By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

The 2018 National Rankings were updated, three Arkansans landed in the Top 100 overall with a total of 9 players being ranked in the Top 400. This goes to the depth of players in the state in 2018 class.

No. 81 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.

No. 83 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. 

No. 91 Jaden Hill RHP/3B 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.  

Others Ranked Nationally

No.109 Kaleb Hill LHP Watson Chapel High School
No. 167 Tyler Johnson 1B/OF Bentonville High School
No. 191 Connor McCullough RHP Maumelle High School
No. 211 Wade Beasley RHP Horatio High School
No. 377 Jordan Whicks LHP Conway High School
No. 384 Jakobi Jackson OF Watson Chapel High School