Quick Hits: State Games (2024 Class)
September 29, 2022
The PBR Louisiana staff had a good feeling about what we were going to see at this past Sunday's State Games. From uncommitted seniors looking to find a home, to rising freshman trying to make a good first impression; there was talent all over Turchin Stadium on Sunday and talent from every single class. Today, we continue our post-event coverage of the State Games with another edition of Quick Hits. This piece focuses on some of the prospects, in the 2024 class, who stood out for either their performance during the workout, gameplay, or both. Over the coming days, we will roll out a couple more editions of Quick Hits that will focus on the 2025 and 2026 classes. Let's take a look at the juniors who stood out below!
2024 Class
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Brooks Wright OF / OF / Catholic (BR), LA / 2024Uber-projectable 6'3" 185 lbs. frame that will continue to fill out as he matures and continues to add strength. We've talked about Wright quite a bit since this summer's Top Prospect Games and Future Games and we were excited to get to see him again on Sunday. To no one's surprise, the Catholic High product turned in an event best 6.57 in the 60, but we were most eager to see his at-bats in game, and it looks as if he's really starting to learn his swing and approach. In consecutive at-bats, Wright hit a single through the six hole and came up in his next at-bat and fought off several tough pitches before chopping a ground ball in the six hole, in which he beat out for an infield hit. He promptly stole 2nd and 3rd on the next two pitches, showcasing one of the ways that his speed translates in game. The sky is the limit for a left-handed hitting prospect like Wright, who boasts plus speed and the ability to stick in centerfield long term. |
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Lawson Bourgeois 3B / RHP / St. Amant, LA / 2024Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 3
Physical 6'1" 190 lbs. frame with a strong lower half. St. Amant had one of the best runs out of any school last spring, as they finished as the State Runner-Up to West Monroe, after entering the playoffs as the #8 speed. One of the main reasons for their success was the "#1, #2" pitching duo of Jacob Mayers and Dallis Moran. Mayers has graduated and is now at Nicholls State, while Moran is back for his senior year. Insert Bougeois here, as he looks like a guy that can pair well with Moran for the Gators to make another run this coming spring. On Sunday, Bourgeois struggled with his control at times, but when he was in the zone, he saw a lot of in-zone swings and misses on his FB. He uses a controlled and repeatable delivery and releases the ball over the top using a short and quick arm action with a slight stab in the back. His FB has good downward tilt and sat 83-86 mph, while his CB and CH looked to still be developing secondary offerings at the moment. |
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Evan Wright C / RHP / Fontainebleau, LA / 2024Rankings StateRank: 72 / POS: 6
Stocky 5'10" 205 lbs. frame with a physical lower half. The Fontainbleu HS product caught our eye at this summer's Top Prospect Games, after swinging a heavy barrel and launching several pitches at the University of Louisiana. Fast-forward to this past Sunday, and Wright again showed that he has power and can flat out hit. During batting practice, he once again showed quick hands and short path to the baseball by using a tight turn to contact, and an aggressive rotation of the lower half. This resulted in a 96 mph max exit velocity for Wright, and in the game, he was able to collect a really nice opposite field single on a fastball up and away. |
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Garrett Taylor RHP / SS / St. Frederick , LA / 2024Rankings StateRank: 43 / POS: 11
Efficient, quick, and clean would be words to describe Taylor's State Games outing on Sunday. The St. Frederick's right hander wasted no time in between pitches and attacked hitters with his full arsenal. Taylor uses an athletic and repeatable delivery with minimal effort and finishes on-line with his hips and shoulders square to his target. Shorter arm circle with a loose arm action, he got ahead of hitters with his 80-82 mph FB that he was able to command to both his glove and arm side. A shorter and tighter 70-72 mph CB and a late fading 75-76 mph CH were also used by Taylor and landed for strikes in any count. |
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Nik Toups LHP / 1B / Sam Houston, LA / 2024Rankings StateRank: 106 / POS: 12
Physical and imposing 6'3" 230 lbs. frame. The Sam Houston product was definitely one of the more interesting pitching prospects on Sunday and for good reason. The first thing that stands out with Toups is his physical presence and durable frame. Operating on the third base side of the rubber, he uses a slower delivery with a low leg lift and a full arm circle with a long and loose arm action, releasing from a 3/4 slot. The first thing that stood out with Toups was some of the swings that he was getting on his fastball, especially to left-handed hitters. His fastball velocity (80-83 mph) was far from overpowering, however, he induced some of the best swings and misses on the day off of his heavy fastball with serious sink and run. Control wasn't an issue for Toups, as he showed the ability to throw strikes. Now, if he can really start to command his fastball and improve his breaking ball, as he already owns a solid changeup, Toups will be a guy to watch for this spring for the Broncos. |