Follow @PBRWestVirginia

By Dan Williams
West Virginia / Western Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

The summer schedule of West Virginia PBR events concluded August 26th with the Eastern Panhandle Showcase at Golden Park on the campus of Potomac State College. Today we begin our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2019.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Brady Weaver, 2019, Hedgesville, C
5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed hitter sets up slightly open and initiates swing with short stride staying open. Hands are quick and work directly to the baseball. Bat is on plane throughout and spends considerable time in hitting zone. There is solid balance, posture, hip turn and leverage to swing. There is some backward hip sway in load with associated head movement. Separation could be improved by incorporating a more aggressive weight shift as well as working back elbow up and back in load. Swing played to consistent squaring of baseball in batting practice and an 89 mph bat exit velocity.

Defensively, excellent blocking technique with solid upper body angle was demonstrated. Weaver also flashed good lateral agility and soft hands in framing. Feet were quick with transfer being slightly long in achieving at top pop time of 2.09.

Trevor Thomas, 2019, Wheeling Park, SS/RHP
6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from a slightly open set up and stays open in stride. Head is still with good balance and weight shift. Thomas gets on plane early and demonstrates solid leverage at contact. There is considerable bat wrap leading to length in the swing. There is also intermittent tendency to drift with top half.

Defensively, works bottom up and out front with a clean quick transfer. Thomas would benefit from being more aggressive in attacking and playing through the baseball.

On mound, athleticism is evident out of high 3/4 arm slot. Fastball sits 80-81 with substantial run and sink. Curveball thrown thrown at 63-65 had 11/5 shape and at it's best late, sharp break. Changeup remains a work in progress with little separation from fastball and minimal movement.  Mechanically, delivery is repeated well with good balance while staying in line. There is considerable flail and Thomas markedly lowers height during stride. He would benefit from reducing flail and using his long levers to create angles by staying taller throughout delivery. Overall, there is work to be done but athleticism, stature, arm speed and movement make for interesting follow.

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Quintin Smith, 2019, Morgantown, SS/2B
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitter initiated swing from a neutral set up with a lift-and-replace stride. Head is still and Smith was able to barrel multiple balls in batting practice. He recorded a bat exit velocity of 80 mph. Back elbow leak created some barrel drag. Separation was limited by passive weight shift and hip turn. Smith would benefit from closing back foot in set up as well as being more aggressive with his lower half while leaving hands back to achieve better separation.

Defensively, hands are adequate. Smith demonstrates commitment to working bottom up and out front. He shows good foot work and a clean transfer.

Stephen Graebe, 2019, Wheeling Park, LHP
6-foot, 155-pound left-hander works from a mid 3/4 arm slot. Fastball touches 77 mph with substantial arm side run and sink. Curveball thrown at 62-63 had 1/7 shape with rolling action.  Graebe had difficulty commanding changeup on this day. Mechanically, delivery is repeated well. Good balance and rhythm is present. Height is substantially lowered during stride and there is intermittent tendency to open front hip early and land open. Associated subtle arm drag exists.  Graebe would benefit from staying taller in delivery and eliminating early, excessive front side opening.

Dylan McCartney, 2019, Jefferson, C
5-foot-7, 145-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from slightly open set up with stride to open. McCartney's head is still and he stays behind baseball. There is passive weight shift and substantial back elbow leak leading to barrel drag. McCartney did square multiple balls in batting practice. Directly connecting with back elbow in combination with expected strength gains should result in marked improvement in bat speed. 

Defensively, good blocking technique was demonstrated. Quick hands and feet allowed arm strength to play up to a top pop time of 2.09.

Cory Daly, 2019, SS/RHP, Jefferson
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with short stride staying open. There is good balance, head is still and hands work directly to baseball. Weight shift is passive leading to limited separation. Benefit would be gained in being more aggressive in working away from hands with lower half.

Defensively, athletic movements were evident. Above average range consistent with 6.94 60-yard dash time was demonstrated. Transfer was quick and clean and foot work was good in creating angles. Daly also flashed considerable arm strength on throw of 85 mph across infield.

On the mound, the right-hander worked out of a high 3/4 arm slot and flashed some quickness to arm with fastball sitting 81 with arm side run. Curveball thrown at 71-73 had 11/5 shape and late, sharp break. Change up at 74 had subtle arm side fade. Daly was able to command all of his offerings. Mechanically, there is good balance, rhythm and repeatability to delivery. Front hip coil is achieved following stride knee starting down and hands breaking. More efficient use of lower half could be gained by coiling hip at top of balance point.

Noah Wiggins, 2019, LHP/OF, Spring Mills
5-foot-10, 140-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up utilizing a toe tap stride to neutral. Wiggins head is still and hands are direct to baseball. Hands start early prior to achieving full separation and there is some front knee softness. Would benefit from leaving hands back longer and rotating around a firmer front side. 

Defensively, actions are athletic. Wiggins gets adequate reads and flashed 79 mph arm strength on throw from outfield.

On the mound the left-hander works out of mid 3/4 arm slot. FB touched 78 mph with arm side run. Slider thrown at 70 mph had 2/8 shape with late, sharp break. Slider has makings of next level out pitch. Curveball thrown at 66 mph had 11-7 shape and moderate depth. Changeup sat 63-64 and was thrown at fastball arm speed demonstrating subtle arm side fade. Overall mechanics are sound and arm is loose with low effort delivery. Wiggins shows good balance and rhythm while staying in line. There is intermittent tendency to land stiffly on stride leg.

RECENT WEST VIRGINIA NEWS