By: Tim Kay

PBR Tennessee Director of Scouting

For the Fall Top Prospect Games, all players were separated into red and black teams.  Below, find in depth reports on every pitcher who pitched for the black team, sorted by top FB velocity:

Nathanial Tate, C/RHP, Coffee County Central, 2018
Max FB: 88, FB: 85-88, CB: 71-76, CH: 69-72, SL: 75-79
6-foot-1, 160-pound, RHP showed two plus pitches w/ lot of projection.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ a rocker step and replaces his push-off foot on the rubber, pitching from the middle.  Hands over head to balance point w/ front leg leading to plate.  Legs along for the ride w/ H ¾ arm slot.  FB shows consistent arm side run w/ occasional sink.  Can dominate the arm side part of the plate to RHH’s.  CB is 12-6 w/ avg to above avg depth, flashes tight rotation, late break.  SL is true out pitch, recorded 5 of 6 of his strikeouts on it.  ¾ tilt w/ late break, tight rotation.  Gets a little big and slurvy at times.  Slows arm down on CH, shows occasional cut, occasional sink.  Feel for the strike zone, developing command.  Command will come as mechanics gain consistency.  Pitches w/ an attitude, confident on the mound.  Struck out 5 in 3 innings w/ 28 % swing and miss rate and was difficult to lift, as all 5 balls put in play were groundballs.  Big time arm has not even begun to scratch the surface of what he can become.

Matt Taylor, RHP, Dobyns-Bennett, 2018
Max FB: 87, FB: 83-86, CB: 67-73, CH: 78-79 
6-foot-6, 225-pound, RHP struck out 4 in 2 innings w/ 68 % swing and miss rate.  XL body w/ present strength, thick lower half.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ rocker step into first base side of the rubber setup.  Balance point, leg drive and ¾ release w/ ability to get down the mound.  Effort in throw w/ limbs coming at you, some head violence.  Quick arm suggests more velo coming.  FB w/ occasional cut, rides through the zone.  Generated 75 % swing and miss rate on the pitch.  CB flashes as tight, medium downer.  Overspun it a bit in this outing, has shown feel for this pitch in the past.  CH w/ armspeed, fade and sink.  Pounded the zone w/ FB’s (14 of 17 for strikes) and has shown ability to fill the zone w/ off-speed in the past.  Flashes ability to command the zone.  One of the best uncommitted 2018 arms in the state.

Zach Joyce, RHP, Farragut, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 82-85, CB: 69-70, CH: 73-78 
6-foot-3, 185-pound, RHP continues to tough higher velo’s the more events he comes to, touching 86 on this day.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ short rocker step and sets back foot on first base side of rubber.  Balance point to leg drive to H 3/4 release point w/ some effort and head violence.  Gets downhill.  FB w/ a little ASR.  Relies on downhill plane to generate life.  CB is 11-5 medium downer w/ average depth.  Showed tight rotation, late break.  CH is go-to off-speed pitch.  Thrown w/ armspeed, fade and sink.  Flashes above avg w/ late fade.  Strike thrower (25 of 32 for strikes) flashes ability to pitch w/ intent/command.  Definite collegiate pitcher who should be hearing from schools in need of a RHP to round out their class.

Hunter Mann, RHP, Gordonsville, 2019
Max FB: 86, FB: 81-84, CB: 64-68
6-foot-5, 200-pound, RHP w/ prototypical size and strike throwing ability.  XL frame w/ projection and present strength.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ a short rocker step and sets up on first base side of rubber.  Balance point, hip drive and ¾ release.  Quick arm w/ slight stab in back.  Gets down the mound extremely well w/ extension.  Glove arm does not provide power, but does not affect command.    FB features late arm side run and occasional sink.  Flashes ride through the zone.  CB is medium downer, flashes late break.  Struggled to get it out in front consistently in this outing.  More of a steal strike pitch than an out pitch.  DNS CH.  Pounded the zone w/ FB’s (15 of 21), flashed ability to pitch w/ intent.  Struck out 2 in his 2 innings of work w/ 75 % groundball rate.  Strong follow for the 2019 class w/ upside.

Bryce Jenkins, RHP/SS/OF, Hardin Valley Academy, 2019
Max FB: 85, FB: 79-83, CB: 71-75
5-foot-11, 165-pound, RHP jumped out w/ plus spin on his CB.  Pitches from a full-wind up w/ a rocker step from the first base side of the rubber.  Balance point to slight stab in back w/ leg drive.  Jumps at hitters, gets down the mound extremely well.  Glove hand along for ride, pulls him down, causing his misses to be consistently glove side.  Quick arm w/ high effort throw from H ¾ release.  Straight FB w/ occasional ride through the zone.  CB flashes plus w/ late break, tight rotation.  True out pitch will only improve w/ reps.  DNS CH.  More of a thrower right now, still learning to throw strikes.  As he improves his direction and not have his body pull him to the first base side, will find command.  Struck out 2 in 2 innings.  Definite 2019 to follow w/ potential to pitch at a high level in college.

