Tag: Cole Phillips

Arkansas’ top baseball recruit won’t be joining the Diamond Hogs

Cole Phillips was the jewel of the Diamond Hogs class but it was expected he would turn pro.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn recruits the best players in the country. When you’re Dave Van Horn and you’ve done what you’ve done at Arkansas, you can do that.

But with that Van Horn knows sometimes those players who’ve committed to play for the Diamond Hogs are also highly sought by the professional ranks. He could always lose them to the pros.

That’s what happened with Cole Phillips.

The right-hander from Texas was taken with the No. 57 pick in the MLB Draft earlier in the week and signed with Atlanta Braves on Thursday. His compensation was $1.49 million, which was higher than the slot value of the pick at that spot.

Phillips didn’t play last year for Boerne High after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The good news for Arkansas is that Phillips is likely the only player of the Diamond Hogs’ incoming class to leave for the pros. Outfielder Mason Neville, who was taken in the 18th round, re-affirmed his commitment to Arkansas.

The 2022 Razorbacks had nine players drafted, all of whom were expected to sign.

Diamond Hogs lose would-be freshman pitcher to MLB draft

Cole Phillips could still choose to go to Arkansas, though Atlanta will make every attempt to sign him to a pro deal.

Cole Phillips was always a longshot to play for Arkansas even though he committed out of Boerne, Texas.

Phillips, one of the top high-school pitchers in the country, was selected in the second round of the MLB draft Sunday by Atlanta, going 57th overall, five picks ahead of Arkansas pitcher Peyton Pallette, who went to the White Sox.

Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery three months ago and won’t play the rest of the summer even if he decides to join the Braves organization. If Phillips chooses to go to Arkansas, he will draft-eligible after his sophomore season.

He was one of four players with Diamond Hogs connections taken on Sunday. Third baseman Cayden Wallace was the first Arkansas player taken when Kansas City chose him with the No. 49 pick. Second baseman Robert Moore, whose father Dayton is the general manager for Kansas City, went to Milwaukee with the 72nd pick.

Several other Arkansas players are likely to be taken during Monday’s portion of the draft which covers rounds three through 20.

Phillips and the other three Arkansas players selected have until August to decide whether he will sign with Atlanta or attend Arkansas.

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