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PODCAST: Northern CA ProCase

STOCKTON, CA. - The 2019 MLB Draft was completed on June 5th and on June 9th we shifted our focus to the 2020 class at the Northern California ProCase. A select group of players were invited to participate in this exclusive event geared toward draft prospects and high level collegiate talents with future draft potential. Players were put through a pro-style workout with various stats/data recorded during the workouts which can be found HERE. 

Be sure to click on the highlighted player to see more video and notes from previous viewings at PBR events and game play from previous spring seasons. We continue our player spotlights from the event:

LHP Rio Britton (Capital Christian)

A VERY talented and projectable rising senior LHP still uncommitted? Yes, in California that can and does happen. Rio Britton is one such pitcher. The long (6-foot-2, 180-pounds) lanky Britton is still coming into his own, both physically and in regard to his highly projectable talents. His arms are long, his legs are long, he has a frame that will handle strength and size and also the loose, fluid body type/actions that should continue to allow him to work free and easy.

We'd seen Britton on a number of occasions and have consistently been drawn to what he is and more so, what he MIGHT be someday. What was perhaps most fun was seeing the MLB scouts get their introduction to him. Most of them had not seen him or been aware of him, but when Britton walked to the mound and started warming up, they migrated from the 1st base dugout to behind the plate, video cameras in hand. He's got that type of body and arm action that simply said... is what IT looks like.

With a deep but controlled backside arm action and high-3/4 slot, Britton's arm works very easily. The ball comes out of his hand with ease. Part of that is due to his lower half, with strong legs and a good foundation for stability. His listed weight of 180-pounds might be lower than what he's developed into, as he appears much more strong and developed than I saw him late March and in the fall of 2018. There is some slight head pulling action that at times causes his hat to fall off during the delivery and he can work better in line to the plate vs some rotational upper body movement. There are of course some mechanical adjustments in his future with a collegiate or professional pitching coach/program and it's exciting to consider him with that caliber of training.

Regarding the present day Rio Britton, that version is also quite good. The fastball has late life, riding late through the zone and it's the type of fastball that hitters just don't seem to be able to consistently lay off, even when he's out of the zone. It's the high fastball I have seen him have tremendous success with. Britton isn't an out of control thrower who gets swings and misses, he's got a controlled method about him and just has that rare ability to get swings and misses out of the zone. Mark Langston was that way, Blake Snell is that way, as is Robbie Ray, which in terms of stuff and how it plays, would be an apt comp.

Britton has a slider that at times flashes as a future plus offering, with late bite and shape that powers under bats. That pitch can be utilized as a swing and miss out-pitch or can catch hitters looking, given the late action. He also has a change-up and slower curveball, but it's the fastball/slider combo that can be lethal. If in the future he can pitch with an above average/plus fastball to go with a plus slider, obviously we are talking about a left-hander with a significant ceiling.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Inland Empire Top Prospect ID	CA	07/23	Santiago High School
Northern California Top Prospect ID	CA	07/24	St. Mary's College
Junior Future Games	NATIONAL	07/30	LakePoint
2019 PBR Future Games (California Invite)	CA	07/31	LakePoint - Cartersville, GA
California State Games	CA	08/17	Vanguard University
Kern County Prospect I.D.	CA	09/07	Cal State Bakersfield
SoCal Prospect Games	CA	09/14	JSerra High School
Rising Stars Showcase	CA	09/21	Santiago High School
N. CA Uncommitted Senior Games	CA	10/06	College of Marin

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