Monticello left-hander commits to Diamond Hogs

Nick Griffin

— Arkansas received a commitment Thursday from an in-state sophomore pitcher.

Monticello left-hander Nick Griffin (6-2, 160 pounds) became the Razorbacks' fourth commit in the class of 2020 and third from the state of Arkansas. PrepBaseballReport.com rates him the state's sixth-best player in his class.

"I was born and raised in Arkansas and it has always been a dream since the first time I went to Baum Stadium to be a Razorback," said Griffin, who was offered last week. "Now I can say it's a dream come true."

Griffin committed over the phone to Arkansas pitching coach Wes Johnson on Thursday afternoon.

"He was very excited, very pumped," Griffin said. "He's a wonderful coach and everything about him, I love - his excitement and he's a great guy."

Griffin's fastball was clocked at 86 mph this summer during a camp. He also threw a curveball and a changeup for the Arkansas Sticks travel team.

"When he's on, he spots it up as good as anyone in the state," said Chase Brewster, coach of the Sticks. "He's got a lot of late life on the fastball. We think he's going to be a 90 mph arm that can locate with a good breaking ball.

"He's a really, really young kid. He should be (in the class of) 2021 but he grew up really fast and as a freshman at Monticello actually pitched the opening round and the third round of the playoffs for them."

Griffin, who also plays right field, will have an opportunity to be a two-way player at Arkansas. He hit better than .400 for the Sticks this summer in the leadoff spot.

"He's your typical leadoff guy who really works the count," Brewster said. "He gets on base and gets things going."

Griffin is the 10th member of the Sticks travel team to commit to the Razorbacks.

"It's good knowing other people that are going to Arkansas and know that you get to spend college with those guys," Griffin said. "Every one of them are great, great people."

Verbal commitments are nonbinding.

2020 Arkansas Baseball Commits

Tyler Cacciatori, RHP, 6-2, 170, Sheridan, Ark.

Clayton Gray, OF, 5-10, 155, Cabot, Ark.

Nick Griffin, LHP/OF, 6-2, 160, Monticello, Ark.

Heston Tole, INF, 6-5, 185, Bowie, Texas