In our final scout blog from the South Alabama Select, we take a look at the athletic group of infielders that were present at the event on July 14. Several of these infielders also doubled as pitchers, and showed their stuff on the mound as well. Below is an individual writeup on each infielder present at the event. 

 

Brandon Cain: 2B/RHP, (2022) Baker, AL. 5-foot-11, 145-pound. In the box, the right-handed hitter had a max exit velocity of 83 mph. Has an open stance. Had upward swing plane, quick bat speed and good extension on his finish. He created some loud contact and found multiple barrels. Up the middle approach. In the infield, his best throw was registered at 78 mph; showed athletic feet and consistent hands. Had consistent accuracy. In the 60-yard dash, recorded a time of 7.04. On the mound, has a quick arm action. Showed easy effort in his delivery. Showed consistent balance point. a clean finish. Sat with his fastball at 77-78 mph and topped out at 79 mph; had running action and in the zone control. Had tight action and command low in the zone on his curveball (72-76).

Justin Freind: SS/RHP, (2024) Mary G. Montgomery, AL. 5-foot-9, 142-pound. In the box, the right-handed hitter clocked an exit velocity of 77 mph. Starts in an open stance with a leg kick. Level swing plane. Had some loud contact during the round. Pull side approach. While in the infield, recorded position velocities up to 79 mph; had sure hands, a clean exchange and quick footwork. Had consistent accuracy. In the 60-yard dash, his time was 7.29. On the mound, threw his fastball 77-78 mph with a max of 78 mph; has running action and consistent control. His 11/5 curveball (66-68) has around the zone command. Had fading action and arm side control on his changeup (67-68).

Gavin Giles: 3B/1B, (2022) Satsuma, AL. 5-foot-8, 215-pound physical frame. At the plate, the right-handed hitter clocked an exit velocity of 84 mph. Setup was comprised of closed stance and a toe tap. Had explosive bat speed. During his round he produced some loud contact. Pull side approach. In the infield, recorded a position velocity of 68 mph; has average feet and sure hands. Had decent accuracy. Recorded a 60 time of 8.3 at the event.

Brendan Guerry: 3B/RHP, (2021) Fairhope, AL. 6-foot-1, 185-pound. During batting practice, the right-handed hitter showed power in the box with an exit velocity of 96 mph. Started in a balanced stance. Bat speed is explosive, has uphill swing plane and good extension on his finish. During the round he showed loud contact. Pull side approach. While in the infield, made throws up to 73 mph; had consistent hands. Showed consistent accuracy. During the event, ran the 60-yard dash in 7.09. On the mound, has a high ¾ angle. Shows easy effort in his delivery. Has athletic balance point. Displayed a clean finish Sat with his fastball at 75-77 mph with a max of 78 mph; shows in the zone command and running action. Threw his 11/5 curveball (69-70) with tight action and low in the zone command. Showed in the zone control and fading action on his changeup (70-71).

Brody Hinton: 3B/2B, (2022) Mobile Christian, AL. 5-foot-9, 185-pound sturdy frame. In the box, Hinton had an exit velocity of 88 mph. Started in an open quiet stance. Had upward swing plane, efficient bat speed and good extension on his finish. He barreled up lots of balls with some loud contact. Gap to gap approach. While in the infield, registered his best throw across the diamond at 76 mph; had a natural exchange and soft hands. Showed consistent accuracy to the base and a high ¾ slot. In the 60-yard dash, recorded a time of 7.44.

Matthew Hopkinson: 3B/RHP, (2026) Home School, AL. 5-foot-10, 130-pound. In the box, Hopkinson clocked an exit velocity of 68 mph. Sets up in a balanced stance and uses a leg kick. Short swing plane. Up the middle approach. In the infield, displayed a velocity of 61 mph. In the 60-yard dash, his time was 7.93. On the mound, threw his fastball 67-68 mph with a max of 69 mph; had consistent control. Shows control low in the zone on his 11/5 curveball (62-63). His changeup (60-61) had fading action and arm side command.

Cade Howell: 3B/RHP, (2022) Baker, AL. 5-foot-10, 165-pound. In the box, the right-handed hitter clocked an exit velocity of 76 mph. Started in an open stance. Short an inside-out swing plane. He Produced some loud contact during the round. Up the middle approach. While in the infield, recorded position velocities up to 71 mph. In the 60-yard dash, he clocked a time of 7.75. On the mound, displayed quick arm speed. Used some effort in his delivery. Showed consistent balance point. Displayed a clean finish Sat with his fastball at 71-72 mph with a max of 73 mph; had in the zone control and running action. Had command low in the zone and late action on his curveball (62-63). His changeup (61-65) shows fading action and arm side control.

W. Pearson Ikner: SS/RHP, (2021) Ums-Wright Preparatory, AL. 6-foot-1, 180-pound. At the plate, the left-handed hitter's 90 mph exit velocity showed his ability to drive the ball with power. Has an open stance. Bat speed was efficient, displayed upward swing plane and good extension on his finish. Found multiple barrels during his rounds. Gap to gap approach. While in the infield, made throws at velocities up to 82 mph; shows sure hands and a fluid exchange. Showed consistent accuracy. In the 60-yard dash, he clocked a time of 7.52.

