Too early for college baseball? Nah

October 17, 2008 – 7:00 am

Arkansas’ 2008 baseball recruiting class continues to receive high marks.  A few weeks ago, Baseball News rated the Hog’s class No.4 in the country.  Last Friday, Baseball America said Arkansas’ class was No. 8 in the nation.

Jim Callis said the class is one of the deeper ones in the country.

“Zack Cox to me is a tremendous recruit,” Callis said.”He at the worst was going to be a second pick in the draft if he was signable. He has a big power bat. Gerald McKinney the outfielder from Texas is one of the better athletes entering college baseball. He’s probably more of an outfielder than an infielder.”

Callis had praise for right handed pitcher Bryan Bingham, 6-6, 220 from Navarro College and right handed pitcher T.J. Forrest, 6-5, 180 from Bossier Parish Community College.

“ T.J. would’ve been a premium draft pick coming out of high school except that he had Tommy John surgery,” he said. “He’s really come back nicely from that. He’s velocity isn’t quite what it was but he can really pitch. Bingham is 6 foot 6 and I can see him possibly being a high pick in June.  I think Bingham and Forrest can be similar to Jess Todd and Duke Welker, arriving from junior college and being significant draft picks.”

Callis also spoke highly of catcher James McCann, 6-3, 205 from Santa Barbara, California.

“I’ve heard nice things about McCann,” Callis said. “He’s guy that could probably contribute as a freshman.”

Outfielder Travis Sample, 5-11,195 from Howard Junior College put up some impressive numbers last year. He hit .505 with 21 doubles, 19 home runs and 73 RBI.

“I think McCann and Sample can beef up the lineup along with Cox.” Callis said.

Arkansas’ recruiting efforts extend throughout the nation, according to Callis.

“I think the one that that jumps out besides that they land a lot of talent,” he said. “Is how far reaching the recruiting class extends. You look at this class, Cox is from Kentucky, McKinney, Bingham and Sample and a couple of other kids are from Texas. Forrest is from Louisiana, James McCann is from California, Trevor Cousineau is from Michigan. Kendall Wehrle is from Nebraska.”

“Not only is a deep class, it’s nationally recruiting class. I think they cast their net wider than most schools. They pull in players from all over the country.”

Here are the top 25 classes, according to Baseball America.

1. Arizona State
2. Vanderbilt
3. Georgia
4. Kentucky
5. Florida
6. Texas A&M
7. UCLA
8. Arkansas
9. Texas Christian
10. Oregon
11. Mississippi
12. Texas
13. Clemson
14. Virginia
15. Cal State Fullerton
16. Wichita State
17. Fresno State
18. Stanford
19. Oklahoma State
20. Louisville
21. Pepperdine
22. Southern California
23. North Carolina State
24. Florida State
25. Duke