By Shooter Hunt
National Crosschecker

In a new segment at the state level called, In the Weeds, PBR National Crosschecker, Shooter Hunt, takes a look at uncommitted players regardless of class whose skills and intangibles sometimes get missed in a showcase setting, but whose value to a good team at the next level is immeasurable. Some of the players included in this segment are under the radar, others have been overlooked, and some are late bloomers and fast-rising. Whatever the reason, our boots-on-the-ground scouting staff has identified many uncommitted prospects who can thrive with the right fit at some collegiate level. This week, In the Weeds, takes a look at the talent that was at PBR Pennsylvania’s Preseason All State Showcase. The event, overall, featured a crop of talented, hard-working ballplayers eager to showcase their skills. In the mix of six players are three pitchers, a couple two way players, and an infielder. All have a chance to make a team at some level, and could aid a winning program as they continue to progress.

 

Hunter Hall, 3B, Oxford Area HS, PA, 2018
At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds Hall is already a burly, physical corner infielder with a strong bat, but appears to have a chance to add even more strength in the near future. Hall produced an exit velocity off the tee of 99 mph, and that strength carried over to the batting practice that I watched him take at Pennsylvania’s Preseason All State Showcase. Hall works balanced from an upright position before getting his weight on the back side with a leg kick, and smoothly working his hands down and back. Hall then uses his quick, powerful hands to drive through the baseball on a level plane while remaining in the zone with some lag. In the field, Hall’s hands worked solid enough to stick at third base at some level, and he likely could move to first base or left field, if needed, to get his stick in the lineup. His arm is a bit long, but he showed off throws from multiple angles, and while it is not a plus tool, it is adequate to continue playing third base at some level. Overall, I think Hall is a player who gets passed over at times in this crazy era of early commits and projections. Running a 7.18 60-yard dash (which is still good considering his size), and already being so big, Hall can be seen as a finished product who lacks speed and is a below average defender which can make it difficult for a school to pull the trigger. However, now that I have seen him get hits in big games, and put on a nice display in a showcase setting, I think that Hall is going to have a chance to hit at some level, and will be enough of a defender that he will find his way into lineup on a consistent basis.