FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas picked up a commitment Monday from a corner outfielder who could provide an immediate impact in 2019.
Matt Goodheart, a freshman outfielder at San Jacinto College near Houston, committed to the Razorbacks five days after receiving an offer. Goodheart is from Magnolia.
"I knew if (Arkansas) recruited me that I would seriously consider it because of the level of program it is," Goodheart said.
Goodheart (6-2, 185 pounds) is batting .357 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI. He also has drawn 26 walks from the No. 2 hole in the lineup and has an on-base percentage of .477.
He was named to the NJCAA Region XIV All-Conference team Monday.
Goodheart said he spoke to all three of Arkansas' coaches during his recruitment. He said he also has a relationship with Razorbacks volunteer coach Craig Parry, who recruited him to Southern Arkansas University while a full-time assistant coach there a year ago.
"I had 13 offers out of high school, mostly junior colleges," Goodheart said. "I was pretty set on going the junior college route, knowing that I wold either get drafted or transfer to a bigger Division I where I could play there. The ultimate goal is to one day play professionally."
Like all junior college players, Goodheart is eligible for this year's Major League Baseball draft. He is not among the top 500 draft prospects, according to Baseball America.
As a high school junior in 2016, Goodheart was named most valuable player of the Class 5A state championship game, helping Magnolia to a 4-1 win over Sylvan Hills at Baum Stadium. Goodheart and Magnolia were state runner-up last season.
"He's definitely at the top of the best hitters we've had," said Chase Brewster, Goodheart's former travel coach with the Arkansas Sticks. "He's a great runner and has been up to 6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash. He just really knows how to hit."
Goodheart is the son of former Southern Arkansas University coach Steve Goodheart, who coached the Muleriders to three NAIA College World Series and won 704 games in 23 seasons.
"His dad is one of the great coaches to ever come through college baseball in Arkansas," Brewster said. "He taught Matt a lot and he really gets after it offensively.
"We played in a fall league a couple of years ago, and in 10 games he had six triples and two home runs. He's just a really good player and really works on his craft every day."
Goodheart said he is unsure when he will sign with Arkansas. San Jacinto (44-12) is ranked No. 5 in NJCAA Division I and begins postseason play Saturday.