PBR Future Games Player Spotlight : Chase Valentine
July 28, 2019
The PBR Future Games is the nation's premier exposure opportunity for players in the grad classes of 2021 & 2022. This will be the second Team Arizona to compete in the event. This year's event will take place July 31-August 3 at the LakePoint Sporting Community in Cartersville, GA. We will be highlighting each player in the days leading up to the event.
Scouting Report
1/27/19 – 5’10 135-pound lean, long limbed frame. Plays much faster than numbers indicate. Constant energy on and off the field. Open stance with hands head height. Works hands down, while barrel gets vertical and loading into his back side. He lacks present strength but has athleticism and above average hand eye coordination to still make quality contact. Exit velo was 83 MPH. Well above average actions and feet. Has a knack for the baseball and being in the right spot. As foot speed and strength increase, Valentine will be an absolute force. Arm strength was 79 across the infield
10/14/18 - 5-foot-10, 135-pound frame. Valentine continues to prove himself as the top infield defender in the class. The combinations of elite hands, ability to throw accurately from all angles and instincts that consistently show up in game action have earned him that distinction. Very confident in his hands; expects ball to go in his glove. Showed 79 mph velocity across the diamond. Should be able to make an impact offensively when he adds strength as he shows a solid swing with loose wrists. Posted an 80 mph exit velocity. The run time will need to continue to come down. Ran 7.37 60-yard dash. Body has started to get longer, but remains thin without much present strength. All tools project to tick up considerably with continued physical maturation.
6/6/18 - Valentine has started to mature some physically, as he's now more than 5-foot-8, 125-pounds and turned in a significantly improved 7.31 60-yard dash. Plays with the type of energy that absolutely stands out the moment you walk up to the field. He will be the type of player that makes everyone around him better. It also doesn't hurt that he appears to be the top infield defender in the class, moving effortlessly around the diamond and playing underneath the baseball with soft hands and the ability to make accurate throws from all angles; 78 mph infield velocity. Offensively Valentine showed solid swing mechanics that registered a 77 mph exit velocity. Exit velocity will improve with added strength. Also ran his fastball up to 80 mph on the bump with a quick arm action and some effort. Curveball worked 65-68 mph with tight spin and 11/5 shape. Change up flashed solid sink.
12/10/17 - 5-foot-8, 125-pound frame. Valentine is a baseball player. He showed off very advanced defensive actions with good footwork, the ability to throw from multiple angles and solid carry on his throws (77 mph infield velocity). Made lots of hard contact during his round of BP with a simple swing and advanced feel for the barrel. Gathers himself with early knee-knock trigger, creating good separation. Shows enough bat speed to produce gap power as he gets bigger and continues to develop physically; 76 mph exit velocity. He also hopped on the mound and pounded the zone with three pitches, topping out at 79 mph with his mostly straight fastball. Working exclusively from the stretch, Valentine uses some effort to deliver the ball from a ¾ arm slot. 66-68 mph curveball has 11-5 shape and tight, consistent rotation. Also flashed 68-71 mph straight change in the strike zone. Valentine should be an elite high school player with a chance to develop into a very nice college prospect depending on how his tools develop.