2016 Recruiting Rankings | 2016 High School Player Rankings | Recruiting Database
6. Arkansas
Full 2016-17 Recruiting Class
Head Coach: Dave Van Horn | Recruiting Coordinator: Tony Vitello
The class assembled by the Arkansas coaching staff has the chance to be the building blocks of something big should everybody make it to campus. A quick look at the top and the Hogs have several impact bats, one of the better catching prospects in the country, perhaps the best defensive outfielder on the summer circuit and arms whose stuff could play at the collegiate level right now.
Throughout his prep career Cole Stobbe (Omaha, Neb.) has done nothing but punish the baseball and the summer of 2015 was no different. Listed as a primary shortstop who has the ability to play either position on the left side of the infield, Stobbe runs better than his 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame may indicate (6.77 60-yard dash) which speaks to his overall athleticism. His righthanded swing is short and direct to the ball, allowing the Nebraska native to handle advanced pitching just as he did throughout the circuit, hitting for both average and power.
The next Perfect Game All-American occupies another premium position in catcher Ben Rortvedt (Verona, Wis.) who is in the highest tier of catching prospects on the high school side. Ultra-physical yet still athletic and loose behind the plate, Rortvedt's lefthanded swing has always played at National events and was the only player to connect for a home run at the Perfect Game National Showcase. Rounding out the All-American trio is outfielder Dominic Fletcher (Cypress, Calif.) whose arm in right field is a true gamechanger whether it’s actually delivering a strike to nail a runner or just the idea in the back of the runner’s mind to think twice about attempting to advance.
Another powerful, middle-of-the-order type is outfielder Jordan McFarland (Waterloo, Ill.) who like Stobbe is a big-time athlete despite his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame. A 6.69 60-yard runner, McFarland has done nothing but perform at big Perfect Game events, particularly with the bat as he’s garnered numerous All-Tournament accolades.
Arkansas has had a nice run of landing talented arms on campus over the last four years with recently drafted Trey Killian, current junior Zack Jackson and sophomore Keaton McKinney. Righthanders Tyler Benninghoff (Overland Park, Kan.) and Brenden Heiss (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) could be next in line should they make it to Fayetteville. The conversation about Benninghoff begins with his curveball, one of the better offerings in the entire country, and with the hand speed that’s necessitated to spin it so well usually indicates more fastball velocity in the future. Velocity is the starting block for what Heiss brings to the mound as he’s been up to 95 mph at the Perfect Game National with hard running life and big angle at release.
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