Top Profiles of 2020: No. 20 Banks Langston
December 14, 2020
We start off our countdown of the Top Player Profiles in 2020 at No. 20 where '23 OF/RHP Banks Langston (Russellville HS) comes in. Langston was a member of Team Alabama at the PBR Junior Future Games in 2019 and has continued to show well at PBR events this year.
Listed at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, Langston has some real potential as a two-way player. One of the more athletic players in the 2023 class in Alabama, as he recorded a 6.71 60 YD at the Junior Future Games in 2019. Langston shows a solid feel for the barrel at the plate with a line drive approach. Continues to swing it well and put up impressive stat lines during gameplay at numerous tournaments over the summer at LakePoint Sports Complex. On the mound, the velocity has continued to climb as he was clocked up to 85 mph at the 14U National Championship this summer. Shows feel for spin on the breaking ball and can command the changeup in the zone.
No. 20 Banks Langston
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Scouting Report
5-foot-11, 160-pound athletic frame. In the box, the right-handed hitters best exit velocity was 83 mph. Began in an open stance with a smooth load, then used a leg kick just before his swing. Had upward swing plane, and his bat speed was above average. Through his round he found some barrels with some loud contact. Gap to gap approach. Advanced from the outfield, he made throws to the infield at velocities up to 87 mph; showed a clean exchange and athletic footwork. Had an-over-the-top slot and a long arm action with consistent accuracy to the base. Showed his athleticism during the event with a sub-seven 60 time of 6.87. Athletic on the mound, showed a consistent arm action and a high ¾ arm angle with quick arm speed Showed easy effort in his delivery. Has an athletic finish. Threw his fastball 82-83 mph and topped out at 84 mph; shows very consistent control. Threw a sharp curveball (70-71) with sweeping action and very consistent control.
Langston continues to prove why he is one of the better arms in the ‘23 class. Really nice arm action and clean mechanics makes him a possible high ceiling arm. He shows an easy delivery and the fastball really jumps out of the hand as he commanded the pitch up to 84 mph with spin rates in the mid 2000’s- low 2100’s. The breaking ball is firm with slider action in the low 70’s that he kept down in the zone. Nice athlete in the OF that can run. Slightly open stance at the plate with a leg kick approach that helps him generate some power. There is nice bat speed and strength in the hands. Slight tilt in the swing plane producing tilted line drives. The arm strength also showed during the outfield portion as he was 86 mph. A lot to like here.
Clean mechanics and actions on the mound that shows solid mechanics that he does a nice job repeating. We saw the FB with a little more velo previously but the pitch still shows nice action with late ASR into RH hitters. The breaking ball took nice shape with late depth and tight spin. A clean arm in the ‘23 class to follow. In the OF he shows advanced athleticism with nice speed and plenty of arm strength (84 mph). Showed a quick transfer on the throw. At the plate, he had an impressive day from his open stance to get started. He showed a level swing path that consistently produced hard line drives to the middle of the field. During game play, he had two loud AB’s with hard hit balls up the middle. Like this ‘23.
Impressive young player. Very natural actions in the OF with big time athleticism shown by his 6.79 60 yard dash. The OF arm is plus showing accuracy and an event best 84 mph OF velo. At the plate he started with an open stance and did a nice job of getting the hands to the “launch” position. The lower half was balanced throughout the swing. Very nice stuff on the mound with quick arm action showing a heavy FB up to 81. Had the same arm action with all 3 pitches, showing tight spin on the breaking ball and the change up showed plus tumble. Will be an interesting follow in the ‘23 class