Brantley Jones: LHP/1B, (2022) Mary G. Montgomery, AL. 5-foot-10, 175-pound. In the box, Jones had a max exit velocity of 77 mph. Sets up a wide open stance. Level swing plane. Was able to create some loud contact during the round. Opposite field approach. In the infield, recorded a position velocity of 73 mph; showed a natural exchange and consistent footwork. Had decent accuracy. During the event, clocked a 60 time of 8.17. On the mound, threw his fastball 70-71 mph and topped out at 72 mph; showed around the zone command. Threw a 11/5 curveball (63-64) that showed low in the zone control. His changeup (60-63) had fading action and around the zone command.

Hunter Keenan: 2B/3B, (2021) Pike Liberal Arts, AL. 5-foot-8, 160-pound. In the box, Keenan had a max exit velocity of 82 mph. Started in an open stance and used a toe tap. Bat speed was efficient, showed uphill swing plane and good extension on his finish. In his round he found multiple barrels. Up the middle approach. While in the infield, made throws up to 75 mph; showed soft hands. Had decent accuracy. In the 60-yard dash, his time was 8.04.

Kelly Lanier: 1B, (2022) Mobile Christian, AL. 6-foot-3, 165-pound. In the box, the right-handed hitter clocked an exit velocity of 87 mph. Has an open balanced stance. Had some bat speed and good extension on his finish. Produced some loud contact during the round. Gap to gap approach. In the infield, his best throw was recorded at 79 mph; showed sure hands. Showed consistent accuracy to the bases. During the event, clocked a 60 time of 7.65.

Daevon Larkins: RHP/SS, (2023) Oxford, AL. 5-foot-10, 160-pound athletic frame. At the plate, the right-handed hitter clocked an exit velocity of 78 mph. Starts in a balanced stance. Bat speed was quick. Produced some loud contact during the round. Pull side approach. In the infield, displayed a velocity of 76 mph; had soft hands and athletic footwork. Had decent accuracy to the base with a quick arm action. In the 60-yard dash, he clocked a time of 7.16. On the mound, threw his fastball 73-75 mph with a max of 76 mph; showed running action and around the zone control. His 11/5 curveball (63-65) has low in the zone control. His changeup (63-64) shows fading action.

Byron Millsap: 1B/3B, (2021) McGill-Toolen Catholic, AL. 6-foot-1, 215-pound sturdy frame. In the box, Millsap had a max exit velocity of 88 mph. Started in a balanced stance with a quick load, then used a short stride to start his swing. Bat speed is average and has level swing plane. He found some barrels during his rounds. Pull side approach. While in the infield, made throws up to 75 mph; has average feet and consistent hands. Laterally, his movements were developing. Had decent accuracy. During the event, recorded a 60 time of 7.0.

Henry Mitchell: SS/RHP, (2022) Albuquerque Academy, NM. 5-foot-10, 180-pound solid frame. At the plate, Mitchell showed his power ability with an exit velocity of 91 mph. Had a balanced stance. Bat speed was quick, showed upward swing plane and good extension on his finish. Found lots of barrels with some loud contact. Up the middle approach. While in the infield, recorded position velocities up to 84 mph; had consistent hands and fluid footwork. Had consistent accuracy to the base with a high ¾ slot. In the 60-yard dash, recorded a time of 7.55. On the mound, showed a quick arm action. Up-tempo type pitcher who uses some effort. Produced a fastball that came in at 84-85 mph and topped out at 86 mph; shows running action and very consistent control. Had hard action and in the zone control on his sharp curveball (78-80). His changeup (79-81) had consistent command and fading action.

Trey Simpkins: 3B/1B, (2021) Elberta, AL. 6-foot-1, 200-pound. During batting practice, the right-handed hitter recorded an exit velocity of 88 mph. Has a balanced stance. Bat speed was some, had uphill swing plane and good extension on his finish. Line drive approach. In the infield, recorded a position velocity of 74 mph; has consistent hands. Showed decent accuracy. During the event, clocked a 60 time of 7.6. On the mound, threw with a quick arm action and had good arm speed. Sat with his fastball at 73-74 mph with a max of 75 mph; had consistent command and running action. Showed command low in the zone on his sharp curveball (67-68). Showed command around the zone and fading action on his changeup (67-69).

Connor Thames: 2B/SS, (2021) Satsuma, AL. 5-foot-10, 165-pound. During batting practice, the right-handed hitter had an exit velocity of 86 mph. Had a wide balanced stance. Had quick bat speed and had good extension on his finish. Found lots of barrels during his round. Pull side approach. While in the infield, made throws up to 75 mph; shows soft hands. Had decent accuracy. In the 60-yard dash, his time was 7.35.

Braydon Wright: SS/RHP, (2025) Home School, AL. 5-foot-10, 130-pound. During batting practice, the right-handed hitter recorded an exit velocity of 74 mph. Sets up an open stance. Bat speed is quick, and has good extension on his finish. Found multiple barrels during his round. Up the middle approach. While in the infield, made throws up to 71 mph; had a fluid exchange and consistent hands. Had consistent accuracy. Clocked a 60 time of 7.75 at the event. Projectable on the mound, has a quick arm action with a high ¾ arm angle. Uses some effort in his delivery. Has a clean finish. Sat with his fastball at 70-71 mph with a max of 72 mph; had consistent control. His 11/5 curveball (57-59) has around the zone command. His changeup (56-60) showed fading action.

 

This wraps up our coverage of the South Alabama Select. Thanks to all of the players that attended the event.   

Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site. 

Click HERE to create a free profile.

 

Related Content: