Uncommitted Spotlight: 2023 RHP/OF Luke Horton (Athens Area)
October 18, 2022 Nathan Ocker Director of Eastern PA
Scouting Report
2/19/22
Physical: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds; Athletic, proportional build. 6.87 runner in the 60. Offensively: RHH. Even setup, with feet just outside his shoulders; upright bat position. Short take back with the hands with a moderate leg kick for timing. Stays behind the ball while showing a strong lower half. Showed a direct swing path with a high finish. More line drives than flyballs and groundballs with a peak exit velocity of 96 MPH via Trackman. Defensively: Starts with an upright /tall setup; uses prep hop while displaying fluid actions to the baseball. Hands are off to the side with a seamless transfer. Long arm swing from a high 3/4 arm slot. OF - 85 MPH. Pitching: Uses a center rubber setup while using a side step. Mid chest leg drive with shoulders above the hips. Has a long stride landing inline with the plate. Long arm swing while showing effortless and fluid actions; high 3/4 slot. Spins off 1B side with finish. FB: Peak velo of 86 MPH, while sitting 83-85 MPH; life through the zone. CB: 74-76 MPH; showed depth. CH: 76-77 MPH; fading action.
7/28/21
Physical: Projectable, strong 6-foot-2, 190lb frame with some two way feel. 7.16 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH - Shoulder-width stance as the hands operated deeper at the shoulder to begin. Utilized a leg lift stride to initiate a connected, slightly uphill barrel path into the hitting zone. Highly-effective hitter, producing a near 90% hard hit rate via Trackman with adjustability in the lower half. Repeatedly matched pitch-plane and commanded the inner half for his best results to the pull-side while phasing into a stiff/sturdy front-side. Notched a T96 mph bat-exit velocity (via Trackman) and recorded a 33% line drive rate during an impressive round.
Defensively: The primary outfielder displayed adequate pace in a corner outfielder mold, fielding off his left side and funneled into the chest. Maintained active feet to the target and released from a moderate H ¾ slot on the front side (84 mph arm).
Pitching: RHP - The righty started off the left side of the rubber, staying tall on his move down the slope while separating into footstrike at an OTT slot. Worked downhill at 82-84 mph, as the FB appeared heavy and created weak contact. Mixed a 68-69 mph CB with gradual depth and smaller lateral movement across the plate, turning to a quality 74-75 mph CH with hard fade, swing/miss.
6/15/21
Physical: Strong/athletic 6-foot-2, 190lb frame with projection left/feel for his body. 6.75 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH - Wide, balanced operation as the hands started stretched by the shoulder with a slight bend into a strong backside. Utilized a short up/down leg lift stride initiating a quick, accurate barrel through a slightly uphill path with lift after impact. Generated lots of bat-speed and leverage at the front of the plate, carrying the ball deep to the pull side during batting practice. Advanced middle of the order skillset that can handle velocity right now, adding a T96 mph bat-exit velocity on top of an impressive 91% hard hit rate per Trackman Baseball. Tested well in all four Blast Motion categories with both good bat to ball skills (65% on-plane efficiency) as well as T19 G’s of rotational acceleration, alluding to smooth connection in the box.
Defensively: The outfielder stayed behind the baseball creating length in the approach with a soft glove hand that played easily out in front. Funneled inward softly off the left side, utilizing a powerful gather step/crow hop in rhythm towards the target and releasing from a full arm circle at H ¾ (84 mph arm, accuracy).
Pitching: RHP - Started off the middle left side of the rubber with a loose delivery, maintaining pace from a big, sweeping leg lift down the slope with separation, likeable characteristics in the mechanics. Lots of athleticism on all pitches, ranging the FB from 83-85 mph (12 inches HM AVG, 1983rpms per Trackman) and added a 66-68 mph CB with gradual depth on its descent into the strike zone (11/5 tilt). Countered with a good 72-74 mph CH that he landed for strikes in any count (50% zone rate, 15 inches of HM/fade).
Offensively: RHH. Wide base with weight on the inside of the foot and knees inward. Hands work straight back during the load as weight rocks into the rear leg. Barrel works flat through the hitting zone with a high finish.
Defensively: In the OF gets around the baseball and works in a straight line towards home plate. Exchanges at chest height as he uses a crow hop to gain momentum towards the plate. The arm swing is long and quick.
