Arkansas Insider: Committed
August 11, 2016
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
Two more 2017 have made their college decisions, 2017 C Denver Mullins has committed to Crowder College and 2017 MIF Taj Bishop has committed to Lousiana Monroe to play both football and baseball.
Mullins is the 29th ranked player in the 2017 class and 3rd ranked catcher. He is high regarded as one of the better right-handed hitters in this class. He attended the Central Arkansas Open Showcase on June 1st and performed well below you will find my report from that event.
Bishop is the 30th ranked player in the 2017 class and 7th ranked short stop. He has a high ceiling with premium athleticism. A player that should refine his skills quickly at the next level. Bishop competed in the Top Prospects Games at Arvest Ballpark, below is my report from that event.
Taj Bishop, MIF, Ashdown High School
Bishop is a 6-foot 160-pound middle infielder with an athletic frame and a thin build. He is a premium athlete that runs a 6.71 in the 60. Defensively he works through the baseball with fluid footwork and an a quick exchange. He throws the ball 83 mph across the infield with a loose arm from a H ¾ arm slot. Offensively he starts from a tall stance he uses a slight load, he uses a short stride and attacks the baseball with line drive swing producing exit velocities up to 88 mph. Overall Bishop is a raw athlete with a projectability due to frame and arm action.
Denver Mullins, C, Cabot High School
Mullins is a 6-foot 185-pound catcher with an athletic frame and a strong build. He threw pop times ranging from 2.03-2.13 in between innings. He has a wide stance, he showed solid effort and technique in blocking. He received the baseball with soft hand, at times he worked down to the breaking ball. Offensively he started with an athletic stance with a minimum load, He uses a slight leg kick for timing. He attacks the baseball with a level swing and solid bat speed. He has average use of his lower half, and maintains balance throughout his swing. Overall Mullins is a solid catcher with an advanced approach at the plate, as a gap to gap hitter.