Bootheel Preseason ID: Player Analysis
February 2, 2023
By: Diego Solares
Area Scout, Illinois & Missouri
On Saturday, January 28th, the PBR Missouri staff traveled to Kennett, MO, to host the annual Bootheel Preseason ID. A staple on our showcase calendar, a handful of players from the surrounding areas performed in a pro-style workout in front of our staff, capturing unrivaled measurables in the process with the help of our tech partners.
To see a full list of the players that attended Saturday's event, click HERE.
Shortly after the event our staff published our 'Quick Hits' and 'Stat Story' from the day, touching on a few players that stood out as well as shining light on the day's stat leaders. You can find that story by clicking HERE.
We then spotlighted a few players that stood out from a batted ball standpoint within our 'Hitting Leaderboards', which you can find HERE, as well as on the mound within our 'Pitching Leaderboards', found HERE. Then, we analyzed the event's swing metrics with the help of the Blast Motion sensors available at our events, and we compiled leaderboards for those as well, found HERE.
Today we'll put the finishing touches on this year's Bootheel Preseason ID by rolling out all of the scouting reports from this event. All of these reports can be found in the individual player profiles, but we've consolidated them all in one spot, which you can find below.
PLAYER ANALYSIS
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Nolan Alford OF / Dexter R-XI, MO / 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletic frame with well-proportioned strength and room to add more.
Hits: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start high and hitch down at load, quick leg kick trigger, closed stride. Long level bat path to contact, line drive approach and repeats. Simple, doesn't try to do too much, controlled manner.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 77.2 MPH. 292' max distance.
Arm: RH. OF-81 mph. Long arm swing finishes from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Feet work around the baseball, two-hand gather out front.
Delivery: Side steps into a paused position before, straight leg lift into a tall balance point, level shoulders stay closed, tall/fall type downhill. Works closed off from target, finishes through release.
Arm Action: RH. Long loose arm swing, high 3/4 finish.
FB: T81, 79-80 mph. Four-seam type, straight. Some downhill actioin from high slot. T1761, 1732 average rpm.
CB: 63-68 mph. Thrown at arm speed. 11/5 shape, flashed lateral spin with developing feel for the zone. T2340, 2141 average rpm.
CH: 69-71 mph. Similar shape and action to fastball. T1818, 1680 average rpm.
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Tucker Casey LHP / Lafayette, MO / 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 166-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Hits: LHH. Tall stance with minimal knee bend, balanced base, high front shoulder, hands load straight back, short stride. Flat rotational swing, stays level through the zone, line drive approach, flashed hand speed.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 MPH. 281' max distance.
Arm: LH. INF-73 mph.Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, two-hand gather, glove plays out front, feel around the bag.
Delivery: Side step initiates delivery, leg lifts into an upright posture, high front shoulder, tall/fall type pattern downhill. Lead leg swings to a closed toe landing, finishes out front with a back leg swing.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm stroke, over-the-top slot.
FB: T74, 72-74 mph. Plays straight, cuts it on occasion. T1867, 1777 average rpm.
CB: 65-66 mph. Tighter, shorter arm path than fastball. 12/6 shape, gradual action. T1533, 1476 average rpm.
CH: 65-67 mph. Decelerates arm action to fastball. T1662, 1570 average rpm.
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Wyatt Friley C / Greenville , MO / 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds. Strong frame, thick lower half.
Hits: RHH. Tall open stance, minimal knee bend, hands tip as bat wraps through load, strides short. Rotational swing, flat and on top of the baseball, two-hand finish.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 80.8 MPH. 273' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-77 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: 1.94-2.09 pop times. Works gloveside from the crouch, gains momentum, feet stay direct, quick to release.
Delivery: Side step starts delivery, quick leg lift to a tall balance point, level shoulders, strides in line to target, finishes towards the first base side occasionally.
Arm Action: RH. Short compact arm path, over-the-top slot.
FB: T82, 80-81 mph. Straight four-seam type, strikes. T2038, 1987 average rpm.
CB: 66-68 mph. 12/6 shape, gradual action, strikes. T2042, 1980 average rpm.
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Trey Gardner OF / Kennett , MO / 2023
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-2, 195-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame with room to add strength.
Hits: LHH. Balanced setup, hands tip as bat wraps slightly, smooth and quiet load, short strid Loose athletic hands, slightly uphill path, barrel stays in the zone, elevated hard contact to the pull-side.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 MPH. 329' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph.OF-83 mph. Arm plays with some length on the backside from the outfield, over-the-top slot. Shortens path on the infield, worked from multiple arm angles.
Defense: Took reps from the outfield and on the infield. From the outfield, feet break down in rhythm to the baseball, glove plays out and over left foot, plays through release. Athletic feet on the infield, works side-to-side, hands work out front, quick to release.
Delivery: Side steps to pause, hands rock over head as back leg shakes, lead leg lifts to an athletic balance point, slight drop/drive delivery downhill. Works closed off from target, front toe lands open on occasion, athletic upright finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm stroke, loose high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 81-84 mph. Clean out the hand, plays straight with gradual arm side action at times. T2322, 2286 average rpm.
SL: 72-75 mph. Tight spin with intent, minimal depth, flashed feel for the zone. T2543, 2507 average rpm.
CH: 76-77 mph. Thrown at arm speed, flashed late arm-side run, cuts it on occasion when wrist works around. T1823, 1709 average rpm.
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Kade Huffman RHP / Poplar Bluff, MO / 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 170-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame with lanky levers.
Hits: LHH. Quiet in the box, slightly open setup, balanced base, high back elbow, bat wraps slightly at load, short stride. Long and uphill bat path, high finish.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 MPH. 242' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-78 mph.Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather, glove plays under center of body.
Delivery: Wide base, side steps into a tall leg lift, upright throughout, stacks slightly onto back leg as he works downhill. Closed front side, lead leg swings to a closed-toe landing.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm path, high 3/4 finish.
FB: T79, 76-79 mph. Plays straight, developing feel for the zone. T2088, 2005 average rpm.
CB: 58-62 mph. 11/5 shape, high arch, gradual action. T2118, 2048 average rpm.
CH: 67-69 mph. T1540, 1481 average rpm.
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Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Hits: RHH. Slightly open base, weight starts stacked onto the back knee, high back elbow as bat starts rested on back shoulder, slight hand tip to start swing, short stride. Short direct bat path, flat and on top of the baseball. Simple, doesn't try to do too much.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 MPH. 231' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-72 mph. Arm swings on the backside, finishes from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather, glove works out front, long to release.
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Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 205-pounds. Strong sturdy frame.
Hits: RHH. Open setup, slight knee bend, bat wraps at load with a high back elbow, short stride, stays open. Strong hands, long and uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach with intent to elevate.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 78.1 MPH. 316' max distance.
Arm: RH. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Hips work open to target, clean and quick hand transfer to release. Square blocker, cushions the baseball.
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Positional Profile: 2B/3B
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds.
Hits: RHH. Open setup, balanced lower half, bat starts on back shoulder and wraps slightly at load, simple load, short stride. Long path through the zone, level plane, line drive approach and repeats with leverage to the pull-side.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 72.6 MPH. 257' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Dropped to a 3/4 angle on the move.
Defense: Two-hand gather, steady funnels to exchange, glove packs to release.
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Jathan Spain RHP / Cape Central, MO / 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-4, 190-pounds. Large, physical frame. Lean stature, plenty of physical projection to come.
Hits: RHH. Open setup, balanced lower half, bat starts rested on back shoulder and loads back/up, leg lift to a short stride. Strong fast hands, flat bat path, stays on top of the baseball, line drive approach. Swings with intent, hard off the barrel.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 MPH. 335' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-84 mph.Long and loose arm swing, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather, clean exchange, footwork feel around the bag.
Delivery: Side step begins delivery, lead leg lifts to an athletic posture, creates momentum downhill into balance point, slight front side hitch, drop/drive pattern. Works closed off from target, lands square through release. Controlled tempo and pace throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing, finishes from slightly raised 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 86-88 mph. Clean out the hand, projects for plenty of velocity down the road. T2295, 2145 average rpm.
CB: 71-73 mph. Sharp 11/5 shape with above-average raw spin metrics. T2629, 2582 average rpm.
SL: 72-76 mph. More firm than breaking ball, yet similar shape when out front. Pulled off it at times, advanced raw spin. T2608, 2487 average rpm.
CH: 74-76 mph. Thrown at fastball arm speed. Developing feel, favored the arm-side corner of the plate. T1928, 1745 average rpm.
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Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hits: RHH. Weight starts stacked onto back knee, front toe points inward, bat rests over back shoulder, minimal load and stride. Fast hands with bat speed, simple swing, short and direct to the baseball, stays on top. Line drive approach, doesn't try to do too much and repeats.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 MPH. 336' max distance.
Arm: RH. Long swing with arm speed, over-the-top slot. Advanced arm strength for age.
Defense: Patient reads to the baseball, feet stay behind, glove hand gathers to the side, crowhops to release.
Delivery: Simple side step starts delivery, lead leg lifts into a front hip turn, high front side, drop/drive downhill. Works across body, loud front footstrike, finishes out over front knee.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm circle with arm speed, finishes from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T87, 85-87 mph. Creates some downhill angle from a high slot. Worked the lower half of the zone. T1990, 1930 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. 11/5 shape, flashed sharp action and depth, developing feel for the zone but thrown with intent. T2004, 1913 average rpm.
SL: 73-74 mph. Similar action to curveball, more firm and intentful. T2202, 2153 average rpm.
CH: 77-78 mph. Maintains fastball arm slot and intent. Stayed down in the zone, worked arm-side on occasion. T1654, 1583 average rpm.
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