The Prep Baseball Report Future Games took place at the first-class Lakepoint Sports Complex in Emerson, GA.  The top uncommitted prospects in the 2023 and 2024 graduating classes had the opportunity to compete in a showcase style workout and three games, in front of over 300 college coaches, against more than 30 states, as well as Canada.  Familiar faces in the baseball circuit continued to show their skills, while new names made their mark and increased their stock.  Louisiana finished the event 2-1, with wins against Missouri and Arkansas, as well as a 10-7 loss against a super talented Texas club.  Below, we take a look at the performances of the pitchers from the Future Games.

 

PITCHERS

 

-2024 RHP Grant Breaux (Catholic BR HS):  Projectable, lean, and wiry 6'1" 160 lbs. frame; Breaux was a guy that we were super excited to see after his performance at the Top Prospect Games in June, where we saw a +5 mph velocity increase on his FB.  The Catholic BR product tossed a clean inning of relief against Missouri in Game 1 and started Game 3 vs. a potent Texas lineup.  Breaux surrendered a couple of big hits to Texas, but he still showed a lot of promise and has the makings to be a weekend starter at the next level.  He sat mostly 84-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph with his FB to go along with a 67-69 mph CB and a 73-74 mph CH.  As he continues to fill out his frame, we expect the velocity and "stuff" to continue to get better and better. 

 

-2023 LHP Riley Marcotte (Loreauville HS):   Marcotte was apart of the 2020 Future Games Louisiana club and returned again this summer for his second appearance.  The southpaw hails from Loreauville HS, where he led the team all the way to the LHSAA Class 2A Semifinals.  Marcotte started Game 1 vs. Missouri and then came back in Game 3 to close vs. Team Texas.  His FB velocity stayed 81-84 mph, topping out at 86 mph, which is where we saw him last summer.  His FB control was a bit erratic in Game 1 vs. Missouri and it didn't help that the Louisiana defense made a couple of errors as well.  In Game 3 vs. Texas, Marcotte did a much better job of pounding the strike zone with his FB, as well as his 73-74 mph CB.  The arm works and the frame has plenty of room to add strength, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses over the next few months, heading into a pivotal junior season. 

 

-2023 RHP Hayden Robinson (Berwick HS):  What makes the Future Games so much fun, is that each year, there are prospects that burst onto the recruiting scene after being relatively unknown coming into the event.  That guy for Louisiana, this year, was Hayden Robinson.  The Berwick HS product threw an inning of relief against Team Missouri in Game, before coming back and making another relief appearance against Team Texas in Game 3.  During his Game 1 appearance vs. Missouri, Robinson pumped strikes in what turned out to be a 1-2-3 inning.  FB sat 85-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph and he showed the ability to land a 72-73 mph CB with above average spin and depth.  Expect Robinson to move up considerably in our next 2023 State Rankings update.

-2024 LHP Brennan Eager (West Monroe HS):  Eager was another guy who made a name for himself on the big stage during the Future Games.  The West Monroe product started Game 2 vs. Arkansas and pitched 3 innings.  He was a little erratic with his control in the first inning, which was a bit expected with hundreds of college recruiters watching.  However, he settled in the 2nd and 3rd inning, by doing what he does best...pounding the strike zone.  FB sat 78-81 mph, topping out at 82 mph with classic left hander arm side run and sink.  He kept hitters off balance by mixing in a big, loopy 65-69 mph CB, as well as a split finger that had the characteristics of a knuckleball.  This was a good start for Eager to get on colleges radars and with Lane Little heading to ULM this fall, we expect Eager to be a key piece of the 2022 West Monroe Rebels squad.  

 

-2023 RHP Tate Hess (Singer HS):   Physical and imposing 6'2" 220 lbs. frame, much like Grant Breaux, Hess earned an invite to the Future Games after his performance at our Top Prospect Games in June.  Hess made the most of his opportunity on the big stage, as he commanded his 84-88 mph FB to both sides of the plate, as well as up and down in the zone.  Each time we've seen the big righty from Singer, his breaking ball has continued to improve, and it stayed on that trajectory at the Future Games.  His CB sat 70-75 mph and reached almost 2400 RPM per Trackman Baseball and he also was able to land his 77-79 mph CH for strikes.  Hess profiles as a starter and has the durable frame to be one.  Uncommitted for now, we fully expect Hess's name to come off the board soon.

 

-2024 RHP Giancarlo Arencibia (Rummel HS):  Lean and wiry 6'0" 145 lbs. frame; Arencibia was yet another guy who made a name for himself at our Top Prospect Games in June.  He tossed 3 innings of relief against Team Missouri and came through in a big way.  In his first inning of work, the Rummel product came in with runners on and 1 out and recorded two big back to back K's to shift the momentum back in Louisiana's favor.  He pounded the zone with his 82-86 mph FB, topping out at 87 mph, and was able to locate it in all quadrants.  Arencibia also showed aptitude for spin with his 70-74 mph CB that stayed between 2300-2400 RPM per Trackman baseball.  After his performance, he quickly started to receive attention from several schools and as he continues to get stronger and more physical, that attention should only increase.

-2023 RHP Colin Simon (St. Paul's HS):  Athletic and physical 6'0" 190 lbs. frame; Simon comes from a baseball family, with older brother Connor heading to LSU this fall.  The St. Paul's product threw a couple innings in relief against Texas in Game 3.  Overall, his performance wasn't up to par with what we've seen from him this summer, however, he still managed to make some good pitches in key situations.  Simon has an athletic delivery that is deliberate and up-tempo, with a short and quick arm action.  His FB sat 85-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph with average life through the zone.  The most interesting pitch in his arsenal, was his 71-74 mph screwball, in which he used to strikeout a Texas hitter during his first inning of relief work.  With Matthew Russo graduating, someone will need to fill that void on the mound and complement 2023 LHP Kade Anderson (LSU Commit).  If Simon can locate his FB, while mixing in his two secondary offerings, he should be the guy that the Wolves turn to.