Top Performer Spotlight: '23 RHP/OF Luke Horton (Sayre Area)

'23 RHP/OF Luke Horton (Sayre Area) was a Future Games attendee in July of 2021, since then Horton has added nearly 3 MPH on his FB all while commanding the zone even more. Horton is a big bodied primary RHP standing in at 6-foot-2, 200lbs. Topping out at 86 MPH with the heater, Luke also mixes in a CB/CH duo with exceptional feel for both. The CB is sharp and falls off the table, all while maintaining similar arm speed as his FB. Luke's CH tunnels nicely off the FB as it is also thrown with similar arm speed and stays on plane until just before the plate where it then fades off the the back foot of a RHH. The talent isn't just on the mound, Horton is a sub 7 runner (6.75) and is knocking on the door of 100 MPH exit velocities. Horton uses a strong turn of his upper half to generate his juice at the plate, coupled with the ability to launch the ball in the air at or near the desired angles. With a max batted ball distance of 369 feet, Horton's average launch angle in February was almost 22 degrees which is just above the "ideal" angle for batted balls to leave the yard with balls hit as hard as they are when they leave Horton's bat. To wrap it up, Horton is also a spectacular defender in the outfield. With range and the ability to track fly balls, Horton makes a good case to be a legitimate two way candidate at the next level as his arm strength translates into the outfield too.