Summer baseball update

Bonfield makes splash in Futures League debut

Arkansas signee Luke Bonfield will play for the Razorbacks instead of turning pro.

Arkansas signee Luke Bonfield made a splash in his Futures League debut with the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks.

Bonfield, the No. 60 prospect in the country according to Perfect Game, went 4-for-4 with three home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored Wednesday. The performance earned him Player of the Night honors in the Futures League.

He has a hit in all three games with the Sharks and is batting .615 (8-for-13) with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored and one walk. He has struck out only twice.

Last month, the New York Mets selected Bonfield in the 21st round of the MLB Draft, but he tweeted his decision to come to Arkansas a couple weeks after the draft.

Playing 24 games for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., last season, he batted .379 with nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, 19 RBI and five stolen bases.

Other Razorbacks in Summer Ball

Clark Eagan – Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (Northwoods League)

Eagan got back on track with a 7-for-17 (.412) week at the plate. The performance raised his batting average back up to .361, which leads the team. He also had one double, three RBI, three runs scored, one walk and one stolen base last week.

Alex Gosser – Texas Marshals (Texas League)

Gosser’s miserable summer at the plate continued last week, as he went 0-for-9 in six games and his batting average fell to .172. However, he managed to reach base four times via a walk, score three runs and knock in two RBI. The rising sophomore also laid down two sacrifice bunts.

Alex Phillips – Wisconsin Woodchucks (Northwoods League)

In his only start last week, Phillips gave up only one earned run on two hits, but struggled with his command, walking three batters in four innings pitched. He was able to strike out five and earn a no decision. His ERA now sits at 3.66 this summer.

Lance Phillips – Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks (Alaska League)

The older Phillips brother made two relief appearances last week. In the first one, he retired all three batters he faced. His second appearance did not go as smoothly, as the right-hander gave up two earned runs on two hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. He now owns an ERA of 4.43 this summer.

Parker Sanburn – Lakeshore Chinooks (Northwoods League)

Making his debut with the Chinooks, Sanburn picked up a win out of the bullpen, allowing only one unearned run on one hit and one walk in two innings of work. The younger brother of former Arkansas pitcher Nolan Sanburn also struck out two batters in the appearance.

Carson Shaddy – Texas Marshals (Texas League)

Shaddy struggled mightily last week, going 2-for-21 (.095) with six strikeouts in seven games. The performance dropped his batting average down to .276, but he managed to collect one RBI, score two runs and steal two bases.

Landon Simpson – Waterloo Bucks (Northwoods League)

Simpson is still undefeated this summer, as he won his only start last week to improve to 5-0 in seven starts. He tossed five innings and gave up one earned run on eight hits and one walk, improving his ERA to 2.43. The right-hander also struck out three batters.

Jake Smith – Texas Marshals (Texas League)

Making one start and one relief appearance, Smith pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs, two of which were earned. The right-hander allowed three hits while striking out four batters, walking two and hitting one with a pitch.

Dominic Taccolini – San Luis Obispo Blues (California Collegiate League)

Taccolini turned in another strong outing last week, picking up the win to improve to 3-3 this summer. He didn’t allow a run in six innings of work, dropping his ERA to 2.72. The right-hander gave up three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.

James Teague – Lakeshore Chinooks (Northwoods League)

While he struggled with his command, Teague was good enough to win his only start last week, allowing two earned runs on four hits in five innings of work. The right-hander walked five batters, hit one with a pitch, had three wild pitches and struck out only two. This summer, he is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA.

Lawson Vassar – Brazos Valley Bombers (Texas League)

Vassar tossed six shutout innings for the Bombers last week. The right-hander gave up three hits and one walk while striking out four batters in the win. It was only his second start of the summer and lowered his ERA to 1.45.

Arkansas Signees in Summer Ball

Cannon Chadwick – Brazos Valley Bombers (Texas League)

Chadwick worked around a pair of walks to earn a one-inning save in his only appearance last week. He didn’t give up a hit, but he also didn’t strike anyone out. The outing dropped his ERA to 5.17. It was his seventh save of the summer.

Rick Nomura – Conejo Oaks (California Collegiate League)

In five games last week, Nomura struggled at the plate, going 5-for-22 (.227). He did, however, hit his second home run of the summer, and second in as many weeks, as well as collect one RBI, score five runs, walk three times and steal one base. Despite the subpar week, he is still batting .317.