Razorback Baseball Locks Up Top 10 Recruiting Class

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Baseball America released its top 25 recruiting class rankings on Thursday with Arkansas cracking the top 10 at No. 10.

It is believed to be the first time Arkansas has been ranked among the top 10 in Baseball America’s rankings. The Razorbacks’ 23-man class includes 13 freshmen, eight junior-college transfers and two transfers.

“Before this group of newcomers even stepped on campus I believed it could be our best class since I came here,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “After watching these guys in fall ball I am even more excited with the talent we have brought in this season,”

A group of 11 position players and 12 pitchers join a roster of 16 returning lettermen and five redshirt freshmen for the 2007 season.

Baseball America ranked the Hogs 10th with Baylor landing the nation’s top class, followed by South Carolina, Southern California, Clemson and Miami rounding out the top five. Florida was ranked sixth with Oklahoma State seventh, North Carolina eighth and Cal State Fullerton ninth. The UA recruiting class was third among Southeastern Conference schools. The SEC placed seven schools in the top 25.

“It is a tremendous honor for Baseball America to rank our class among the top 10 in the country,” Van Horn said. “I can’t say enough about our coaching staff with Coach (Todd) Butler and Coach (Dave) Jorn and the job they did evaluating talent and then getting them on campus.”

Baseball America called the Razorbacks’ crop of junior-college players the best in the country. The group is highlighted by right-handed pitchers Duke Welker and Jess Todd along with right-handed reliever Travis Hill, 1B/OF Aaron Murphree, infielder Casey Coon, outfielder Sean Jones and catcher Jeff Nutt.

Transfer Jacob Julius should also make an impact right away in the outfield, while high school hurlers Dallas Keuchel and Stephen Richards should see quality innings on the mound for the Hogs.

Arkansas’ class is even more impressive when you consider the Hogs lost four players to the Major League Draft. Tony Butler was taken in the third round by the Seattle Mariners, Chris Davis went in the fifth to the Texas Rangers, Tyler Henson also went in the fifth to the Baltimore Orioles and R.J. Seidel was a taken in the 16th round by Milwaukee.