ArkLaTex Open: Stats Breakdown

July 3, 2017

Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report ArkLaTex Open took place on Thursday, June 29th, at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. The open event saw over thirty-five players from Louisiana and Arkansas perform in front of several college coaches and the Prep Baseball Report Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi scouting staffs.

2018 C/RHP Conner Wyly (Neville) certainly saw his stock skyrocket on Thursday, as the 6-foot-2, 200-pound catcher continued to impress behind the dish with clean, quick transfers and arm strength on throws down to 2^nd base. Offensively, the right-handed hitter also put together one of the best rounds of batting practice at the event, consistently finding the barrel, showing a gap-to-gap approach with bat speed that posted an exit velocity of 89 mph. Adding to his day, Wyly headed to the mound in the afternoon, preceding to have one of the most impressive bullpen sessions of the day. Using a short arm action into high-3/4 release, Wyly pitched 86-89 mph with his fastball, showing arm side life and tilt to the pitch.

Unsigned 2017 RHP Brendon Baker (Live Oak) was another to impress on the mound on Thursday. Physical 6-foot-2. 205-pound frame, strong build. Baker pitched 83-86 mph with his fastball, but touched 89 mph at one point during his outing, showing late life on the pitch. Also displayed solid feel for slider that flashed sharpness at times with velocity of 72-75 mph. Still looking for a home next fall, the unsigned senior is a good student with a 3.98 GPA and a 26 ACT.

2021 2B/OF Ethan Alston (St. Thomas Aquinas) was the youngest prospect in the event, but was a favorite among many of the evaluators in attendance. Stong 5-foot-9, 156-pound frame, athletic build with defined strength in wrists and forearms. Alston hits from balanced, athletic setup with a smooth load, and short stride. Alston takes a simple, direct path to the baseball with little pre-pitch movement, but still generates bat speed and strength at contact. He also showed advanced athleticism, posting the 2^nd fastest 60-yard dash time of the event, 7.01-seconds.

2020 OF/LHP Matthew Bihm (Centreville Academy) was another young prospect in attendance that is physically advanced beyond his years. Although he showed several present tools throughout the weekend, the advanced level of bat speed that he already creates his eye-opening (94 mph exit velocity). Bihm was also in attendance for the ArkLaTex Tournament, giving our scouting staff a chance to watch him throughout the weekend, as he played for the Louisiana Knights 15U Black. Bihm collected multiple hits throughout the weekend, many of which were for extra-bases, showing potential power to all fields. On the mound, he also showed advanced arm strength, running his fastball up 87 mph.

A complete recap of the event will be coming in the following weeks.

CLICK HERE for complete statistics in PDF format.

Top 60 Times

6.86 – Nick Griffin, OF, Monticello (AR), 2020
7.01 – Ethan Alston, 2B/OF, St. Thomas Aquinas, 2021
7.02 – Payton DeRanger, OF/1B, Delcambre, 2017
7.03 ̶ Bailey Burtram, OF, Ouachita Christian, 2019
7.04 – Matthew Bihm, OF/LHP, Centreville Academy, 2020

Top Fastball Velocity

89 – Conner Wyly, C/RHP, Neville, 2018
89 – Brendon Baker, RHP, Live Oak, 2017
87 – Matthew Bihm, OF/LHP, Centreville Academy, 2020
83 – Cain Ludeau, RHP/3B, Opelousas Catholic, 2018
83 – Will Tynes, RHP/1B, Airline, 2020

Top Exit Velocity

94 – Matthew Bihm, OF/LHP, Centreville Academy, 2020
90 – Rodger Fulmer, 1B/3B, Ouachita Christian, 2019
89 – Conner Wyly, C/RHP, Neville, 2018
88 – Luke Hindman, CIF, Catholic ( AR), 2020
87 ̶ Will Tynes, RHP/1B, Airline, 2020
87 ̶ Will Gross, CIF/RHP, Mountain Home (AR), 2020

Top Infield Velocity

80 ̶ Cain Ludeau, RHP/3B, Opelousas Catholic, 2018
79 – Crew Wilson, 2B/3B, Ouachita Christian, 2019
78 – Will Tynes, RHP/1B, Airline, 2020

Top Outfield Velocity

83 – Bailey Burtram, OF, Ouachita Christian, 2019
82 – Blake Linzay, OF/RHP, West Ouachita, 2019
81 ̶ Matthew Bihm, OF/LHP, Centreville Academy, 2020
81 ̶ Payton DeRanger, OF/1B, Delcambre, 2017