FAYETTEVILLE — Two Arkansas pitchers and five signees have been selected on the final day of the MLB Draft, but the Razorbacks stand a good chance of retaining some of the top draft-eligible players.
Knight was selected by the Texas Rangers with the 884th overall pick in the 29th round of the draft. He was projected to be drafted anywhere between 58th and 88th, according to reputable draft services, but likely fell because of a high asking price for a signing bonus.
Knight, a sophomore who was eligible for the draft because his 21st birthday falls within 45 days of the draft, is likely to come back to Arkansas, according to sources. He is in line to be a high draft pick with bargaining power again in 2018.
Dakota Bennett was the first with ties to the Razorbacks to be drafted Wednesday. Bennett, a left-handed pitcher from Eva, Ala., was selected by the Marlins with the 329th overall pick of the draft. There are no assigned slot values for that position in the draft, but it typically carries a signing bonus of more than $100,000.
Right-handed pitcher Bryce Bonnin from Barbers Hill High School in Belvieu, Texas, was drafted by the Cubs with the 795th overall pick in the 26th round. Bonnin was one of Baseball America's top 75 prospects in the draft, but likely fell because of a high asking price for a signing bonus.
Prior to being drafted, Bonnin indicated on his Twitter account that he will play for Arkansas next season.
"Here's to the next chapter of my life as a Razorback," Bonnin wrote Tuesday night.
Another top signee, outfielder Cole Turney of Richmond, Texas, was drafted with the 1,032nd overall pick by the Indians in the 34th round. Turney was rated the No. 129 prospect in the draft by Baseball America.
Catcher Casey Opitz of Heritage High School in Centennial, Colo., was selected by the Indians with the 822nd overall pick in the 27th round. Opitz was considered a top 400 prospect by Baseball America.
Outfielder signee Heston Kjerstad of Canyon Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas, was drafted in the 36th round by the Mariners with the 1,083rd overall pick.
Arkansas has had six signees selected in this year's draft. Iowa Western College left-handed pitcher Daniel Tillo (Royals, 3rd round) and Rockwall, Texas, outfielder Canaan Smith (Yankees, 4th round) were drafted Tuesday.
Other top Arkansas signees remain undrafted. Among them is St. Louis right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge, who was a Baseball America top 200 prospect.
Josh Alberius, a senior pitcher, was taken in the 36th round by the Marlins with the 1,079th pick overall.