Prep Baseball Report was at Ting Park in Holly Springs, NC on Friday October 18^th for a PBR Scout Day with the East Coast Clippers.  Clipper players were taken through a full pro-style workout by PBR Scouts.  Offensively, players took multiple rounds of live BP and went through an exit velocity testing station in the cages.  Defensively, each player was able to workout from their respective position with scouts putting full evaluations on each player, while taking statistics on arm strength and pop times for catchers.  Pitchers threw controlled bullpens with scouts getting velocities, spin rates while also watching mechanical setup, delivery, arm action and more.

PBR Scouts were on hand to take and verify statistics in multiple categories from the workout.  Below we take a look at some of the top performers from the workout, based on the statistics that were posted.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistics from the Scout Day

 

Statistical Leaders - East Coast Clippers Scout Day

 

THE 60 YARD DASH

The 60 has been used for a long period of time to gauge speed in baseball players.  A bit antiquated, it does allow scouts to compare players from different time periods and has become a standard testing distance for pro-style workouts.  During the Clippers Scout Day, players ran on a laser timed course.  The surface at the event was an artificial turf.   Four times came in under 7.10.  There were 6 players that ran a sub-7.20.  The median time for the laser timed 60 checked in at 7.27.

 

EXIT VELOCITY

During the offensive portion of the day, players worked through an exit velocity testing station.  At this station, players attacked a ball with a radar gun reading the exit velocity of the ball off the barrel.  Players had the chance to swing their own bat, plus bats provided by Mizuno.  The numbers below are only from the exit velocity station.  The top exit velocity checked in at 95 mph and 8 players registered a speed of 85 mph or higher in the testing.  The median exit velocity from the PBR Scout Day with the East Coast Clippers was 86 mph.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS

Infielders were able to workout at Shortstop in the pro-style portion of the Scout Day.  Players were hit a variety of ground balls, moving to secure the ball before transitioning the ball into a throw across the diamond.  Scouts are evaluating multiple areas during this session.  Arm strength, carry, accuracy, and ease of actions can all be marked.  PBR scouts add a radar gun to give a number to the arm strength.  While the radar reading does not tell the entire story, it does give evaluators a feel for pure arm strength.  Seven infielders worked out from either shortstop or 1B.  The top radar reading across the diamond registered at 79 mph, with a median reading of 77 mph.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS

Similar to the infielders, there are several data points that evaluators are looking for as outfielders took batted balls from right field, making throws to home plate.  PBR scouts, again, took radar readings on each throw, giving scouts a chance to gauge arm strength with a solid number.  Five outfielders worked out from right field.  The top positional throw marked at 89 mph.  The median outfield throw for the group was at 80 mph.

 

CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY

In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt.  Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw.  For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B.  Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw.  PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position.  The top pop time in the workout was a 2.01.  The top positional velocity checked in at 75 mph out of the hand.

 

MAX FASTBALL

Pitchers threw controlled bullpens on the game mound at Ting Park in Holly Springs for PBR and scouts in attendance.   While scouts are evaluating stuff, mechanics, efficiency, and command, velocity can be a key component in an evaluation.  PBR used the new Stalker Pro SII radar gun to collect velocity and spin rates on each arm.  Four arms threw at the event with the top fastball registering at 81 mph.  The median top fastball came in at 79 mph.