FAYETTEVILLE — Matt Reynolds didn’t take long to begin his professional career.
Reynolds, who played third base for an Arkansas baseball team that came within one victory of reaching the championship series of the College World Series three days ago, signed Monday with the New YorkMets.
The Mets selected Reynolds in the second round (71st overall) of the 2012 major-league draft in June, making Reynolds the highest of eight Arkansas players taken in the draft. Reynolds is scheduled to play for the Mets’ Class A affiliate in Savannah, Ga. Terms of his contract were not disclosed.
Reynolds had a standout junior season while leading Arkansas (46-22) to a third place finish in the College World Series. He led Arkansas in most offensive categories, including batting average (.323), home runs (7), RBI (45), runs scored (48), doubles (20), total bases (117), slugging percentage (.498), walks (40), on-base percentage (.427) and stolen bases (16 of 21).
Reynolds, who began the season with a career .233 batting average, was selected first-team All-SEC and third team All-America by Collegiate Baseball magazine. He had a .950 fielding percentage this season and committed 10 errors while starting games at third and second base for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas went 7-3 in the NCAA Tournament and finished third in the College World Series for the second time in four years. Reynolds had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in his final game Friday, when the Razorbacks were eliminated 3-2 by South Carolina.
Reynolds and pitcher Nolan Sanburn (Oakland Athletics) were each selected in the second round of the major league draft while pitcher DJ Baxendale (Minnesota Twins) was selected in the 10th round. Other Razorbacks drafted include shortstop Tim Carver (19th round by Philadelphia Phillies) outfielder Sam Bates (28th round by Kansas City Royals), left-handed pitcher Randall Fant (29th round by the Cleveland Indians), outfield Derrick Bleeker (37th round by the Baltimore Orioles) and outfielder Jacob Morris (37th round by the Cleveland Indians).
Sports, Pages 17 on 06/26/2012