Preseason All-State Spotlight: Dalton Strickland
January 10, 2019
This Saturday will mark the first Georgia showcase of 2019, and it’s a significant one: Preseason All-State. An invite-only event for the state’s top prospects in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 classes. To request an invite, click here.
We’ll start ramping up to Saturday’s high-profile event by shining the spotlight onto some of the prospects who will be joining us at the showcase. Today, we take a look at two-way prospect Dalton Strickland, out of Loganville Christian. A member of Team Select at the 2018 PBR Future Games, he is currently ranked No. 46 in Georgia's Class of 2020. We have had two good looks at Strickland in the past 6 months, one at the aforemention Future Games, and more recently in October at the Deep South Invite. Strickland emerged from the event as one of the top overall performers. Over the course of the event he posted event highs in fastball velocity, home-to-first, and outfield velocity. Te uncommitted prospect will be one to watch moving forward.
SCOUTING REPORT
Deep South Invite 10/14/18:
Strickland is a very young for class 2020 OF prospect that has an excellent body at 6-foot-2 180-pounds. We have seen Strickland get stronger over the course of the year and it is starting to show up in his game. He posted an 85 mph exit velocity at the event and see even more coming in the future. Strickland has a well built swing and shows balance and form at in the batters box. Strickland stroke plays best middle of away right now, but will flash strong gap power into the left-center gap. Defensively Strickland profiles more a corner outfield spot at the next level, but has excellent actions and plays through the baseball very well. His ability to back-spin the ball on his release give him strong carry to the ball and throws much better than the velocity indicates, and has chance to project into a plus arm from the outfield. Strickland is a good baseball player and has been productive for a long time. He will continue to be a very close follow for us over the next couple of years.
Deep South Invite 10/14/18: Pitching
Strickland is no stranger to Prep Baseball Report and continues to show progress on the mound. He has always shown the ability to get hitters out, but is getting stronger and has seen his velocity climb into the mid 80's. Strickland has an excellent build and is very young for his 2020 class. Strickland has always shown the ability to use his secondary pitches effectively and as velocity and strength grow, look for more swings and misses. Still untapped ability coming and will continue to be a close follow as he closes in on the right fit at the next level.
North Georgia Trials: 6-19-2018
As a young rising junior, Strickland sports an excellent 6-foot-2 180-pound frame. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses a straight away set-up with hands cocked in a position of strength. Swing is long and strong with plenty of leverage. Strickland tries to elevate the baseball and has a slight uppercut to his stroke. When he stays back and lets the ball travel he shows the ability to drive the ball into both gaps. Defensively he moves well in the outfield and is an easy, relaxed fielder of the baseball who shows projectable arm strength out of a high overhand slot. On the mound, he offers an athletic, on-line delivery with high leg kick and good direction to the plate. The fastball is mostly straight but offers good downhill angle. Curveball shows good shape and rotation out of his overhand arm slot. The change-up is his third pitch and shows promise when down in the zone. Athletic delivery with feel for three pitches that all come from the same window.
Loganville Christian vs Social Circle 3-15-2018:
Strickland is an uncommitted 2020 OF/RHP that has a good frame and baseball actions. Shows a big loose swing with bat-speed at the plate. On the bump the sophomore is (80-83) with a high overhand slot and shape to a loose 12-6 curveball. He still needs to mature and add strength, but baseball after high school at some level is in his future.