Pleasant Grove 8th-grader Browning commits to Arkansas baseball

Pleasant Grove eighth-grader Spencer Browning recently committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas. He is Arkansas' first commit in the 2026 class. (Illustration courtesy of Texarkana Gameday)
Pleasant Grove eighth-grader Spencer Browning recently committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas. He is Arkansas' first commit in the 2026 class. (Illustration courtesy of Texarkana Gameday)

TEXARKANA, Texas -- The University of Arkansas baseball program added two pledges recently, including Pleasant Grove eighth-grader Spencer Browning.

Browning, who is Arkansas' first commit in the 2026 class, was joined by Bryant sophomore left-handed pitcher Gideon Moates to commit for the Razorbacks. Both play summer baseball with the Arkansas Sticks organization.

"We live in a time where kids keep committing younger and younger, and it feels like (Browning) is a kid that is still trying to make the transition to being a high school player," Sticks coach Chase Brewster said of the Pleasant Grove standout infielder and pitcher. "But in his age group, there has never been a time when I have not seen him be the best player on the field. He is a leader. He is the kind of pitcher that always wants the ball even though pitching is his secondary position.

"He always wants to pitch and always wants the ball during a big game, but it is almost impossible to take him off shortstop."

During Arkansas' camp, Brewster said that Browning (6-2, 195 pounds) ran a 6.8-second 60-yard dash while playing shortstop and praised the youngster's athleticism.

"He is the first 2026 prospect in Texas to commit and, as far as I know, the first eighth-grader to ever commit to Arkansas since we started the Sticks," Brewster said. "It speaks to that time that we are in and his talent and all the work that he has put in."

Browning also plays football at Pleasant Grove.

Moates, who is considered one of the best young pitchers in Arkansas, delayed his commitment to Arkansas because he was deciding which sport he wanted to play in college.

"He has had the offer since about last March, but I think it was just a matter of him deciding whether he was going to play college football or college baseball," Brewster said. "If he played baseball, it was always going to be Arkansas."

The Bryant sophomore is also praised by Brewster.

"(Moates) is just an unbelievable athlete," he said. "He has got everything you look for in a high school athlete, in general. He is a left-handed pitcher that just dominates, and is also a switch hitter. He also throws the football right handed.

"He is a three-pitch pitcher -- fastball, curveball and changeup -- and was up to 88 (mph) and has thrown really well for the Sticks in his career. In his last outing in October, he threw up against a WWBA 17-U in Fort Myers, Florida, against Cain's America and just dominated on the mound playing up an age group."

Upcoming Events