Uncommitted Spotlight: C Matthew Strand

April 7, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Our goal at Prep Baseball Report is to promote high school players, and give them the exposure they need to be able to play at the next level. With the 2020 high school season in limbo, we want to continue to be able to promote players, even when baseball is not being played. Starting today, we will be spotlighting several uncommitted prospects to help them get the exposure they need to play at the next level.

C Matthew Strand (North Gwinnett, 2021) first popped on PBR's radar back in 2017 when he participated in the Junior Future Games with Team Michigan. Since then, he has made steady progress as a prospect, improving his game in all areas. Strand has come a long way since he was a 5-foot-9, 145-pound eighth grader, now standing a strong, sturdy 6-foot, 200-pounds. This added strength has benefited both his arm and his power at the plate. He has shown a fluid swing and a line drive approach to the middle, pull-side both in game and showcases. He was a standout last summer for East Cobb Colt 45s at the PBR National Championship in late July, where he made hard contact and came up with clutch hits. Prior to that, Strand stood out at the Southern Academic Games in North Carolina, posting a 91 mph exit velocity. He has always been a standout defender, routinely posting pop times that range in the 1.9s to the low 2.0s. Strand remains one of the top uncommitted backstops who can both defend at a high level and swing the bat.

Matthew Strand

Scouting Report

7/26/19 - Uncommitted 2021 C Matthew Strand (North Gwinnett) made tons of hard contact today. Strong bodied, athletic prospect, with bat-speed and feel for the bathead. Good looking prospect.

6/18/19 - 5 foot 11, 185-pound average build. Hits from the right side with a tall, relaxed setup using wood during his batting practice rounds. Short stride during his load with his hands working slightly back, creating some bat angle. Fluid swing with his barrel working short to the ball. Worked mostly middle to his pull side with some feel for his barrel. Gets his barrel through the zone with better than average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 91 mph. Quick, fluid feet with a quick exchange and carry to his throws to second base from a high ¾ slot. Pop times ranged from 1.98-2.07. Positional velocity topped at 78 mph from a crouch position. Plays with some rhythm on the infield with fluid feet and above average hands. Funnels to the midsection after catch, using different slots on his throws to first base. Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 83 mph. Recorded a 7.35 in the 60.

11/04/17 - 5-foot-9, 150 pound prospect sets up with low hips and receives with one hand. Shows soft hands while receiving the ball and an accurate throwing arm. Positions his body well behind the plate to block the ball. Kept each throw in front. In the field moves on the balls of his feet fielding out front, takes a step and throws from a high 3/4 arm angle. At the plate uses a balanced stance keeping his hands back. Toe tap load and compact swing with his hands inside the ball. Makes solid contact, top of the order kind of hitter.

60 time: 7.40
Exit velo: 83 mph
Inf velo: 72 mph
C velo: 72 mph
Pop time: 1.96-2.02

8/08/17 - 5-foot-9, 145 pound prospect. At the plate hits out of a slightly open stance using a big leg left to come square as he loads. Kept his barrell in the zone hitting line drives to all fields. Exit velocity was 82 MPH. Behind the plate stays wide while blocking keeping his chest over the ball. Receives the ball with one hand showing good fundamental footwork when throwing down to second base. Pop times were 2.15-2.22. On the infield fields the ball up into his body taking a quick hop step before throwing across the infield from a high 3/4 arm slot. Position velocity was 68 MPH.

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