Hayden Robbins, RHP, Mount Juliet, 2019
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-84, CB: 70-73, CH: 77
6-foot-3, 180-pound, RHP needed just 18 pitches to throw 2 scoreless innings.  Prototypical pitcher body w/ rounded shoulders and projectable lower half.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ rocker step to setting back foot on first base side of rubber.  Balance point to leg drive and H ¾ release.  Easy, repeatable mechanics.  Glove action can be better, but does not affect his ability to throw strikes.  Quick arm.  Straight FB w/ ride through the zone.  Gets on you.  CB comes up out of hand w/ slurvy break.  Gets a little loose.  CH thrown w/ armspeed, a little fade/sink.  Strike thrower (13 of 18 for strikes) shows some feel for pitching w/ intent.  Easy arm strength, low effort delivery makes for a very intriguing RHP follow in the 2019 class.  

Kavares Tears, OF/LHP, Columbia Academy, 2021
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-84, CB: 69-72, CH: 71-73 
5-foot-10, 205-pound, LHP featured the top LHP velocity of the event while showing two potential above avg off-speed pitches.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ a step towards the plate and setting of the back foot on the first base side of the rubber.  Balance point to hip drive to H ¾ release w/ ultra quick arm.  Repeatable mechanics, just needs more reps.  FB w/ arm side run and sink.  Gets on hitters.  CB is tight, medium downer that flashes proper rotation.  Struggled to get it out in front on this outing, but will come w/ time and reps.  CH w/ arm speed, above avg fade.  Flashes as out pitch.  More of a thrower learning how to pitch right now.  Mechanics suggest control and command will come with time.  Exciting 2021 LHP prospect.

Gavin Pulliam, C/RHP, Franklin, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 80-82, CB: 71-75, CH: 77-79
6-foot-1, 200-pound, RHP made quick work in his 2 innings, striking out 2.  Prototypical catcher build w/ thick lower half and some projection.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ a short rocker step and sets up on the first base side of the rubber.  Balance point to leg drive to H ¾ release.  Quick arm.  Short in back.  Straight FB flashes ride through the zone, occasional cut depending on where fingers are at on release.  Heavy ball.  CB is medium downer, flashes proper shape.  Can get slurvy at times.  Early breaker that can steal a strike.  CH is potential out pitch, features arm speed, occasional fade and sink.  Late breaking w/ bottom falling out.  Sprayed the zone w/ FB’s, had an understanding of how to get his offspeed stuff in the zone, pitching w/ count intent.  Intriguing arm who needs to get some looks for colleges looking to fill out their 2018 class.

Drew Patterson, LHP, Farragut, 2020
Max FB: 80, FB: 76-79, CB: 69-71, CH: 71-72 
6-foot-3, 190-pound, LHP w/ out pitch CH and an idea on how to pitch.  Prototypical pitcher body w/ lot of projection w/ some strength in lower half.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ short rocker step and pitches from 3^rd base side of the rubber.  Balance point, leg drive and L ¾ release.  Stays connected to the rubber as long as possible.  Clean, repeatable mechanics.  FB w/ late arm side run.  Shows feel to pitch to both corners and is extremely tough on RHH’s when pitching to gloveside corner.  ¾ tilt breaking ball was an occasional early breaker on this day.  Flashes proper shape and rotation.  CH is plus pitch, featuring arm speed, late fade and occasional sink.  Out pitch to hitters from both sides of plate.  Generated 75 % swing and miss on the pitch.  Showed feel for his off-speed stuff, had a number of FB misses to his arm-side.  Will pitch w/ command and intent w/ more reps.  High upside 2020 lefty arm.  

Christopher Arbuthnot, RHP/3B, Knoxville Catholic, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 74-78, CB: 60-64, CH: 68-70 
6-foot-1, 185-pound, RHP showed 2 tick velo jump from January.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ short rocker step and sets back foot on first base side of rubber.  Balance point to leg drive to ¾ release point.  Short arm action in back.  Finishes upright.  Deceptive w/ lot of limbs coming at you.  FB w/ occasional short cut, occasional short arm side run.  Still learning to repeat and keep fingers on top of the baseball.  CB is big 12-6/11-5 w/ above average depth.  Comes up out of hand.  Good pitch to steal a strike with.  Straight CH w/ armspeed.  Has a feel for the strike zone, struggled w/ CB command in this outing.  Given the velo jump from January, a definite follow to see how much more velo will be coming.

Kohl Finch, 2B/RHP, Lebanon, 2020
Max FB: 72, FB: 68-72, CB: 60-63, CH: 61-64
5-foot-10, 155-pound, RHP pounded the zone, throwing 13 of 15 pitches for strikes.  Pitches from a full wind-up w/ a rocker step and some back-heel action on the rubber to reset the drive leg.  Balance point to back leg drive and long stride down the mound.   Glove hand is disconnected from the rest of the delivery.  Can generate more hip drive.  Repeats delivery from a ¾ release point from the first base side of the rubber.  Pitches across his body, increasing deception to RHH’s.  FB w/ occasional run, occasional cut.  Still learning to maintain consistent finger position on release.  CB is 11-5, occasional 12-6, with average to above average depth.  Early breaker comes up out of hand w/ loose rotation.  CH w/ armspeed, occasional fade and sink.  Pounds the zone, flashes ability to pitch w/ intent and command.  Intriguing young arm w/ growth coming.