Adam Akin
Director of Scouting



The 2017 PBR Tennessee East Tennessee Preseason Preview took place on Sunday, January 29 at Chattanooga Sports Complex, in Hixson, Tennessee and included a position player workout, followed by pitcher bullpens.  Players were afforded the opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of the PBR Tennessee staff and college coaches in attendance. The following is our evaluation of every pitcher that participated in the event.

 

Gavin Cross, OF/LHP, Tennessee High, 2019
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-84, CB: 70-72, CH: 69-72,
6-foot-0, 175-pound, LHP was the top arm at the event, works efficiently on the mound with consistent tempo and fluidity, hands come up a little bit with a leg lift that doesn’t get too high as he creates some very slight shoulder tilt before heading to the plate, turns into a load and strides mostly in line, a shorter but loose arm action comes through a ¾ angle, finishes balanced on his front leg, could stride out further to gain separation and possible velo.  Fastball had some hard and late run when kept down in the zone, curveball showed 2/8 shape with some potential, changeup had some run but slowed the arm down a touch, throws 3 pitches for strikes as a big time 2-way prospect in the class.  

Drew Lowry, SS/RHP, Signal Mountain, 2019
Max FB: 85, FB: 81-84, CB: 75-76, CH: 73-74,
6-foot-2, 170-pound, RHP has an athletic build that is used on both sides of the ball as a 2-way prospect, slower beginning leads to a quick and short finish, keeps his upper body very quiet and tall throughout nearly his entire motion, stride lands in line with the plate and uses an arm action that gets quick through a high ¾ slot, could gain even more velo with more engagement from his lower half.  Fastball showed some late run, curveball had gradual movement with 10/4 shape, changeup was mostly straight with some occasional and slight cut. 

Zane Keener, OF/LHP, Christian Academy of Knoxville, 2019
Max FB: 83, FB: 80-83, CB: 66-67, CH: 70-73,
5-foot-10, 160-pound, LHP uses a rhythmic delivery that build up to an aggressive jolt toward the plate, gets loaded at the top with a higher leg lift that builds and quickens his momentum, creates some slight shoulder tilt before heading to the plate with a slightly closed stride that lands in that position, generally finishes balanced and out front, arm action starts longer but shortens up through a high ¾ release point.  Fastball was mostly straight but seemed heavy, curveball was sharp with some late 1/7 break, changeup showed some run and sink through the zone.

John Curtis, RHP, McMinn County, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 80-82, CB: 62-65, CH: 73-74,
6-foot-2, 175-pound, RHP uses a very up-tempo approach on the mound with a quick and almost jerky delivery, begins with a quick rocker step and leg lift that creates some slight and closed shoulder tilt during a slight slowdown before a slightly closed stride toward the plate, arm action begins a little longer but gets shorter and quick through a high ¾ slot, finishes on his front leg with a quirky back leg bounce.  Fastball seemed heavy through the zone with some slight run, curveball had 11/5 shape with gradual break and was a little erratic, changeup was very solid and showed sink and run at the plate.

Daniel Willie, RHP/OF, Ooltewah, 2017
Max FB: 81, FB: 77-81, CB: 67-71, CH: 68-69,
6-foot-2, 175-pound, RHP showed the same fundamentals we saw from him at the Unsigned Senior Games back in September, stays loose and calculated throughout his entire delivery with his long and lanky build, gets down the mound with that length and strides mostly in line, long and loose arm action comes through a high ¾ release point.  Fastball actually showed some cut on occasion, curveball had 11/5 to 12/6 shape with consistent movement, changeup was mostly straight as a change of pace.

Dawson Perry, RHP/3B, Mount Juliet Christain Academy, 2018
Max FB: 81, FB: 79-81, CB: 70-72, CH: 73-75,
5-foot-11, 210-pound, RHP has a strong and stockier build that plays on both sides of the ball for him, stays controlled and uses good rhythm throughout his delivery, slightly higher leg lift brings his hands up but keeps his shoulders even throughout, stride lands only slightly closed but seems to keep him from getting that release point out front from time to time, shorter arm action comes through a near over-the-top slot.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball had 11/5 to 10/4 shape with gradual movement, changeup was simply a change of pace.

Tristan Warden, LHP, Lebanon, 2017
Max FB: 80, FB: 77-80, CB: 70-73, CH: 68-71, SL:72-73
6-foot-0, 160-pound, LHP uses a steady and consistent rhythm throughout his delivery that keeps his eyes fixed squarely on his target, gets a little closed and loaded at the top of his leg lift with some slight shoulder tilt, strides only slightly closed and finishes on that front leg, arm action is pretty simple and can be quick when coming through a ¾ to high ¾ release point.  Fastball showed some sink through the zone, curveball had 1/7 shape while slider moved from 2/8 and both had some potential with late movement, changeup faded at the plate.

