2016 State Draft Report: Arkansas

CROP RATING
	Nothing to see here
Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states

 

Number of players drafted in 2015: 15.

Arkansas’ season started with promise and ended with the Razorbacks watching the Southeastern Conference tournament from home, smarting from a 7-23 conference record.

It was a bad year for the state’s biggest school, and a similarly bad year for the state’s draft prospects. Zach Jackson looked to be a potential first-round pick when the season began, but troubles with his fastball command sent his season into a tail-spin. With no premium high school prospects in the state, it makes for a year when few Arkansas baseball players can expect to hear their names called.

 

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Zach Jackson, rhp, Arkansas (National Rank: 98)
2. Carson Shaddy, c/of/2b, Arkansas (National Rank: 450)

 

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2016 Draft Map

3. Ryan Scott, of, Arkansas-Little Rock
4. Luke Bonfield, 1b/of, Arkansas
5. Dominic Taccolini, rhp, Arkansas
6. Luke Bandy, ss, Providence Academy, Rogers, Ark.
7. Billy Germaine, 1b, Southern Arkansas
8. Tadarious Hawkins, of, Henderson State (Ark.) CC

 

ADDITIONAL SCOUTING REPORTS

Ryan Scott, of, Arkansas-Little Rock – Scott led Division I in hitting with a .435 average. His proven bat should make him a useful senior sign.

Luke Bonfield, 1b/of, Arkansas – A draft-eligible sophomore who turned down the Mets as a 21st-round pick out of high school, Bonfield bounced back from a brutal freshman season (.177/.346/.194) to hit much more like the Razorbacks expected as a sophomore (.304/.402/.509). But Bonfield’s defense has not caught up to his bat. He has struggled defensively in the outfield, doesn’t run particularly well and is limited to first base unless he improves his routes and reads. Bonfield has shown flashes of above-average power, but teams are unlikely to pay for his bat until he produces more, so it’s likely he’ll return to Arkansas for his junior season.

Dominic Taccolini, rhp, Arkansas – Taccolini had surgery last summer to remove a rib to deal with a blood clot. He never seemed to get back to his sophomore season form after that. Taccolini came into the season with a chance to pitch himself into the top 10 rounds, but post-surgery his stuff took a step back and the results Taccolini’s fastball took a step back to 89-91, down from the 90-93 he showed in the past. He also became less consistent with his slider and curve while he seemed to almost completely lose the feel for his changeup. Taccolini has shown the potential to be get a shot at a pro career as a back-end starter in the past, but coming off of a season where he had a 7.49 ERA in nine conference starts, a team taking him would be basing it more on what they have seen in the past.

Luke Bandy, ss, Providence Academy, Rogers, Ark. – Bandy is headed to Dallas Baptist if he doesn’t sign. He’s an above-average runner who should be able to stick in the infield.

Billy Germaine, 1b, Southern Arkansas – Germaine’s power (18 home runs this season) could make him a late-round pick. He also has a good arm that doesn’t play much at first base.

Tadarious Hawkins, of, Henderson State (Ark.) CC – Hawkins plus-plus speed could get him noticed by a team looking for a burner.