Pitching: RHP. Starts in the middle of the rubber with the hands start at chest height. As the lower half goes through the rocker step and leg lift the hands go down and up. The leg lift is to chest height and stays close to the body. The lead leg works down and out as it gets down the mound. Arm swing is quick, clean, and releases from a 3/4 arm slot. Slows down a bit on the off speed.
6/15/20
Physical: Solid blend of physicality and athleticism in a twitchy 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. 6.99 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH. Wide, bent setup with the hands starting high at the ear. Utilized a lift and replace stride coupled with a move backwards upon load. The barrel works slightly uphill with long levers through the hitting window getting long through extension creating ability to plug both gaps and natural backspin to all fields. Displayed feel for the hands recording multiple hard barrels to the pull side while hitting into a stiff front side and registered an advanced 97 mph bat-exit velocity per Trackman Baseball.
Defensively: The primary outfielder demonstrated an easiness in the movements and covered plenty of ground with long strides. Was able to drop step and go get it for his pitchers and likewise play downhill through the ball towards the target if need be. Soft glove hand played the ball aggressively out in front with soft actions allowing for smooth, repeatable transfers and an accurate throwing arm out of a high ¾ slot. OF - 85 mph
Pitching: RHP - Slow tempoed on the rubber with a high leg lift at the stack, while generating hard drive towards the plate with a slight fall off to the first base side. Worked through an over the top slot getting occasional downhill on an 81-85 mph FB mixing in a 67-69 mph CB with late 11/5 and a 73-75 mph CH with deception in the arm speed.
2/29/20
Physical: 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Strong build. 6.85 runner in the 60; 4.16 home-to-1B. Offensively: RHH. Wide stance, keeps knees bent, bat held low around the chest area, quick step instead of leg kick Smooth swing through the zone, quick hands, finishes with one hand on bat, stays level the whole way through swing. Powerful hitter with consistent contact. 91 MPH raw exit velocity. Defensively: Fields ball in front instead of side, waits for the ball to come to him, consistent footwork, quick hands. High 3/4 release. OF - 81 MPH. Pitching: Builds momentum with a short sidestep and a high leg lift, gets into his back side with shoulder tilt as strides out in line to a repeatable release following through to the glove side. Long, arm action with some whip to a high 3/4 slot. FB: T79, 78-79 MPH. Commands in the zone with a downhill plane with tail. CB: 68-71 MPH. 12-6 shape with back door action.
Scouting Report
Physical: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds; Athletic, proportional build. 6.87 runner in the 60.
Offensively: RHH. Even setup, with feet just outside his shoulders; upright bat position. Short take back with the hands with a moderate leg kick for timing. Stays behind the ball while showing a strong lower half. Showed a direct swing path with a high finish. More line drives than flyballs and groundballs with a peak exit velocity of 96 MPH via Trackman.
Defensively: Starts with an upright /tall setup; uses prep hop while displaying fluid actions to the baseball. Hands are off to the side with a seamless transfer. Long arm swing from a high 3/4 arm slot. OF - 85 MPH.
Pitching: Uses a center rubber setup while using a side step. Mid chest leg drive with shoulders above the hips. Has a long stride landing inline with the plate. Long arm swing while showing effortless and fluid actions; high 3/4 slot. Spins off 1B side with finish. FB: Peak velo of 86 MPH, while sitting 83-85 MPH; life through the zone. CB: 74-76 MPH; showed depth. CH: 76-77 MPH; fading action.
Physical: Projectable, strong 6-foot-2, 190lb frame with some two way feel. 7.16 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH - Shoulder-width stance as the hands operated deeper at the shoulder to begin. Utilized a leg lift stride to initiate a connected, slightly uphill barrel path into the hitting zone. Highly-effective hitter, producing a near 90% hard hit rate via Trackman with adjustability in the lower half. Repeatedly matched pitch-plane and commanded the inner half for his best results to the pull-side while phasing into a stiff/sturdy front-side. Notched a T96 mph bat-exit velocity (via Trackman) and recorded a 33% line drive rate during an impressive round.
Defensively: The primary outfielder displayed adequate pace in a corner outfielder mold, fielding off his left side and funneled into the chest. Maintained active feet to the target and released from a moderate H ¾ slot on the front side (84 mph arm).
Pitching: RHP - The righty started off the left side of the rubber, staying tall on his move down the slope while separating into footstrike at an OTT slot. Worked downhill at 82-84 mph, as the FB appeared heavy and created weak contact. Mixed a 68-69 mph CB with gradual depth and smaller lateral movement across the plate, turning to a quality 74-75 mph CH with hard fade, swing/miss.
