We are excited to kick off the 2020 summer season with the East Coast Sox Scout Day, one of the premier travel ball organizations in the country. This event was originally scheduled to take place at Shelton State CC in Tuscaloosa, AL, but was recently changed to Q.V. Sykes Park in Meridian, Mississippi. The event will be one of our biggest to date, as there will roughly be 50 players in each session. Be sure to follow along on our Twitter (@PBR_Alabama) for pre-event, during the event, and post-event coverage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to check out the itinerary for June 4th.

Prep Baseball Report is committed to providing a safe environment for all players and PBR staff in attendance. Social distancing and other guidelines will be followed strictly and thoroughly. Each player will have their own “safe zone” that will be six feet apart from each other. Dugouts will not be used and there will be numerous hand sanitizing stations throughout the complex and on the field.

Today, we want to take a look at some of the top primary 1st basemen and 3rd basemen that will be in attendance at the East Coast Sox Scout Day. This group is composed of players from Alabama and Mississippi. Two of these players below are already committed to power SEC programs and two are ranked nationally in their respective classes. In addition to these, we are certain there will be other talented 1st basemen and 3rd basemen on hand. 

 

Primary 1st & 3rd Basemen:

 

’21 3B/OF Aaron Downs, Heritage Academy (MS)

5-foot-11, 205-pound right-handed hitting 3rd basemen. Former University of Louisville commit. Compact muscular athletic frame. 6.58 runner. Square stance, loads into back leg, compact swing through zone, pulls off occasionally, has above avg. bat speed, loud contact with projectable pop in bat when approach is to middle of field, 97 mph exit velocity. Works low to ground, softer hands, plays with rhythm and tempo, accurate arm to bag, above avg. athlete with actions in field, 87 mph arm strength across infield.

 PBR MS Ranking: #3

PBR National Ranking: #64

’21 3B/1B Cade Horton, Bibb County

Horton can play either corner infield position that may eventually wind up at 1B as the bat really impresses. Showed well with the feet, knowing when to drop step, at 3B and was consistent with throws across the infield. Nice job presenting the glove out in front and with the transfer. The barrel is loud at the plate as he once again took a loud round of BP. Big time pull juice from a slightly open stance and does a nice job of getting the lower half and the hands in a position to hit with power. There is definite tilt in the swing plane and the ball really jumps off the barrel.

PBR AL Ranking: #75

’21 3B/2B Cole Kehoe, Central Phenix City

n athletic young MIF that showed feel in the dirt. Good glove presentation and solid footwork before and after the ball is in the glove with plenty of arm strength. From the left side he showed a leg kick approach with a short, compact swing leading to a middle of the field approach. Did a good job of staying through contact with his level swing path. This 2021 will continue to develop his solid actions over the next few years.

PBR AL Ranking: #89 

’22 3B/SS Charlie Keller, Mobile Christian

Athletic ‘22 grad that showed nice athletic makeup on the day. From the left side, Keller showed advanced barrel control from a slightly open stance and there is definite strength in the hands. Consistently showed a middle of the field approach during BP and did a nice job of slotting the back elbow in the swing and getting nice extension through contact. Physical bat who had a loud barrel AB in his 2nd at bat of the day.. Defensively he is athletic enough to play either SS or 3B and shows a very solid transfer after the ball is in the glove.  Pure actions with the feet and the glove presentation is plus. Showed a definite ability to throw from different arm slots. A ‘22 to follow.

Commitment: Mississippi State

PBR AL Ranking: #14

‘22 1B/3B Brodie Morrow, Hartselle

Physical corner infielder that went through the workout as a 3B and 1B. Showed nice actions around the bag at 1B, coming off the bag well to start a 3-6-3 DP. At 3B he showed nice arm strength (80 mph) to the 1B bag and played fairly low to the ground. Open stance at the plate and a very simple front side as the foot gets down quickly which allows the barrel to be on time. Very compact, simple yet powerful approach at the plate. Did a nice job keeping the hands and barrel inside the ball and showed a middle to pull approach with backspin. Present strength in the hands and some tilt in the bat path.

PBR AL Ranking: #42

’22 3B/1B Cade Prestegard, Huntsville

Young player that has a very nice frame now and will continue to progress as he fills out physically. The tools are there. Was very savvy during IF drills showing good feel playing low to the ground and getting his feet involved very well, before and after the ball was in the glove. Was able to make throws from different arm slots. At the plate, he had an event set up with the feet with a leg kick approach generating some pop. The bat path was level with a nice finish through the zone and he did a nice job using his lower half. Showed juice off of the barrel to the middle of the field. A definite 2022 to follow.

PBR AL Ranking: #78

‘23 3B/RHP Johnathan Rogers, Tupelo (MS)

An athletic player with serious upside at the plate. Slightly open stance at the dish with juice to the gaps. Potential for power as he continues to fill out. Solid defender at the hot corner with good arm strength across the diamond. Definitely one to watch for the ‘23 class.

PBR MS Ranking: #21

‘22 1B/OF Lincoln Sheffield, Hartfield (MS)

One of the top 1st basemen in the ‘22 MS class. Physical bat from the left side that will continue to progress as he grows and adds strength. Slightly open stance with a toe-tap load and a middle of the field approach at the plate. Bat stays on plane and hits constant line drives. Generates a lot of bat speed and stays under control throughout his swing. Also a quality arm that has been up to the mid 80’s. True two-way talent

Commitment: Mississippi State

PBR MS Ranking: #6

PBR National Ranking: #211

‘21 1B/3B Sean Smith, Piedmont

Very loud bat that had an impressive round of BP. Showed lots of pre swing movement and rhythm and showed big pull side juice with generating backspin off the bat from a tilted swing plane. The feet are set even and there is major violence in the swing. He was 96 mph exit velocity off the tee. Showed a very strong arm across the diamond and moved very well around the bag at 1B and consistently picked some throws from across the diamond in the dirt. Big time bat with major juice in the ‘21 class.

PBR AL Ranking: #77

’22 3B/SS Mac Turner, Helena

Turner has really added nice size and strength over the last year and the skills have shown nice development as well. Slightly open toe tap approach at the plate with some definite tilt in the swing path. Did a nice job of staying short with the hands and barrel and repeatedly worked the middle to RCF gap during BP. There is some strength in the hands as well. Liked the approach, also had a 2B to RCF in game play. Defensively, the arm strength is solid (81 mph across the diamond) and loved the footwork on the dirt as well as the momentum through the throw. There is some quick twitch in his actions.

 PBR AL Ranking: #17

 

June 4 Itinerary

Location: Q.V. Sykes Park (Meridian, MS)

Infielders, Outfielders, Catchers

• Stretching
• Running Times (60 Yard Dash- -laser timed)
• Offensive Evaluation
  
  • Mechanical evaluation
  • Exit velocity (from a tee)
  • Live batting practice

• Defensive Evaluations (OF's, Catchers, INF's)
  
  • Arm strength
  • Defensive mobility
  • Positional projectability

Pitchers & Catchers

• Catchers stay for both sessions
• Stretching
• Bullpen Sessions  
  • Mechanical evaluation
  • Charting velocity and pitch action
  • Catcher's Evaluations During Bullpens

 

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