tucker is an intriguing prospect that shows signs of being able to complete collegiately as both a hitter and a pitcher. 

2017 Nick Whitley MIF committed to Henderson State University. Whitley is a 5-foot-10 180-pound middle infielder, with an athletic frame and a physical build. He plays through the baseball with fluid foot work, he uses a quick exchange and an accurate arm. Offensively he uses a compact swing and a feel for the barrel to produce line drives on a consistent basis. Overall Whitley is a sound defender with a feel to hit.

2017 MIF Zac Freeman and 2017 OF Chase Freeman committed to Coffeyville CC. The twins from North Little Rock HS will continue their baseball careers together.

Zac Freeman is a 5-foot-11 155-pound middle infielder with an athletic frame and thin build. He played through the baseball with fluid footwork and quick exchange. He throws the ball accurately across the infield from an L ¾ arm slot. Offensively he started from a slight open stance diving back into the plate. He showed a line drive swing with quick bat speed. Overall Freeman is an advanced defender with above average athleticism.

Chase Freeman is a 5-foot-10 150-pound outfielder with a slight frame and a thin build. He runs a 6.67 in the 60. Offensively he starts with an open stance. He uses a leg kick as his load timing mechanism. He uses rushed rhythm hitting off his front foot. He uses an uphill swing with rotation to it, maintaining balance through contact. Defensively he plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, he throws the ball accurately from an H 3/4 arm slot. Overall an advanced athlete with solid defensive instincts and a feel for the barrel.

2018 LHP Hank Hannah committed to Arkansas. Hannah is a 6-foot 160 pound left-hander with an athletic frame and thin build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a quick arm. He repeats his delivery and uses a fast rhythm. At times he cuts himself off with his stride. He uses an athletic finish to the first base side. His fastball worked 82-85 mph with slight run. He also showed a cutter with late action 76-77 mph. He threw his curveball 66-68 mph with 1/7 shape and early break. Overall Hannah is a good athlete with a quick arm and a feel for two secondary pitches.

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