State sports briefs

BASEBALL

Hogs land pitcher

The University of Arkansas has received a baseball commitment from right-handed pitcher Barrett Kent.

Kent, 6-4, 187 pounds, of Pottsboro, Texas, committed to the Razorbacks' recruiting class for 2023.

Kent, 15, completed his freshman year at Pottsboro and plays summer baseball for the Dallas Patriots. He said he was recruited by Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs beginning about a month ago.

"Arkansas has always been one of my dream schools and really once they started taking interest it was a no-brainer," Kent said.

"My parents [who attended Texas Tech] almost went there for college, and both of my neighbors went, and they are die-hard Razorback fans. I've been keeping up with them and they've been pushing on me."

Kent throws a fastball, change up and slider. His fastball has been consistently hitting 88-89 mph, he said.

As a freshman, Kent pitched in four of his varsity team's 10 games. He recorded a 3-0 record with 27 strikeouts and pitched 2 complete games.

As a hitter, Kent was 16 for 32 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI.

Kent is at least the fourth player to commit to the Razorbacks' 2023 class, joining right-handed pitchers Kyler Spencer of Conway and Jared White of Southlake (Texas) Carroll, and left-handed pitcher Hayden Thomas of Lexington, S.C.

Verbal commitments are not binding.

-- Matt Jones

Sports on 06/05/2020

Upcoming Events