FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas picked up a commitment from a Las Vegas infielder Wednesday.
Jesse Pierce (6-2, 170 pounds) chose the Razorbacks after visiting Baum Stadium last weekend. Pierce, who projects as a third baseman or shortstop, plays at Arbor View High School and spent the summer with the Arkansas Sticks travel team that includes nine players committed to the Razorbacks.
"I walked in and the first thing they did was show me the field, and I just lost all words," Pierce said of his visit. "I was speechless. My mom came with me and she had the same feeling as well.
"It's just a great atmosphere for baseball. It has great coaches, great facilities and I fell in love with the school. I loved everything about it."
Pierce previously had been offered by Nevada, and was receiving interest from Pepperdine, UNLV and Utah.
Pierce was named to all-tournament teams at summer showcase events in Phoenix and Atlanta this summer.
"You couldn't find a better teammate and a better leader," said Chase Brewster, coach of the Arkansas Sticks. "He's a great athlete that can play up the middle in the SEC. He'll have a chance to play shortstop.
"The sky really is the limit. He might have the highest ceiling of all of them. Against great competition, he was just incredible."
Pierce is a junior and the 11th commit in Arkansas' class of 2019. His summer travel team includes three other juniors committed to the Razorbacks - catcher Cason Tollett and pitchers Blake Adams and Zack Morris.
"Jesse, Blake and Cason kind of hit it off, and they're talking about rooming together at Arkansas," Brewster said. "It's just special to watch those three hit back-to-back-to-back and it will be special to watch them hit at Baum Stadium."
As a sophomore, Pierce batted .391 with 17 RBI for Arbor View. He had a .969 fielding percentage. Perfect Game USA rates Pierce an 8.5 out of 10.
Verbal commitments are non-binding.
2019 Arkansas Baseball Commitments
Blake Adams, RHP, 6-2, 190, Springdale (Har-Ber), Ark.
Bryce Matthews, OF, 6-4, 185, Parker (Chaparral), Colo.
Zack Morris, LHP, 6-2, 228, Cabot, Ark.
Travis Odom, SS, 6-1, 160, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Jesse Pierce, SS/3B, 6-2, 170, Las Vegas (Arbor View), Nev.
Nathan Rintz, RHP, 6-0, 155, Schaumburg, Ill.
Xander Rojahn, RHP, 6-3, 190, Elk Grove Village (Elk Grove), Ill.
Nate Stevens, C, 5-11, 160, Madison (Waunakee), Wisc.
Dominic Tamez, C, 5-10, 190, San Antonio (Johnson), Texas
Cason Tollett, C, 6-1, 185, Little Rock (Christian), Ark.
Nolan Wosman, SS, 6-2, 180, Palmyra, Mo.