On back-to-back days in August, PBR hosted the Top Prospect Games and the Top Underclass Games at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium.  The Top Underclass Games featured players from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 classes, working out for PBR scouts and close to 20 college programs in attendance.  Position players participated in a full pro-style workout followed by a live scrimmage with pitchers throwing in a controlled environment to the hitters.

The Top Underclass Games saw plenty of high end talent.  As PBR’s staff begins to sift through all of the information, there will be stories highlighting players and their performances.  Today we dive into some of the statistical results from the pro-style workout for position players and on the mound for pitchers. 

CLICK HERE to see the full statistical results from the Top Underclass Games.

 

2019 Top Underclass Games – Statistical Leaders

 

THE 60 YARD DASH 

The 60 has been used for a long period of time to gauge speed in baseball players.  A bit antiquated, it does allow scouts to compare players from different time periods and has become a standard testing distance for pro-style workouts.  During the Top Underclass Games, players ran on a laser timed course.  The surface at the event was synthetic grass.   Thirty-four players ran the 60 with four times coming in under the 7.00 mark.  An additional five players ran 7.20 or better.  Hayden Brandon (SS, Charlotte Christian, 2021) turned in the top 60 time at 6.82.  The overall median time for the Top Underclass Games posted at 7.54.

 

EXIT VELOCITY 

During the offensive portion of the day, players worked through an exit velocity testing station.  At this station, players attacked a ball on a tee with a radar gun reading the exit velocity of the ball off the barrel.  Players had the chance to swing their own bat, plus bats provided by Mizuno.  The numbers below are only from the exit velocity station.  In-game, the scoreboard at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium had TrackMan running, showing the distance and exit velocity of batted balls.  Again thirty-four players went through the testing.  Nine players tested at or above 90 mph with another 10 at or above 85 mph.  The top exit velocity was posted by Larson Scholtz (RHP/OF, Asheville HS, 2022) at 95 mph off the barrel.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS 

Infielders were able to workout at Shortstop in the pro-style portion of the Top Underclass Games.  Players were hit a variety of ground balls, moving to secure the ball before transitioning the ball into a throw across the diamond.  Scouts are evaluating multiple areas during this session.  Arm strength, carry, accuracy, and ease of actions can all be marked.  PBR scouts add a radar gun to give a number to the arm strength.  While the radar reading does not tell the entire story, it does give evaluators a feel for pure arm strength.  Twenty-five players worked out on the infield with a median arm strength reading of 78 mph across the infield.  The top infield arm was recorded by Bryan Arendt (C/3B, Holly Springs HS, 2021) at 90 mph.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS 

Similar to the infielders, there are several data points that evaluators are looking for as outfielders took batted balls from right field, making throws to home plate.  PBR scouts, again, took radar readings on each throw, giving scouts a chance to gauge arm strength with a solid number.  Ten players worked out from right field, making multiple throws to the plate.  Lefrederick Wooten (OF, East Bladen HS, 2021) topped all outfielders with a reading of 91 mph out of the hand.  The median arm speed measured at 81 mph.

 

CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY 

In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt.  Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw.  For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B.  Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw.  PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position.  The top positional velocity for catchers, out of the crouch, was from Bryan Arendt (C, Holly Springs HS, 2021) with a very impressive 85 mph carry.  Arendt also led all catchers with the top pop time in the workout of 1.87.  Nine catchers worked out with a median positional velocity of 75 mph and a median top pop time of 2.06.

 

MAX FASTBALL 

Pitchers threw live to hitters at The Top Underclass Games.  The innings were controlled to limit some of their stress and to allow them to showcase their arsenal to the coaches and scouts in attendance.  Each arm threw 1-2 innings with scouts evaluating total stuff, command, mechanical structure, arm strength, arm speed, and much, much more.  TrackMan was running live throughout the game play portion of the day.  Below are the top fastballs from the event.  Eighteen arms threw in the game play.  Harrison Garner (RHP, Garner HS, 2021) topped all pitchers with a fastball touching 89.  The median fastball for the event registered at 82 mph.