Physical: Strong/athletic 6-foot-2, 190lb frame with projection left/feel for his body. 6.75 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH - Wide, balanced operation as the hands started stretched by the shoulder with a slight bend into a strong backside. Utilized a short up/down leg lift stride initiating a quick, accurate barrel through a slightly uphill path with lift after impact. Generated lots of bat-speed and leverage at the front of the plate, carrying the ball deep to the pull side during batting practice. Advanced middle of the order skillset that can handle velocity right now, adding a T96 mph bat-exit velocity on top of an impressive 91% hard hit rate per Trackman Baseball. Tested well in all four Blast Motion categories with both good bat to ball skills (65% on-plane efficiency) as well as T19 G’s of rotational acceleration, alluding to smooth connection in the box.
Defensively: The outfielder stayed behind the baseball creating length in the approach with a soft glove hand that played easily out in front. Funneled inward softly off the left side, utilizing a powerful gather step/crow hop in rhythm towards the target and releasing from a full arm circle at H ¾ (84 mph arm, accuracy).
Pitching: RHP - Started off the middle left side of the rubber with a loose delivery, maintaining pace from a big, sweeping leg lift down the slope with separation, likeable characteristics in the mechanics. Lots of athleticism on all pitches, ranging the FB from 83-85 mph (12 inches HM AVG, 1983rpms per Trackman) and added a 66-68 mph CB with gradual depth on its descent into the strike zone (11/5 tilt). Countered with a good 72-74 mph CH that he landed for strikes in any count (50% zone rate, 15 inches of HM/fade).
Physical: 6-foot-2, 190LBS. Lean, athletic frame. 7.13SEC 60-Yard Dash.
Offensively: RHH. Wide base with weight on the inside of the foot and knees inward. Hands work straight back during the load as weight rocks into the rear leg. Barrel works flat through the hitting zone with a high finish.
Defensively: In the OF gets around the baseball and works in a straight line towards home plate. Exchanges at chest height as he uses a crow hop to gain momentum towards the plate. The arm swing is long and quick.
Pitching: RHP. Starts in the middle of the rubber with the hands start at chest height. As the lower half goes through the rocker step and leg lift the hands go down and up. The leg lift is to chest height and stays close to the body. The lead leg works down and out as it gets down the mound. Arm swing is quick, clean, and releases from a 3/4 arm slot. Slows down a bit on the off speed.
Physical: Solid blend of physicality and athleticism in a twitchy 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. 6.99 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Offensively: RHH. Wide, bent setup with the hands starting high at the ear. Utilized a lift and replace stride coupled with a move backwards upon load. The barrel works slightly uphill with long levers through the hitting window getting long through extension creating ability to plug both gaps and natural backspin to all fields. Displayed feel for the hands recording multiple hard barrels to the pull side while hitting into a stiff front side and registered an advanced 97 mph bat-exit velocity per Trackman Baseball.
Defensively: The primary outfielder demonstrated an easiness in the movements and covered plenty of ground with long strides. Was able to drop step and go get it for his pitchers and likewise play downhill through the ball towards the target if need be. Soft glove hand played the ball aggressively out in front with soft actions allowing for smooth, repeatable transfers and an accurate throwing arm out of a high ¾ slot. OF - 85 mph
Pitching: RHP - Slow tempoed on the rubber with a high leg lift at the stack, while generating hard drive towards the plate with a slight fall off to the first base side. Worked through an over the top slot getting occasional downhill on an 81-85 mph FB mixing in a 67-69 mph CB with late 11/5 and a 73-75 mph CH with deception in the arm speed.
Physical: 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Strong build. 6.85 runner in the 60; 4.16 home-to-1B.
Offensively: RHH. Wide stance, keeps knees bent, bat held low around the chest area, quick step instead of leg kick Smooth swing through the zone, quick hands, finishes with one hand on bat, stays level the whole way through swing. Powerful hitter with consistent contact. 91 MPH raw exit velocity.
Defensively: Fields ball in front instead of side, waits for the ball to come to him, consistent footwork, quick hands. High 3/4 release. OF - 81 MPH.
Pitching: Builds momentum with a short sidestep and a high leg lift, gets into his back side with shoulder tilt as strides out in line to a repeatable release following through to the glove side. Long, arm action with some whip to a high 3/4 slot. FB: T79, 78-79 MPH. Commands in the zone with a downhill plane with tail. CB: 68-71 MPH. 12-6 shape with back door action.