Dawson Lytle, LHP, Baylor, 2020
Max FB: 80, FB: 79-80, CB: 63-65, CH: 64-67,
6-foot-3, 165-pound, LHP has a long and rangy frame that uses some athleticism on the mound, uses a quicker delivery with a ton of movement that jumps at the hitter, higher leg lift generates some shoulder tilt before attacking the plate, strides in line and uses a long arm action through a ¾ slot with a good bit of effort, finishes over and around his front leg with an occasional drift toward the 3B side.  Fastball showed run at the plate, curveball showed 2/8 shape with movement that can be sharp from time to time, changeup had some slight fade.  Certainly a 2020 to keep an eye on.

Layne Atkins, RHP/1B, Morristown East, 2019
Max FB: 80, FB: 79-80, CB: 68-70, CH: 69-74,
6-foot-0, 165-pound, RHP has an athletic build and uses a long and extremely slot delivery, has trouble maintaining rhythm throughout his motion as he nearly pauses at two separate points, slow leg lift leaves his shoulders even and actually straightens out his front leg before heading home, strides and lands in line and leads to a shorter arm action through a high ¾ release point, finishes under control.  Fastball was straight, curveball was thrown for strikes with 11/5 shape with some sharpness, changeup was just a change of pace.

Asa Blake, RHP, Cleveland, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 76-78, CB: 67-68, CH: 69-72,
6-foot-1, 180-pound, RHP begins quietly with some very controlled movement, builds a little pace into a higher leg lift that creates a solid load at the top, generates some shoulder tilt before heading toward the plate with good alignment and control, strides in line and finishes in a balanced position, gets down the mound well, long arm action comes loosely through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball was mostly straight but showed a little life, curveball had 12/6 to 11/5 shape with some sharp and late movement, changeup had a little fade at the plate.

Mark Jones, LHP, Signal Mountain, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 76-78, CB: 66-68, CH: 68-72,
5-foot-9, 155-pound, LHP stays smooth and uses a consistent and fluid delivery, gets into a loaded position at the top of his leg lift with a big turn of his shoulders that gets him closed before heading home, strides and lands in a closed position but doesn’t have any trouble getting his hand out front and to the plate, arm action is a little longer through a high ¾ slot, lands in balance.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball had 1/7 shape and showed the ability to be sharp, changeup had some run.

Christopher Arbuthnot, RHP, Knoxville Catholic, 2019
Max FB: 76, FB: 73-75, CB: 62-63, CH: 68-69,
6-foot-1, 185-pound, RHP uses a quick and up-tempo delivery that avoids the use of much wasted movement, leg lift comes up quickly to get him loaded at the top, shoulders stay pretty even throughout, leg straightens out before striding in line and leads to a very short arm action through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball was straight through the zone, curveball showed 11/5 shape with gradual movement, changeup was straight but can be thrown for strikes.

Ben Willcoxon, SS/RHP, Sevier County, 2020
Max FB: 75, FB: 73-75, CB: 66-69, CH: 68-70,
5-foot-9, 175-pound, RHP moves athletically on the mound as he competes as a 2-way prospect that plays a solid MIF, showed amore up-tempo approach and quicker delivery than we saw from him at last summer’s Top Prospect Games, shoulders stay even throughout his delivery and a mostly in line stride, arm action is longer and pretty loose while coming through a high ¾ slot, finishes out on his front leg.  Fastball had some slight run, curveball was solid with 11/5 to 10/4 shape that got sharper the harder he threw it, changeup was mostly straight with some slight run. 

Aaron Worrell, SS/RHP, White House, 2019
Max FB: 75, FB: 72-75, CB: 69-71, CH: 70-71,
5-foot-8, 135-pound, RHP uses a consistent pace throughout his delivery that keeps him quiet and under control, hands come up with his leg lift and lead to a longer arm action through a near over-the-top slot, lands slightly closed, finishes with his weight coming toward the plate.  Fastball showed some slight run, curveball had some gradual break with 11/5 shape, changeup was consistent with some run.

Jacob Upshaw, 3B/C/RHP, Central Magnet, 2018
Max FB: 75, FB: 72-75, CB: 59-62, CH: 65-67,
5-foot-11, 210-pound, RHP uses some short and simple movements through his delivery while staying efficient, gathers at the top and creates a little load with hardly any shoulder tilt, gets a little closed and strides in that manner, arm action is shorter a comes through a high ¾ release point, finishes out front and toward the plate.  Fastball was mostly straight through the zone, curveball had had very little but gradual 11/5 movement, changeup showed some fade at the plate.

Cole Alsup, LHP, Mount Juliet Christian Academy, 2018
Max FB: 73, FB: 71-73, CB: 56-57, CH: 61-63,
6-foot-0, 145-pound, LHP uses a more deliberate delivery through a little slower-paced tempo, nearly comes to a pause around the top of his leg lift, shoulders stay pretty even but close off with his stride toward the plate, lands in a very closed position and really has to reach out over his front side on release, long arm action comes through a ¾ slot with natural effort.  Fastball was mostly straight but showed some occasional cut, curveball showed 12/6 to 1/7 shape with gradual movement through the zone, changeup had some cut and a little sink.