By Nathan Rode and PBR Staff

Two of Missouri’s top prospects made verbal commitments recently with RHP/SS Tyler Benninghoff (Rockhurst HS, MO) choosing Arkansas on Monday and C Jacob Matheny (Westminster Christian Academy, MO) choosing Indiana early last week. Benninghoff’s older brother, Jack Benninghoff, is a freshman outfielder for the Razorbacks. The younger Benninghoff has an athletic, projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. He has a loose, easy delivery that currently produces mid-80s fastballs with more in the tank. Matheny is the third brother to commit to a Division I program, but the first to follow their father—Cardinals manager Mike Matheny—as a Big Ten catcher. Mike Matheny attended Michigan before going on to a 13-year big league career. The oldest brother, OF Tate Matheny, is currently a junior at Missouri State while RHP Luke Matheny is a senior at Westminster and committed to Oklahoma State. Jacob Matheny has shown good receiving ability behind the plate and pop times in the 1.97-2.04 second range.

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