Curry Announces 2017 Recruiting Class

LITTLE ROCK – Twenty players are set to join Little Rock baseball next season as head coach Chris Curry announced his 2017 recruiting class on Thursday morning. The class includes eight high school players and 12 junior college student-athletes.
 
TROY ALEXANDER | OF | 6-4 | 215
 
Alexander is an outfielder from Houston, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. In 2017, Alexander hit .306 with 37 hits, 25 runs, 17 RBIs, nine doubles, three home runs, a triple, a .388 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage. Alexander is a graduate of Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, and received numerous accolades including All-District and All-State Third Team honors during his senior season. He also was an All-District First Team selection as the quarterback for his football team.
 
HAYDEN ARNOLD | RHP | 6-3 | 186
 
Arnold is a right-handed pitcher from Rison, Arkansas, and comes to Little Rock from Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff. He was named an All-Conference recipient for three years at Watson Chapel and received All-State honors his junior season.
 
RYAN BENAVIDEZ | OF | 6-0 | 195
 
Benavidez is an outfielder from Corpus Christi, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. In 2017, Benavidez hit .331 with team highs for RBIs (39), home runs (11), walks (28), on-base percentage (.460) and slugging percentage (.612). For his efforts, Benavidez received All-Region honors in addition to All-Conference First Team honors. In 2016, Benavidez took All-Conference First Team honors after hitting .312 with 43 hits, 27 runs, 24 RBIs, eight doubles, four triples, three home runs, a .403 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage. Benavidez is a graduate of Carroll High School in Corpus Christi and took All-District Second Team honors during his junior and senior seasons.
 
HAYDEN BOYD | RHP | 5-11 | 205
 
Boyd is a right-handed pitcher from Wylie East High School in Wylie, Texas. At Wylie East, Boyd was a three-year letterwinner and was an All-District First Team Selection during his junior year. In addition to high school ball, Boyd played club ball with the Texas Oilers and is a member of the National Honor Society.
 
DONAVIN BUCK | RHP | 6-6 | 225

Buck is a right-handed pitcher from Brawley, California, and comes to Little Rock from Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. This season, Buck had a 3-3 record with 25 innings pitched, four saves and an average of 8.28 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2016, Buck went 3-1 with four saves in 40.2 innings and averaged 9.30 strikeouts per nine innings. Before Trinidad State, Buck was a four-year letterwinner at Brawley Union High School. There, Buck earned All-League honors and was named the Most Valuable Player. He was also a four-year letterwinner, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-League Offensive First Team selection in football. In addition to high school baseball, Buck played club baseball with the SoCal Bombers and the Colorado Cyclones.
 
CHASE COKER | INF | 6-0 | 195
 
Coker is an infielder from Batesville, Mississippi, and comes to Little Rock from Meridian Community College in Meridian, Mississippi. In 2017, Coker hit .329 with 50 hits, 37 runs, 34 RBIs, a team-high 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 19 stolen bases, a .425 on-base percentage and a .507 slugging percentage. In 2016, Coker hit .274 with 17 hits, 11 runs, 10 RBIs, four stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .400. Coker is a graduate of Lafayette High School in Oxford, Mississippi, and received Offensive MVP, Team MVP and All-Conference honors during his sophomore and junior seasons. In addition to baseball, Coker played four years of football and received Offensive Back MVP, All-Conference Wide Receiver and Offensive Back Honorable Mention honors.
 
CALEB COX | C | 6-0 | 200
 
Cox is a catcher from Broomfield, Colorado, who comes to Little Rock from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. In 2017, Cox hit .346 with 55 hits, 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, a .462 on-base percentage and a .629 slugging percentage. Prior to Butler, Cox was a three-year letterwinner in baseball and one-year letterwinner in football at Broomfield High School. In addition to high school ball, Cox played for the Thunder Baseball Academy club team.
 
ETHAN DAILY | LHP | 6-2 | 205
 
Daily is a left-handed pitcher from Start, Louisiana, and comes to Little Rock from Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi.  In 2017, Daily went 4-2 in 10 starts with an ERA of 2.57 in 42 innings and averaged 10.71 strikeouts per nine innings. Prior to Hinds, Daily spent one season at ULM and pitched 21.1 innings. Daily is a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana, where he was a three-time All-District selection. He earned All-Northeast Louisiana honors in 2015 after batting .350 with two home runs, 29 RBI and a .600 on-base percentage. As a senior, he posted a 1.06 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 32 innings. Daily was also a member of the National Honor Society and FCA.
 
ELDRIGE FIGUEROA | INF | 5-8 | 160
 
Figueroa is a switch-hitting infielder from Carolina, Puerto Rico, and comes to Little Rock from Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida. At Oviedo, Figueroa was an All-Conference First Team selection and helped his team win the 2015 state championship. In addition to high school baseball, Figueroa played club ball with Florida Travel Ball and the Orlando Scorpions.
 
