On the Hunt: Florida, Texas Kick Off The Summer
May 23, 2017
By Shooter Hunt
National Crosschecker
@ShooterHunt
As the summer season starts and events ramp up, On the Hunt will be updated more frequently. The summer feature will have a slightly different feel to it. More players will be featured with quicker bursts and thoughts from PBR National Crosschecker Shooter Hunt. Rather than being a weekly piece, On the Hunt will be updated closer to real time. Be on the lookout for constant updates. This past weekend, PBR Florida and Texas hosted events that produced top quality talent. Here's a look at some of the top uncommitted players:
Shooter's Standout
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Justin Barnes RHP / OF / Klein Oak, TX / 2019Barnes was an eye-opening act when he hopped on the mound at PBR Texas’ Houston Underclass Trials. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has a young face, that, combined with a whippy arm should be able to continue maturing into even more velocity. Coming from a tough ¾ slot, Barnes showcased a quick arm that pounded the bottom of the zone with a fastball that jumped out of his hand at 87-90. What made that velocity even more impressive was that Barnes had already gone through a full workout where he showcased his athleticism by running a 7.13 60-yard dash on a slow track, and demonstrating some strength to his swing. Combine that with a rain delay that came and went, but left intense heat and humidity behind, and he very well may have been a tick or two higher on the radar gun without the long day prior. Barnes also threw a tight, late-breaking, true-slider with tilt that he threw with fastball hand speed at 76-79. He showed feel for the pitch in the zone, and it has a chance to continue developing, and possibly becoming plus in the future. Overall, Barnes has the stuff to make him highly coveted by the top programs in the country, and has a high ceiling with more to come.
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