Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Seniors; 7.31.17



By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

School is bearing down on players as summer ends, recruiting is getting kicked off for several 2018 graduates as college coaches have spent the summer on the road evaluating talent and their current rosters movement. Here is a look at some unsigned seniors that I expect to have recruiting movement over the next few weeks.

Aaron Mann 3B / RHP / Central , AR / 2018

Mann is a 6-foot-3 190-pound corner infielder with a large frame and an athletic build. He attacks the baseball with fast bat speed and strength to his swing. He produces exit velocity up 94 mph. He starts from an athletic stance uses a back load and has short stride. He uses an uphill swing to work with power to the pull side. Defensively he plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, with sound actions, and normal exchange. He throws the baseball with a short arm action and a strong arm across the infield. Overall Mann, is a large player with an advanced offensive skill set.

 

 

Jakobi Jackson OF / LHP / Watson Chapel, AR / 2018

Jackson is a 6-foot 190-pound athlete with a large frame and an athletic build. He is an advanced offensive player with ability to hit for power to both fields. He starts from an athletic stance with a fluid load, he attacks the baseball with fast bat speed. He has slight uphill bat path. He does a sound job maintaining rhythm and balance through out his swing. Defensively he shows good instincts on balls in the air. He plays through the baseball with a fluid exchange and a strong arm with carry. As a pitcher Jackson pounds the strike zone with a fastball 79-82 mph. He compliments the fastball with a 1/7 curveball with sharp late break. Overall Jackson is an advanced hitter with above average athletic ability.

 

 

Bennett Shoptaw RHP / SS / Little Rock Christian Academy, AR / 2018

Shoptaw is a 6-foot-1 175-pound right-hander with an athletic frame and build. He uses a short quick arm action from a ¾ arm slot. He repeats his mechanics consistently without a distinct balance point. He finishes tall to the plate. His fastball works 82-85 mph with slight run. He uses a 70-73 mph 11/5 curveball with late break as his secondary pitch. Overall Shoptaw is a solid two pitch right-hander with a feel to pitch. 

 

 

Mac McCroskey SS / 2B / Har-Ber, AR / 2018

McCroskey is a 5-foot-10 160-pound middle infielder with an athletic frame and build. He plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, advanced defensive actions. He uses a quick exchange and an accurate arm throwing the baseball 80 mph across the infield. Offensively he starts from an athletic set up and attacks the baseball with a compact line drive swing which produces exit velocities up to 89 mph. Overall McCroskey is an advanced defender at short stop with a chance to hit consistently as has he continues to get at bats.

 

 

 

Ollie Reddick OF / White Hall, AR / 2018

Reddick is a 5-foot-10 170-pound outfielder with an athletic frame and build. He runs a 6.93 in the 60. From the outfield he showed advanced arm strength throwing the baseball 88 mph. Defensively he shows solid instincts on balls in the air and plays through the baseball consistently. Offensively he uses a slight uphill swing with a disconnected lower half to produce exit velocities up to 83 mph. Overall Reddick is an advanced athlete which projects to get better due to his athleticism.