LITTLE ROCK — Signing one of the nation’s top recruiting classes has become an annual event for Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn and his staff. The latest group of 16 prospects added during the early signing period that ended Nov. 17 is rated the No. 3 class by scouting service Perfect Game USA.
Van Horn praised hitting coach/recruiting coordinator Todd Butler and pitching coach Dave Jorn’s efforts in landing some of the nation’s best talent.
“I had the opportunity to see a lot of these kids, not necessarily as a cross-checking situation, but I like to go out and see them,” Van Horn said. “I feel good about the class and I’m excited about the future.”
The class features seven pitchers, headlined by Searcy’s Dillon Howard, 6-4, 210 pounds, who is rated as the nation’s No. 7 prospect byPerfect Game. Howard will be 21 before the 2013 major league amateur draft, which allows him be to draft eligible in two years instead of three.
“Dillon Howard is one of the top right-handed pitchers in the country,” Van Horn said. “He kind of falls into thesame situation as Zack Cox and that really helped Zack. We’ll just have to see that one play out.”
Right-hander Michael Fulmer, 6-3, 205, of Edmond (Okla.) Deer Creek, caught Van Horn’s attention during August’s Area Code Games in California.
“He has an 88-to-91 mph fastball right now and there’s more in there with a plus-plus breaking ball,” Van Horn said. “As good a breaking ball as I saw last summer.”
Jessieville left-hander Mark Reyes, 6-1, 180, had a 10-0 record with a 0.56 ERA in 87 innings this year.
“I feel like he’s the top lefthanded pitcher in the state,” Van Horn said. “He’s just a really good athlete with a good arm and throws strikes for a young pitcher.”
Magnolia right-hander Landon Simpson, 5-9, 180, is the younger brother of Hayden Simpson, who was the 2010 first-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs.
“He has a tremendous arm,” Van Horn said.
Left-handers Nevin Wilson, 6-2, 180, of Scottsdale, (Ariz.) Chaparral, and Tyler Wright, 6-1, 160, of San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College along with right-hander Conor Costello, 6-3, 175, Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe, round out the pitchers.
Van Horn, as is customary, won’t know where Arkansas stands with several signees until about August because of the 2011 major league amateur draft in June.
“We just really feel good about the arm strength we have signed,” Van Horn said. “We signed five or six infielders that are also very athletic and two or three of them play outfield as well. Now it’s a matter of getting them to college.”
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, 6-3, 180, of Cheyenne (Wyo.) East, bats left-handed and throws right-handed, and is ranked the No. 83 player in the nation by Perfect Game USA.
“Brandon Nimmo is one that could come right in and be in the middle of it as a true freshman,” Van Horn said. “The biggest problem will be the draft and seeing if we can keep him.”
Van Buren infielder/outfielder Tyler Spoon, 5-11, 185, hit .470 with 11 doubles and 4 home runs in 2010.
“He has a chance to come in right away and find a way to find the lineup because he has such a nice swing,” Van Horn said. “He already uses the whole field.”
Van Horn likes infielders/ outfielders Joseph Serrano,5-11, 180, Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic; and Drake Roberts, 5-9, 165, of Brenham, Texas, who hit .415 and .374, respectfully. Serrano scored 48 runs and stole 18 bases in 20 attempts. Roberts, who’s rated the nation’s No. 76 prospect by Perfect Game, had four home runs and stole 36 bases.
Catchers John Clay Reeves of Monroe, (La.) Neville and Jean Ramirez of Fort Worth Boswell also signed.
Reeves, 6-0, 205, struck out 37 in 25 innings on the mound while batting .379 with 6 home runs this past season.Ramirez, 6-0, 190, hit .438 and drove in 35 runs.
First baseman Greg Bird, 6-3, 205 of Aurora, (Colo.) Grandview, batted .660 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI last year after totaling 27 in his first two years.
“He’s a left handed hitting first baseman/catcher,” Van Horn said of Bird, rated as the nation’s No. 91 prospect by Perfect Game. “He can do both very well.”
Also:
Infielder David Masters, 6-3, 175, Wentzville, (Mo.) Timberland is outstanding defensively and has a chance to contribute right away.
Infielder Brian Anderson, 6-3, 175 of Edmond (Okla.) Deer Creek, is the nation’s No. 320 prospect according to Perfect Game.
“He has a tremendous arm across the infield,” Van Horn said. “He’s very good infielder but can also play outfield.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansason line.com
Sports, Pages 42 on 11/28/2010