By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

We traveled to the University of the Cumberlands for the first time on Tuesday, August 4 for the Eastern Kentucky College Prospect Showcase. The event afforded players the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and college coaches in attendance. While it was a smaller event, there were certainly some players who stood out, including a few Class of 2018 players who have potential to be high-level prospects.

The following is a look at the position players from the event. This is position player analysis only. Those players who also pitched at the event will have that evaluation featured in a separate article.

Top statistical performers and complete stats were posted following the event. CLICK HERE to view that information.

Middle Infielders

Brandon Pingleton, RHP/SS, Garrard County HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a mid-length stride, has an arm bar in load creating some length in swing, shows some hand quickness, line drive type hitter with average bat speed, gap to gap approach, 79 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.34 60-yard dash. Shows soft hands and moves well laterally with good body control, short high-3/4 release with accurate throws, solid arm strength at 79 mph across the infield, solid defender with arm being current best tool.

Braxston Hicks, 2B, North Laurel HS, 2016
5-foot-11,175-pound left-handed hitter hits from a slightly closed stance, has a toe tap with a short stride, has a slight arm bar but gets through the zone with quick hands, good use of lower half, good extension through contact and maintains balance, line drive type hitter with a pull approach, good round of BP consistently barreling the baseball, showed bat speed with 89 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.56 60-yard dash. Has soft hands defensively, long exchange, long high-3/4 release with very accurate throws, 78 mph velocity across the infield.

Corner Infielders

Trae Harmon, RHP/3B, Somerset HS, 2018
6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares up with a leg kick and short stride, generates plus bat speed with strong frame, ball jumps off bat to all fields, consistently barreled the baseball, 98 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.52 60-yard dash. Shows good agility for size defensively, capable hands, long high-3/4 release with accurate throws, good arm strength at 83 mph across the diamond, has potential to be one of the top players in the 2018 class.

Cam Dacci, 3B, Henry Clay HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound right handed hitter showed improved arm strength and 60 time. Hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, good balance, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, 80 mph exit velocity off the tee (previous best is 84), ran a 7.33 60-yard dash. Shows soft defensive hands, good corner actions, quick exchange with high-3/4 release, accurate throws across the diamond with 78 mph velocity, good body control and ability to throw on accurately on the move.

Peyton Buford, 1B/OF, Corbin HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 187-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares up with a leg kick and short stride, has a short path to the ball, line drive type hitter with a gap to gap approach, 84 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.46 60-yard dash. Shows good athleticism at first base, moves well with fluid footwork, soft hands, 77 mph velocity across the infield. As an outfielder, plays through the ball with athletic actions, high-3/4 release with 75 mph velocity and some accuracy on throws.

Devin Ecklar, RHP/3B, Madison Central HS, 2019
6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance, short stride but doesn’t square front side at times, line drive type hitter with level swing path, average bat speed, 78 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran an 8.28 60-yard dash. Shows adequate hands, long exchange, short high-3/4 release with accurate throws, 74 mph velocity across the infield, needs to work on lateral agility and foot speed, young player with some tools who should continue to make strides in game with added physical strength.

Kyle Pomeroy, 1B/OF, Whitefield Academy, 2016
6-foot-4, 170-pound right-handed hitter hits from a wide stance with no stride, can incorporate more lower half in swing, long swing path with average bat speed, 76 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a solid 7.11 60-yard dash. Shows soft hands defensively, average movement around the bag, 71 mph velocity across the infield with accurate throws. As an outfielder, plays through the ball, long over the top release with below average arm strength, 72 mph velocity with some accurate throws.

Outfielders

Kross Grundy, OF, Somerset HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 175-pound right handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a leg kick and short stride, stays quiet with a solid approach, shows quick hands, compact swing produces consistent line drives to the gaps, good bat speed with 86 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran event best 7.00 60-yard dash. Plays through the ball well with athletic actions, arm is loose and athletic, long high-3/4 release with very accurate throws, 82 mph velocity with good carry, potential high-level 2018 prospect.

Hagan Elmore, OF/RHP, Pulaski County HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 165-pound right handed hitter hits from a wide base, slight leg kick with minimal stride, has a level swing path with a pull approach, 70 mph exit velocity off the tee, showed good speed for age running a 7.08 60-yard dash, offensive game will benefit from strength gains. Defensively shows some choppiness in footwork, long high-3/4 release with some accurate throws, 78 mph velocity from the outfield.

Tyler Dean, OF/RHP, Trinity HS, 2016
5-foot-9, 180-pound switch hitter has a similar approach from both sides of the plate, balanced stance with a short stride, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, average bat speed from both sides, 76 mph exit velocity from the right side, 78 mph from the left side, ran a 7.95 60-yard dash. Plays through the ball well in the outfield, long over the top release with good accuracy to throws, 78 mph velocity with some carry.

Catchers

Brent Lovell, C, Rockcastle County HS, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound right handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, line drive type hitter shows flashes of gap to gap power, generates good bat speed for age with some quickness in hands, 90 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a solid 7.04 60-yard dash. Defensviely, shows a solid transfer and release, gains ground on throws and footwork stays mostly online, 73 mph velocity with 2.00-2.12 pop times and some accurate throws to the bag (showed 75 mph velocity with 1.92-1.98 pop times at previous event).

Landon Adams, C, Raceland Worthington HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 175-pound right handed hitter hits an open stance and squares up with a mid-length stride, short swing path with loose hands, took a solid round of BP with line drives to the gaps, 81 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.18 60-yard dash. Good athleticism behind the plate, quick feet with a quick transfer and release, 69 mph velocity with 2.04-2.15 pop times on accurate throws to the second base bag, solid receiver.

Jacob Harrison, C, Williamsburg Independent HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 185-pound right handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, toe tap with a short stride, shows raw strength in swing, ball jumps of the bat when he squares it up, has potential to hit for power, 77 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran an 8.21 60-yard dash. Showed 73 mph velocity from behind the plate with some accurate throws, has room for quicker transfer and release, footwork stays online with room to improve quickness, 2.18-2.34 pop times, good blocking ability.