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Hogs sign 19 players for 2018 class, including four from state

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn announced the signing of 19 players for the 2018 season this week, four coming from Arkansas, including one that grew up in the state.

Van Horn,entering his 15th season, has always succeeded in keeping the best talent in the state at home and this year was no different.

One year after signing top lefty pitcher Evan Lee out of Bryant, Arkansas, the Hogs added another lefty in Hunter Milligan from Greenbrier for the 2018 season. Milligan, who is considered the top player in the state, according to Perfect Game, was named a 5A All-State player last season after going 4-2 on the mound with a 1.50 ERA and striking out 69 batters over 42.0 innings.

Milligan joins infielder Casey Martin from Lonoke as another highly sought after in-state product that signed their intent to play for the Razorbacks. Martin is rated the No. 3 overall player in the state and batted .508 last year as a junior for the Jackrabbits. He was named a 4A All-State player and to the All-Tournament team in 2016.

The 2017 Razorback baseball team will begin its season against Miami (Ohio) with a three-game series on Feb. 17.

For more information on Razorback Baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.

RAZORBACK BASEBALL SIGNEES WITH ARKANSAS CONNECTION (5)

Name Position B/T Height Weight Hometown Previous School
Dylan Bonds LHP L/L 5-10 170 Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Mt. Juliet HS
Evan Hooper OF R/R 6-0 187 Cabot, Ark. Cabot HS
Austin Kelly RHP R/R 6-2 185 Benton, Ark. Bryant HS
Casey Martin INF R/R 5-11 165 Lonoke, Ark. Lonoke HS
Hunter Milligan LHP L/L 6-4 215 Greenbrier, Ark. Greenbrier HS



Dylan Bonds | LHP | 5-10 | 170 | L/L | Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (Mt. Juliet HS)
Went 5-0 with three saves after compiling a 0.91 ERA as a junior … Struck out 76 batters and only gave up 19 walks over 46 innings pitched … Named the District 9AAA Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year in 2016 … Plays for coach Josh Johnston at Mt. Juliet HS … Originally from Bee Branch, Arkansas, before moving to Tennessee during his sophomore year.

Evan Hooper | OF | 6-0 | 187 | R/R | Cabot, Ark. (Cabot HS)
Ranked the top outfielder and No. 4 player overall and in the state of Arkansas by Perfect Game … Also ranked No. 48 overall in the Prep Baseball Report 2017 Top 300 … Batted .333 as a sophomore with 13 runs, three doubles, one triple, three home runs and five RBI … Attended the 2015 Perfect Game Jr. National Showcase … Named to the 2016 Preseason 7A All-State Team by Prep Baseball Report … Named to the Second Team Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American in 2016 … Attended the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase … Plays travel ball for Marucci Elite … Plays for Ronnie Goodwin at Cabot.

Austin Kelly | RHP | 6-2 | 185 | R/R | Benton, Ark. (Bryant HS)
Ranked the No. 474 player nationally by Perfect Game … Ranked the No. 4 overall player in the state of Arkansas by Prep Baseball Report … Also plays outfield and batted .300 with 10 runs, two doubles, one triple, three RBI and three stolen bases as a junior … Plays for coach Travis Queck at Bryant High School.

Casey Martin | SS | 5-11 | 165 | R/R | Lonoke, Ark. (Lonoke)
Ranked No. 270 in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 3 overall in the state of Arkansas … Batted .508 as a junior for Lonoke High School with 25 runs scored, 18 extra base hits and 30 RBIs … Also stole 11 bases and compiled a 0.70 ERA on the mound with 18 strikeouts in 10.0 innings pitched … Named First Team All-State by Arkansas Prep Baseball Report in 2016 … Was also named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Baseball First Team … Named to 4A All-State and All-Tournament Teams as a junior … Plays for Darrick Lowery at Lonoke High School.

Hunter Milligan | LHP | 6-4 | 215 | L/L | Greenbrier, Ark. (Greenbrier HS)
Ranked as the top player in the state of Arkansas by Perfect Game and No. 155 overall in the nation … Went 4-2 on the mound as a junior with a 1.50 ERA, giving up just 16 walks and striking out 69 batters over 42.0 innings … Struck out 16 batters in one game against Harrison … Also recorded a perfect game against Clarksville … Named 5A All-State in 2016 and attended the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase … Plays travel ball for East Coast Sox … Greenbrier pitching coach is former Major Leaguer Dustin Mosley.