Summer baseball is in full swing and a number of current Diamond Hogs are honing their craft in various leagues throughout the country, including freshman Jacob Nesbit who put on a hitting clinic on Monday night with the Bismarck (N.D.) Larks.

Nesbit, a freshman infielder from Coppell (Tex.), is spending his offseason on the Bismarck Larks, members of the Northwoods League. Last night, Nesbit was phenomenal, finishing 4 for 5 with a whopping 6 RBIs and a home run, earning the title of Northwoods League Player of the Night. The 6-0 Razorback strung together an RBI single, a 2-run long bomb, another RBI single and ended the contest with a 2-RBI double. The Larks racked up 18 total hits in the 12-4 victory over Mankato.



The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league, comprised of 20 teams made up of some of the highest-skilled college athletes in North America and elsewhere. Remaining collegiate eligibility is a requirement to take part. Wooden bats and minor league specified baseballs are used in order to prepare the players for the next level. 72 games are played between late May and mid-August. The NWL is considered the premier summer baseball association.



Currently, Nesbit and the Larks sit at 4-9 overall in the North Division, seven games behind the first-place La Crosse Loggers. Nesbit and the Larks face off against Mankato again tonight, Tuesday, July 17 at 7:05 pm (CT).



While attending Coppell High School, Nesbit hit .294 with 21 RBIs, 15 runs, four doubles and a homer in his junior season. The season prior to that, he hit .354 and stole 26 bases, adding seven doubles, four triples and 15 RBIs. His sophomore production earned him UIL All-District 7-6A Newcomer of the Year. Heading into his junior campaign, Nesbit was named third team Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-American. Nesbit signed with the University of Arkansas in 2017 as the No.4-ranked shortstop in nation and the No. 31 player in the state of Texas, according to Perfect Game.



Because the Arkansas infield was mostly set this entire season, Nesbit never saw the field as a freshman. With the departure of shortstop Jax Biggers, he could potentially factor in at that spot. Some have speculated that third baseman Casey Martin may slide into his natural position as a middle-infielder. If that’s the case, Nesbit could provide quality depth behind him or possibly compete for a spot at second or third base, considering both areas would be vacant with the transition of Martin and graduation of Carson Shaddy. If Nesbit continues the offensive tear he’s currently enjoying, it may be challenging for Dave Van Horn and company to keep him out of the lineup in 2019.

