All-American Turney one to watch in '17

Cole Turney bats during the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game on Saturday, July 23, 2016, in Chicago.
Cole Turney bats during the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game on Saturday, July 23, 2016, in Chicago.

— Of the 40 players in last weekend's Under Armour All-American Game, one who stood out most was Arkansas commit Cole Turney.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound outfielder from near Houston had an RBI double and drew a walk while batting third in the game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He also drew positive reviews from scouts in the workouts leading up to the event.

Baseball America scout Hudson Belinsky wrote on Twitter that Turney, who bats left-handed, had one home run in batting practice that hit 50 feet up a building that was located 407 feet from home plate. He later expounded in a blog post.

"His home runs weren't just landing over the fence," Belinksy wrote. "They were plunking off the building, still 25-50 feet off the ground when they made impact."

Despite a busy travel baseball schedule, Turney said he had never played in a Major League Baseball stadium before taking the field at the Cubs' home.

"That was probably the best experience I've had at any event," Turney said. "We went in the locker room and up to the steps onto the field, and I got chills. It's much different than it looks on TV - well, it looks the same, but being there is a whole different story."

There was some embarrassing mixed with the good. Turney was picked-off at second base after drawing a third-inning walk, and while at the plate he lost control of his bat, which went flying into the stands.

"It was the best pitch I had in that at-bat and I threw my bat into the stands," Turney said. "It's the first time I've done that in a game and it just happens to be on national TV."

Turney is Arkansas' top recruit in a 2017 class that is well-regarded nationally. As a junior at Fort Bend Travis High School he batted .344 with 13 extra-base hits - including 6 home runs - in 24 games. He also stole 5 bases and picked up a win by throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

He committed to Arkansas over Texas A&M. He played travel baseball with Jaxon Williams, an Arkansas signee from the Houston area, and said he was impressed with Razorbacks assistant Tony Vitello, who was his lead recruiter.

"Coach Vitello is everywhere. I see him at every event," Turney said. "My dad made a comment, 'I see Coach Vitello more than I see my wife.' He works hard and knows what he's looking for.

"I never thought I would be the caliber to go to a place like Arkansas...but they started recruiting me, and when I went on my visit it blew my mind. They played a game against Mississippi State (in 2015) and there were like 11,000 people there. I love all the coaches and the facilities were insane. I knew it was the right fit for me."

Turney is expected to sign a national letter of intent with Arkansas in November, but as with all top-rated baseball prospects, it will be about a year before he ultimately decides whether to play for the Razorbacks. There is reason to doubt he ever makes it to college.

Sports Illustrated rates him as one of the top four high school hitters available in next year's draft and Perfect Game USA rates him as the No. 5 high school player in the nation.

Some projections have him going in the first round of the draft, which carries a minimum signing bonus in the millions of dollars.

Although rare, not every high school player drafted in the first round signs. Nick Lodolo, a left-handed pitcher who was taken in the lottery portion of the first round, was unable to come to terms with the Pirates earlier this month and will instead pitch at TCU next season.

Turney said he and his family have talked about the draft, but have yet to decide on what kind of money it would take for him to skip college.

"Obviously, everyone's dream is to play professional baseball, but I'm all about Arkansas right now," Turney said. "That's where I want to be."

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