Panhandle Top Prospect Games: Top 5 Standouts and Best of the Rest

Zavion Anderson OF / 3B / Booker T. Washington, FL / 2020

5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, durable build with developing strength throughout frame. Ran a 7.22 60 yard dash. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, barrel start flat on shoulder, loads hands back and cocks barrel to vertical in an athletic fashion, remains balanced. Line drive hitter, looks to square the ball back up the middle, 83 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot, kept throws on target, 80 mph from the outfield. Fields position with confidence, clean footwork and exchanges. During gameplay, showed good plate awareness, hitting behind the runner at first on a hit and run.

Chase Barcus C / Pace High, FL / 2020

5-foot-10, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher, stocky frame with strength. Offensively, narrow setup, long stride, hands start high and stay with little load, finishes on his back-side. Gap-to-gap type hitter, barrel path works mostly level, some uphill tendencies allowing him to elevate the ball, generates hard contact at-times, 86 mph exit velocity. Banged an RBI double of the center field wall during game play. Defensively, creates a large target behind the plate, short, over-the-top slot, accurate on throws, 70 mph out of the crouch. Sound fundamentals, clean on transfers and footwork, pop times ranged 2.15-2.33. Ran an 8.15 laser-timed 60.

Rashad Blount OF / 1B / Booker T. Washington, FL / 2020

6-foot-1, 181-pound right-handed hitting outfielder and first baseman, lanky frame, room for additional muscle. Offensively, balanced setup, starts with weight on back leg, short leg lift stride, hands load back and barrel cocks to vertical, finishes balanced. Gap-to-gap type hitter, flashed ability to drive the ball when on time, inconsistent timing but is still able to generate hard contact given overall physicality in frame, 87 mph exit velocity. Had a multi-hit day during gameplay with two hard hit singles. Defensively, arm works long with some looseness to a high ¾ slot, 80 from the outfield, 74 across the infield.

Easton Cook OF / SS / Pace, FL / 2020

5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, athletic build. Ran a 7.05 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, long reverse toe-tap stride, hands start high, loading back and flattening the barrel, remains balanced. Takes a line drive approach, short, quick barrel path through the zone, 80 mph exit velocity. Knocked a hard hit single up the middle during gameplay. Defensively, long arm action with a full arm swing on the back-side to a ¾ slot, 73 mph from the outfield. Fields the ball out front and on glove-side, long on transfers.

John Gee RHP / 1B / Port St. Joe, FL / 2020

6-foot-3, 195-pound two-way prospect, long, strong frame. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, short stride, hands load back quickly, remains balanced throughout. Power hitter, easy swing creates hard contact to the pull-side, 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively, arm works long, reaching back to a ¾ slot, accurate on throws, 71 across the diamond. Good feel around the bag at first, clean transfers and footwork. Ran a 7.71 60. On the mound, reaching arm action, gains full extension on the back-side, ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands open occasionally, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 79-81, flashed armside run. Mixed in two breaking balls, an 11/5 curveball at 69-70 and a more sweeping slider at 72-74. Also used a changeup at 72.

Mason McManus SS / RHP / Booker T Washington, FL / 2022

6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed hitting shortstop and pitcher, long, lanky frame, projects well. Offensively, balanced setup, leg kick timing trigger, hands load back with some barrel wrap.Takes a middle/pull approach, gets the barrel out front, barrel path travels uphill through the zone, 86 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action, some wrap, ¾ slot, accurate on throws, 75 across the infield. Uses his long frame well to range to both sides, clean footwork and transfers. On the mound, arm action is clean and continuous on the back-side, gets long at-times, some looseness. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, landing square, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 77-79 with run. Curveball, 11/5 shape, flashed depth, 66-67.

Christian Pollard C / 3B / Booker t. Washington high school, FL / 2021

5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, lean, athletic frame. Offensively, keeps it simple at the plate, balanced setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, remains balanced through with smooth rhythm. Line drive hitter, smooth swing as the barrel works level through the zone, uses the entire field, 76 exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.55 laser-timed 60. On the infield, arm plays short from a ¾ slot, accelerates through release, 76 across the infield. Displated solid, quick footwork and clean transfers up the middle. Behind the dish, flexible upper and lower halves, creates a tight box, arm action is short to a ¾ slot, throws ran on occasion, 72 out of the crouch, pop times ranged 2.07-2.13.

Trey Simpkins 3B / RHP / Elberta , AL / 2021

6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting corner infielder and right-handed pitcher, thick frame. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, short leg lift stride, hands load back with a slight barrel wrap. Line drive hitter, uphill barrel path through the zone, uses the whole field, 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.87 60. Defensively, long arm action to a high ¾ slot, kept throws around bag at 69 mph across the infield. Fields position aggressively, charges every ball. On the mound, long arm action, slot varied between over-the-top and high ¾, can get backed up. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands toe open, finishing walking off the mound towards first. Fastball sat 69-71. Mixed in a curveball at 56-59, gradual break.

Brandon Williams RHP / 3B / Elberta, AL / 2022

5-foot-7, 170-pound two-way prospect, thick frame with room for muscular development. Offensively, open setup, long hang leg stride, hands load back and brings barrel vertical. Loose hands at the plate, takes a pull approach, looks to elevate the ball with an uphill barrel path, early timing, 79 exit velocity. Ran an 8.10 60. Defensively, long arm action, ¾ slot, 79 mph across the infield. Fields position with short steps, long on transfers. On the mound, long arm action, shows low on the back-side, ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands toe-closed, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 77-79. Curveball, 11/5 shape, some late action, 69-70.

Warrick Wilmot 3B / 1B / North Bay Haven Charter Academy , FL / 2022