Top Prospect Games: Quick Hitters

On Monday August 6th, at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium PBR held one of the must-see events of the year in North Carolina.  In its second year, the Top Prospect Games have become a marked event for college coaches and pro scouts. This year’s event saw 66 players perform in front of over 25 evaluators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Divided into four teams, position players were able to go through a complete pro-style workout, followed by an 8 inning controlled scrimmage.  Pitchers threw two controlled innings. This format allowed coaches and scouts to see players take BP, run a 60, workout at their defensive position, and still evaluate them in game situations.

 

Over the coming week, we will take a deep dive into the players that took part in the PBR Top Prospect Games.  Today we will take a quick look at some of the numbers and performances that jumped out at evaluators in attendance.

2018 PBR Top Prospect Games Quick Hitters

 

+ Many times at showcase events pitchers are at an advantage.  Hitters will only get one look at each arm that throws and hitters are looking to be very aggressive to pitches in the strike zone.  The Top Prospect Games were not any different. Twenty total arms took the bump with 6 touching 87 mph or better. Another five arms worked at 85 mph or above.

 

 

 

+ As PBR of North Carolina enters its 3rd year, the history on players at PBR Events is beginning to grow.  Several players took big steps forward when compared to notes from the past. Joey Berini (SS, 2020, Orange HS) played at a fast pace throughout the day.  Running a 7.09, he moves with even better quickness on the infield and there is a lot of trust in his hands and feet.  AJ Jones (SS, 2020, Southern Nash HS) continues to get better each time we see him.  The arm is continuing to develop, showing carry at 81 mph across the diamond.  Jason Montague (OF, 2019, Southern Nash), a Coker Baseball commit, flashed bat speed last year but has continued to take it to another level.  He also ran a 6.86 sixty. Nolan DeVos (RHP, 2019, Hickory Ridge HS) continues to fill out his 5-foot-11, 160 pound frame.  As he adds strength the fastball continues to climb, working at 84 at Campbell. There is depth and sharp tilt to the breaking ball already and as the fastball continues to tick up, someone may get an arm with a chance to record outs early.  

 

+ Ten catchers took part in the workout portion of the day.  All ten recorded at least one pop time under 2.10 with Bo Rusher (C, 2019, Salisbury HS) leading the group, ranging 2.00 - 2.08.  Rusher is athletic behind the dish with a positional velocity of 78 mph out of the crouch.  As impressive as his numbers was the accuracy displayed in the workout and during game situations.  Carter merrill and Cambell Conard matched their intriguing numbers offensively with their workout numbers.  Sullivan Newsome (C, 2020, Wedding HS) catches the eye walking past evaluators at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.  His range sat at 2.00 - 2.15 with a positional velocity of 78 mph. Austin Gilley (C, 2019, Southern Alamance) and Bryce Stober (C, 2019, Hickory HS) may lack the physical stature of others, but each plays with a high motor that is contagious.  Gilley flashed a 2.04 pop with Stober at 2.07. Each carried accuracy into game situations as well. One name that was new to PBR but shouldn’t be new to coaches for long is CJ Martin (C, 2019, Pro5 Academy).  An athletic frame that is wiry and looking to add strength, CJ easily creates strength and quickness, running a 7.19 sixty.  The exit velocity peaked at 91 mph while the arm showed accuracy at 77 mph out of the crouch, with a pop time range of 2.08 - 2.16.  Fundamentally sound, as he continues to add strength, watch for these numbers to climb.