Recruiting Class Ranked No. 12 By Baseball America

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Year after year, the Razorback baseball coaching staff has recruited some of the best talent in the country, which has resulted in numerous All-American selections and trips to the College World Series. This year’s crop of new Razorbacks has been lauded as one of the best in recent years and now the rankings are out to prove it. Baseball America ranked Arkansas’ 2017 class as No. 12 in the country earlier this week, the fifth highest of any team from the SEC.

The Razorbacks’ class, which consists of 24 players, 18 freshmen and six junior college transfers, was also ranked No. 26 by Collegiate Baseball earlier this fall. This is the sixth time in the last eight years Arkansas’ recruiting class has been ranked in the top 25 by Baseball America, fourth in the top 15.

These rankings are based on players who enroll at school each fall. Athletes who initially signed letters of intent with a school but then sign a pro contract after being drafted do not count in the overall evaluation.

For Razorback recruiting coordinator Tony Vitello, this year’s class is his fifth since coming to Arkansas in the summer of 2013 and fourth to be ranked in the top 15 by at least one publication. Last year, the Hogs’ recruits were ranked No. 6 nationally by Perfect Game and he previously signed the nation’s top class for the Razorbacks in 2014. In his 14-year Division I coaching career, Vitello has signed eight top 15 recruiting classes and developed 12 Major League Baseball players.

Three players in this year’s class were selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and put their pro careers on hold to attend the University of Arkansas. Right hander Trevor Stephan (Magnolia, Texas) was selected in the 18^th round by the Boston Red Sox, right-handed pitcher Brenden Heiss (Algonquin, Ill.) was picked in the 31^st round by the Chicago Cubs, and outfielder Jordan McFarland (Waterloo, Ill.) was selected in the 36^th round by the Washington Nationals.

Including the three draftees, five of the incoming players participated in prestigious high school events such as the East Coast Professional Showcase, the Area Code Games and the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field.

Along with its top rankings from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, Arkansas’ class has been as high as No. 9 according to Perfect Game. However, its official recruiting class rankings as well as D1Baseball’s rankings will come out later this fall.

The 2017 Razorbacks are finishing up their fall practice sessions this month and will hold their annual Fall World Series starting next week at Baum Stadium. Game 1 of the five-game series is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch and is open to the public. Admission is free. Check out the full schedule of the Fall World Series on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

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2016 Baseball America Recruiting Rankings