National Signing Day Edition

With the early signing period scheduled for next week, In the Weeds, takes a look at some of the better uncommitted 2018 players from across the PBR coverage area. The early signing period does not put an absolute end to recruiting for most schools as many will still be looking for players throughout the spring, as well. Each player on the list demonstrates the skills and talent to compete at some level in college. Some missed key recruiting periods do to injury/illness, others are late-bloomers, while others may be lacking some of the stand out metrics, but will be solid additions because of their overall play.
 

Chase Griffin SS / 2B / Moses Brown, RI / 2018 Rankings  StateRank: 54 / POS: 9 Griffin has the twitchy-athleticism and proportionally strong frame that has a chance to thrive in the right situation at some level in college. The 6-foot, 178-pound athletic infielder runs a 6.84 60-yard dash, and features a quick first step on the infield. Hailing from New England, Griffin will be greatly aided by more repetitions in the field, but he has a loose arm that is accurate. He will likely shift over to second base in college, but his above average speed will give him a chance to play in the outfield if need be. At the plate, he sets up square in a wider stance, and utilizes a short stride with shorter, somewhat segmented hands load before working through the zone. His hands are quick to the ball while the barrel shows some lag in the zone before finishing with a high, loose finish. Griffin is coming back off of an illness which stunted some of his recruitment, but should be a player looked at closely by recruiters because of his athleticism, speed, and ability to hit.

Nathanial Tate C / RHP / Coffee County Central, TN / 2018 I have always been a big fan of position players who hop on the mound and show promise as pitchers. Their natural movement patterns haven’t been changed, so the talent seems to come out easier. Tate looks like one of those guys. At 6-foot-1, 160-pounds, he has a lean, pitcher’s frame that exhibits enough athleticism to help him produce 1.87-2.0 pop times from behind the plate. He hopped on the mound at PBR’s KY-TN Border Battle, and pounded the strike zone with a fastball that jumped through the zone at 85-88. He demonstrated a clean, medium-sized, arm swing that delivered out of a high ¾ slot, and athletically repeated his delivery. Tate threw a curveball at 74-76 that had tighter spin that he showed control of, and his slider was thrown firmer at 75-79. The two pitches tend to morph together, but the groundwork is already there. Having gone through a full day of workouts prior to getting on the mound, there is likely more velocity in his arm, and with more focus on pitching in the future, Tate has a chance to make a jump for a school at some level.