Searcy's Dillon Howard Among Razorback Signees, Players Expecting Call In MLB Draft

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Searcy's Dillon Howard Among Razorback Signees, Players Expecting Call In MLB Draft

by Chris Bahn on Monday, Jun. 6, 2011 9:00 am

Searcy pitcher Dylan Howard is projected as the No. 18 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft, which begins tonight. Howard has signed with Arkansas. (Photo by MLB.com)

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas recruited against a number of colleges for the service of Searcy pitcher Dillon Howard. That was just the start.

Now the Razorbacks will likely be fighting a Major League Baseball organization for the 6-foot-2, right-hander with a 95-mile-per-hour fastball.

Howard, recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arkansas, is one of three Razorback signees that could hear their name called tonight in the draft’s first round.

MLB.com has Howard rated as the No. 18 prospect overall. Wyoming native Brandon Nimmo — despite not playing high school baseball — is No. 29. Both are possibilities to be drafted today in the opening round, along with Oklahoma product and Arkansas signee Michael Fulmer, also regarded by some as a Top 50 prospect.

“We’ll have to ride that out,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said last week.

A year ago the Razorbacks lost recruit Justin O’Conner, a first round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays. Arkansas, however, kept highly touted prospects Dominic Ficociello and pitcher Ryne Stanek. Both Ficociello and Stanek were contributors for the Razorbacks this season.

Stanek earned a victory in a game against Charlotte in the NCAA Tempe Regional on Sunday. He was 4-2 this season with a 3.94 ERA. Ficociello, who batted .335 with 50 runs batted in, recorded a freshman-record 75 hits.

Keeping those guys from going to pro careers helped Arkansas reach a 10^th consecutive NCAA Tournament. Van Horn is hopeful the Razorbacks can keep Howard, Nimmo and Fulmer around and get contributions from them in 2012.

Not likely to stick around is Arkansas junior catcher James McCann. He is also a strong possibility to be drafted tonight or early on Day 2 of the draft. Rounds two through 30 are Tuesday and the final 19 rounds are held Wednesday.

McCann, a 31^st round pick in the 2008 draft, hit .306 with team-leading six home runs this season. His intelligence and defensive ability behind the plate are seen as positives for teams.

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