Top Arkansas Baseball Players to Watch in 2020

The Arkansas baseball team is gearing up for another season and there are plenty of talented players to watch out for. Here are the top five players to keep an eye on in 2020.

Introduction

It’s no secret that the state of Arkansas has produced some of the best baseball players in the country. From Hall of Famers like Brooks Robinson and Tony Gwynn to modern-day stars like Matt Carpenter and Nolan Arenado the Natural State has a rich history when it comes to America’s pastime.

And 2020 is shaping up to be another banner year for Arkansas baseball with a number of top prospects expected to make an impact at the Major League level. Here’s a look at some of the Top Players to keep an eye on in 2020.

Luke Heimlich

Luke Heimlich is a pitcher for the Kansas Baseball team As a former professional player, Luke brings a wealth of experience to the team. He is a left-handed thrower and bats right-handed.

Born and raised in Puyallup, Washington, Luke played collegiately for Oregon State University He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2016 MLB Draft but did not sign with them. After being traded to the Texas Rangers he made his professional debut with their organization in 2019.

Heimlich became a free agent after the 2019 season and signed with the Arkansas Baseball Team He is set to make his debut for the team in 2020.

Casey Mize

Mize, a right-handed pitcher from Springdale, Arkansas, was the top pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He is considered one of the top prospects in baseball and is expected to make his debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

Mize was a standout pitcher at Auburn University where he went 10-6 with a 2.96 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 117 innings as a junior. He was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year and a first-team All-American.

Andrew Vaughn

Andrew Vaughn is one of the top Arkansas baseball players to watch in 2020. The sophomore first baseman was named the 2019 SEC Freshman of the Year and is a preseason All-American. Vaughn led the Razorbacks in batting average (.368), home runs (13) and Slugging percentage (.632) last season. He also ranked second on the team with 41 RBIs.

Hunter Bishop

Hunter Bishop, who was selected 10th overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2019 MLB draft is a native of Rogers, Arkansas. He played his high school baseball at Rogers Heritage High School before going on to play college baseball at Neosho County Community College and then transferring to Arizona State University In his junior year at Arizona State he hit .342 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI. He was named a 2019 Collegiate Baseball second-team All-American and was also named to the Pac-12 All-Conference first team.

Adley Rutschman

Adley Rutschman is one of the top Arkansas baseball players to watch in 2020. The talented player is expected to make an impact on the team this season. Rutschman is a catcher and is known for his strong bat. He has the ability to hit for power and average, and he is also a good Defensive Player Rutschman is a leader on the team, and he will be a key player for the Arkansas baseball team in 2020.

JJ Bleday

Outfielder JJ Bleday is one of the top Arkansas baseball players to watch in 2020. The junior from Venice, Florida was named a preseason All-American by multiple publications and is expected to be a key player for the Razorbacks this season. Bleday was named SEC Player of the Week twice last season and was an All-SEC second team selection. He led the team in home runs (15), RBIs (57) and slugging percentage (.531). Bleday is a power hitter who should be able to provide some pop for the Arkansas lineup this season.

Nick Madrigal

Nick Madrigal, a native of Oregon, was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 2018 draft. The second baseman made his Major League debut in 2019 and is one of the top Arkansas baseball players to watch in 2020. Madrigal is a slick-fielding infielder with a great arm. He hit .315/.391/.460 with 9 Home Runs and stole 20 bases in 2019.

Alec Bohm

Alec Bohm, the third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft is one of the top Arkansas baseball players to watch in 2020. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound infielder/outfielder hit .369/.419/.638 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI as a junior at Wichita State last season. He is expected to be a key member of the Shockers’ lineup this year.

Bobby Witt Jr.

Bobby Witt Jr. is a highly touted young player who has been compared to some of the best players in baseball He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the third overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft Witt Jr. is a shortstop who is known for his hitting and his fielding. He is considered one of the best prospects in baseball and is expected to make his debut in 2020.