SoCal ProCase Spotlight: RHP Juaron Watts-Brown

Right-handed pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown, a Texas Tech commit, is listed at 6-foot-2 175 pounds, showing a large frame with a high waist and noticeable lower half strength. Projectable build overall with more space for strength in his current lean and wiry upper half. Per the stats available to us, Watts-Brown finished his 2019 junior season with a 3-1 record compiling a 1.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 24 walks while allowing 12 earned runs over 44 ⅔ innings pitched for Hanford High School. Watts-Brown also starred for the schools football team posting a quarterback rating of 105.2, throwing for 1240 yards on a completion percentage of 58% with 11 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions all while rushing for 883 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Watts-Brown showed a lively arm from a ¾ release that impressed throughout his ProCase pitching performance. The consistent whip-like arm action featured above-average extension that created fastball action that jumped on hitters playing up his present fastball velocity of 85-89 mph. Fastball lacked significant movement but showed consistent angle down in the zone. Watts-Brown curveball broke with sharp bite at 72-74 mph on a two-plane trajectory with depth and current swing and miss capability. Displaying average command and feel for the pitch that should only get better with increased strength and maturity at the next level. 

Mechanically, Watts-Brown does a nice job keeping it simple and letting his lively arm do the work all while creating above-average lower half extension. The compact leg lift and lower half drive looks effortless and should only get better with time. At times his body pulled off glove side inhibiting his consistent command on both the fastball and curveball. Balance is above-average and really showed well keeping his head still and inline with his target. The high school career 4.98 walks per 9 show some cause for concern but the future year round sole focus on baseball and pitching will surely decrease that number. The 5.34 hits per 9 shows that his stuff is there and that with the development of a third pitch that number should stay relatively stable. 

Watts-Brown overall body of work on the baseball field and football field create an exciting athletic pitching prospect. The arm action itself impressed the most and will certainly lead to a velocity increase sooner rather than later. Clearly a name to keep an eye on heading into his senior season before heading to Texas Tech or hearing his name called during the 2020 MLB Draft.