FAYETTEVILLE — Pitcher Blake Lillis will play for Arkansas next season, he told coaches Friday.
Lillis, a left-hander from Overland Park, Kan., was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round last month.
UA signees drafted
*C Ben Rortvedt, 2nd Round, Twins
*INF Cole Stobbe, 3rd Round, Phillies
*RHP Tyler Benninghoff, 11th Round, Twins
RHP Trevor Stephan, 18th Round, Red Sox
LHP Blake Lillis, 25th Round, Brewers
RHP Brenden Heiss, 31st Round, Cubs
OF Jordan McFarland, 36th Round, Nationals
-* Denotes player signed professional contract
"My first goal was to go to college and get a degree," Lillis said. "My dream when I was younger was to go to the College World Series. I really wanted to go to college first and really didn't think I was going to get drafted (before)."
Lillis indicated he was leaning toward coming to school throughout the negotiating process with the Brewers. His sign-ability hinged, in part, on the club's negotiations with players taken ahead of him and the draft. Last weekend, the Brewers signed Arizona high school infielder Chad McClanahan for $1.2 million - nearly 10 times the slot value for his 11th round selection.
As a senior, Lillis helped Thomas Aquinas High School to a state championship win in Kansas Class 5A. He started on the mound and also had a 3-run triple in the state championship game.
Lillis was high school teammates with Riley Pint, a pitcher who was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies in this year's draft.
Of Arkansas' seven signees who were drafted, only right-handed pitcher Trevor Stephan of Hill Junior College in Texas has yet make a decision regarding his future plans. Hill was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round and his negotiations are expected to continue until Friday's signing deadline for drafted players.
In addition to Lillis, two signees - outfielder Jordan McFarland and right-handed pitcher Brenden Heiss, both of Illinois - will play for the Razorbacks next season. Three other signees signed professional contracts.