COREY FLANAGAN | LHP | 6-4 | 205
 
Flanagan is a left-handed pitcher from Lutheran South Academy in Houston, Texas. At Lutheran South, Flanagan was a four-year letterwinner and was named an All-District Honorable Mention.
 
AARON FUNK | RHP | 6-5 | 215
 
Funk is a right-handed pitcher from Free State High School in Lawrence, Kansas. He is a 2017 Louisville Slugger All-American Honorable Mention and a Second Team All-State selection. Funk helped his team win the 2015 state championship.
 
JAMES GANN | INF | 6-4 | 220
 
Gann is an infielder from Birmingham, Alabama, and comes to Little Rock from Meridian Community College in Meridian, Mississippi. This season, Gann hit .293 with 29 runs, 43 hits, seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 47 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .346 and a slugging percentage of .619. Prior to Meridian, Gann played three years of baseball and football for Vestavia Hills High School in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and was named to the 2015 All-Over the Mountain Journal Team.
 
CAM KREMERS | LHP | 6-6 | 225
 
Kremers is a left-handed pitcher from Beeville, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. In 2017, Kremers struck out 10 batters in 10.1 innings of work. As a freshman in 2016, Kremers struck out 20 in 17.1 innings. Before college, Kremers graduated from IMG Academy in Bradenton Beach, Florida. Along with baseball, he played three years as a quarterback for the school's football team. In addition to high school baseball, Kremers played club ball with the Houston Heat and Orlando Scorpions.
 
MATT MERINO | INF | 5-10 | 195
 
Merino is an infielder from Corpus Christi, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. This season, Merino hit .430 with 40 hits, eight doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs, eight stolen bases, a .459 on-base percentage and a .559 slugging percentage. Before Alvin, Merino was a two-time All-State selection at Ray High School. In addition to baseball, Merino was a two-time All-State selection in football as a wide receiver and was a member of the National Honor Society.
 
NICK PEREZ | INF | 6-2 | 215
 
Perez is an infielder from Austin, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. In 2017, Perez hit .320 with 39 runs, 21 RBIs, five home runs, a .413 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage. For his efforts, Perez was awarded All-Conference Second Team honors. Prior to San Jacinto, Perez played his freshman season at Texas State and hit .228 with 14 RBIs, 28 hits and 14 runs in 38 games. Perez is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin and took All-District First Team honors in his sophomore and junior seasons. In addition to high school baseball, Perez played club ball with the Houston Heat.
 
GARRETT SCOTT | INF | 6-1 | 195
 
Scott is an infielder from Spring, Texas, and comes to Little Rock from Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. In 2017, Scott hit .333 with 56 hits, 12 doubles, five home runs, 39 RBIs, a .444 on-base percentage and a .494 slugging percentage. As a freshman in 2016, Scott hit .337 with 39 runs, 60 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 40 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .398 and a slugging percentage of .551. Academically, he earned a spot on the WJCAC Honor Roll. Prior to Western Texas, Scott received All-District First Team honors at Klein High School in Spring, Texas.
 
CADE STEPHENS | INF/C | 6-2 | 240
 
Stephens is an infielder/catcher from Blanchard High School in Blanchard, Oklahoma. Stephens is a four-year letterwinner at Blanchard and helped the team win the 2015 state championship. This year, Stephens set Blanchard's single-season record for home runs with 18. In addition to baseball, Stephens also played four years of football and helped the team earn runner-up status in 2013. Stephens is the leader of the FCA and a senior class officer. He also played club baseball with Midwest Elite.
 
JOSE TORRES | RHP | 5-9 | 175
 
Torres is a right-handed pitcher from Rio Rico, Arizona, and comes to Little Rock from Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. This year, Torres went 5-2 with an ERA of 2.36 and 71 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. In 2016, he went 7-3 and struck out 55 batters in 55.2 innings.  At San Ysidro High School, Torres was a two-time First Team selection in the South Bay League.
 
COOPER VAN KOOTEN | INF | 6-0 | 190
 
Van Kooten is an infielder from Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Arkansas. He is a four-year letterwinner and was ranked as the second-best second baseman in Arkansas according to Prep Baseball Report. He led the team in walks and had an on-base percentage of .500. Outside of high school ball, Van Kooten played club ball with the Arkansas Prospects. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, FBLA and the Partners Club.
 
TY WOOTON | INF | 5-10 | 180
 
Wooton is an infielder from Collierville, Tennessee, and comes to Little Rock from Harding Academy in Memphis. At Harding, Wooton was named to the All-District Team his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons and holds the school record for hits, at-bats and singles. Wooton put up a career batting average of .330 and an OPS of .805. He was named to the 2015 Perfect Game/Rawlings Top Prospect Team at the National Indoor Showcase and was a Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention in 2017. In 2015 and 2016, Wooton was named a Preseason Underclassmen All-American Honorable Mention by Perfect Game. As a freshman and junior, he was named to the Region All-Tournament Team and helped his team earn runner-up status in 2016.