Commitment Q&A: 2019 Adam Parra Picks Central Arizona
November 20, 2018
With NCAA and NJCAA commits signing this month we will be checking in with a number of committed prospects in all classes to talk about their college selections. We recently sat down with 2019 Central Arizona commit RHP Adam Parra about why he chose the junior college route and what sold him on the Vaqueros. Full video, verified data and scouting reports from our looks at Parra are included at the bottom of the article. As always please email [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona with any news or commitment info.
PBR: Why did you choose Central Arizona?
Parra: I chose Central Arizona because of the opportunities they presented to me. To get better as a player, to become more knowledgable about the art of pitching, a very well developed throwing program to increase my velocity by getting stronger physically and mentally. The opportunity to get drafted early and if that doesn't work out, go on to further my career and education at a D1 school and see where my talents take me.
PBR: What coach on staff was your primary recruiter and how it that relationship?
Parra: My primary recruiter was Coach Joe Perez and our relationship has been great!
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Parra: Other schools I was considering was Grand Canyon University, Cal State Fullerton, New Mexico State and University of Southern California.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
Parra: The coaching staff first saw me at some local tournaments I played in last fall and continued to follow me throughout my junior year leading up to the area code tryout.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Parra: My parents have been a big supporter and help with my baseball career but a certain place that has helped me get where I am today is a training facility called “Top-Tier Training” or T3. It has been a huge impact on my playing performance and has helped me get stronger throughout my high school career and could not be where I am today without them.
PBR: What role did PBR play in your recruiting process?
Parra: PBR has played a very impactful role in my recruiting process by getting my name out there and helping me connect with many college coaches on all levels by going to the showcases.
PBR: Who do you play for in the summer/fall and what has that experience been like?
Parra: I play for Wilson Sandlot during the summer/fall and that experience has been awesome. The teams that Rob Gorell puts together have always been full of talent and that has allowed me to learn and play with some of the best players in the state.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have for you during your freshman year?
Parra: The plans the coaching staff have for me for my freshman season at Central are to continue to play as a two-way guy and to further develop my velocity to consistently throw 90+ on the mound.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Parra: One of my most memorable baseball moments to date is pitching at the Area Code Games in front of many d1 colleges and MLB scouts.
PBR: Who is the toughest hitter you have faced in Arizona?
Parra: 2019 Oregon State commit JD McLaughlin, the guy knows his stuff and he’ll crush a mistake when it’s there.
Scouting Report
6/27/18 - 6-foot-2, 210 pound frame. Body has cleaned up some. Parra has been on the PBR radar since last fall and is one the better available arms in the state. Clean delivery, gets arm up quickly, high ¾ release, dynamic lower half, present arm speed, repeats well. Gets into impressive positions especially given the size. Fastball ranged from 86-88 mph with heaviness. Curveball was thrown at 68-72 mph in varying movement, could develop more depth. Also used a 74-77 mph change up that featured fading action. Feel for all of his pitches. Very interesting follow.
1/28/18 - 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame with thick lower half. Can be a college contributor on either side of the ball, but highest ceiling is on the mound where he worked 82-84 mph, touching 85. Uses a short arm action, getting on top of the baseball quickly and driving it downhill to home plate with some heaviness. Showed ability to sink his changeup at 70-72 mph and also mixed in a 68-69 mph curveball with varying shape. Legitimate feel for three pitches. Shows strength in swing with slight uphill path. Tends to get started late and allow the ball to get deep in the zone. Posted 86 mph exit velocity and showed legitimate power that will play at the college level. Worked out at 3B where he looks comfortable and his arm plays (81 mph infield velo), also showing some softness in his hands, but feet likely project best to 1B. Posted 7.68 60-yard dash.
10/29/17 –6-foot-2, 210-pound frame with wide hips and a thick lower half. Interesting two-way prospect showed best on the mound where he worked 83-85, T86 with his heavy fastball, utilizing a full windup and short, clean arm action. Generates good downhill plane with strong front side and high ¾ slot. Showed consistent rotation on 69-71 mph curveball with 11/5 shape and advanced feel for 72-75 mph changeup with good arm speed and sinking action. Big frame and feel for three pitches make him an intriguing prospect on the mound. Offensively, his best tool is his bat, turning in an 87 mph exit velocity with a simple, balanced swing. Generates impressive raw power and was consistently on the barrel. Shows strong arm at 3B with 81 mph infield velocity with longer arm action and could also profile to 1B at the next level.