Preseason All-State: Outfielder Analysis

PBR Georgia hosted its second annual Preseason All-State event at LakePoint Sports this Saturday, January 9th. The event brought together just over 30 of the top prospects in the state's class of 2021 and 2022. Despite frigid temps, with the real feel temperature hovering around 28-30 degree, prospects competed in a pro-style workout.

We began the event analysis with our initial thoughts and a statistical analysis. Today, we will dive into the player reports. We continue on with a look at a highly athletic position group: the outfielders.

Despite being the youngest prospect in attendance Oklahoma commit SS/OF Bryce Clavon (Dutchtown, 2024) came away as the top outfield prospect. Clavon is an elite athlete who can slot in at center or short. At the plate, he has advanced feel for the barrel and consistently drove the ball gap-to-gap with serious force, posting a 97 mph max exit velocity.

Following Clavon is recent North Carolina commit OF John Long (Glynn Academy, 2022). Long is a lanky athlete, running an event best 6.70 (has run 6.55). He has more than enough arm, 90 from the outfield, and the speed to stick in center at the next level. Offensively, Long has a gap-to-gap swing, driving the ball with a quick bat, 80.40 max bat speed,.

Keep reading to view reports on the rest of the top outfield prospects at the event.

Top Outfielder Prospects

Bryce Clavon, Dutchtown (GA), 2024 Oklahoma
Positional Profile: SS/OF One of the top prospects in the 2024 class, advanced tool set.
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Advanced athlete with quick twitch, strength throughout especially in his lower half.
Hit: RHH. Keeps it simple, balanced setup, hands start back and remain as he loads weight back, short stride, explosive lower half, great balance through finish. Swing path is short and quick to the zone, mostly level through, aggressive intent, quick hands (25.90 hand speed) coupled with whippy bat speed (79.70 bat speed), drives the ball gap-to-gap with ease.
Power: 97.00 mph exit velocity from the tee. Gap-to-gap power, power to all fields as he continues to develop.
Arm: RH. INF - 86.00 mph. OF - 89 mph. Short, clean arm action, explosive arm speed, throws carry across the infield and from the outfield.
Defense: Plays through the ball with athleticism, quick, fluid footwork, carries momentum toward target, fields out front with a soft glove, quick on transfers.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. Clean gait, extremely quick feet.

John Long, Glynn Academy (GA), 2022 North Carolina
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Lean, lanky frame, athletically built, wiry strength, room for more.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, high hands drop and deepen, leg lift stride, great balance. Hit path is short to the zone, level through, gap-to-gap type hitter, whippy bat speed, repeatable.
Power: 93.00 mph exit velocity from the tee. Gap-to-gap power.
Arm: LH. OF - 90 mph. Long, quick arm action to a high 3/4 slot, throws showed easy carry and accuracy..
Defense: Fields position athletically, quick first step, fluid footwork, fields out front, competent glove, clean on exchanges.
Run: 6.70 runner in the 60. Clean gait, easy strides.

Kameron Douglas, Woodstock (GA), 2022 Georgia State
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Long, projectable frame, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, reverse toe-tap stride, smooth rhythm and load with hands, good balance through finish, Swing path is short and quick to the zone, mostly level through, can get uphill at-times, drives the ball gap-to-gap,.
Power: 96.00 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long, clean arm action, full arm swing on the back-side, whippy arm speed to an over-the-top slot,
Defense: Plays through the ball, fields out front with a soft glove, fluid footwork, utilizes a crow hop, clean on transfers.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Christian Jackson, Dutchtown (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Lanky, athletic build, wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands load back with smooth rhythm, leg kick timing trigger, lands narrow in his stance, finishes balanced. Hit path is long to the zone, level through, uses the entire field with a line drive approach, and creates quick bat speed.
Power: 92.00 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 83.00 mph. OF - 86 mph. Long, loose arm action to a 3/4 slot, throws carry.
Defense: Plays through the ball in the outfield with confidence, soft glove, smooth footwork, clean exchanges. On the infield, athletic defender, clean footwork, soft glove, good body control.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. Easy runner, long strides.

Will Fincher, Kennesaw Mountain (GA), 2022 Jacksonville State
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. Strong, athletic frame, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, at-times finishes over the plate. Swing path is short to the zone, mostly level through, flicks barrel, gap-to-gap type hitter, showed pull-side power when he gets extended.
Power: 85.00 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Arm action is long to an over-the-top slot, throws are true and accurate.
Defense: Plays through the ball with great range, fluid footwork, clean glove, smooth on transfers.
Run: 6.74 runner in the 60.

Harper McLendon, Brookwood School (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Medium sized, muscular frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with knees bent in, hands load back smoothly, short heel lift stride, good balance. Swing path is short to the zone, level through, quick hands coupled with fast bat speed, drives the pull to the pull-side.
Power: 95.00 mph exit velocity from the tee. 26.00 hand speed, 77.20 bat speed.
Arm: RH. INF - 88.00 mph. OF - 89 mph. Short, explosive arm action, whippy-like arm speed, to a high 3/4 slot, throws carry across the infield and from the outfield.
Defense: On the infield, fields out front with a good glove hand, most times plays through the ball, can get flat, clean on transfers. In the outfield, breaks down early and fields with two hands, clean on transfers.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.

Nick Walker, Dutchtown (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF 
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, big leg kick timing trigger, hands start back and deepen into an arm bar, finishes on front-side. Hit path is long to the zone, uphill through, looks to get the hands extended and drive the ball pull-side.
Power: 93.00 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long, loose arm to an over-the-top slot, throws are accurate and true.
Defense: Plays through the ball, fields out wide, clean glove, packs on transfers, utilizes a back shuffle.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. Clean gait, quick feet.

Connor Haynes, Dunwoody (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Medium sized frame, proportional build, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, hands start high and preloaded, drop and cock on load, short leg lift stride, good balance.  Swing path is short to and uphill through the zone, uses the entire field, drives pitches to the pull-side.
Power: 93.00 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long, loose arm, quick arm speed, high 3/4 slot, kept throws low and on target.
Defense: Plays through the ball with fluid footwork, fields out front in stride, clean on transfers.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.

Tristan Nguyen, Johnson (GA), 2022 Georgia State
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 230-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall, open setup, hands cock with a barrel wrap on load, short stride, good balance. Swing path is short to the zone, uphill through, takes a power/pull approach, looks to elevate and do damage.
Power: 96.00 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential.
Arm: LH. INF - 80.00 mph. OF - 84 mph. Arm action is long to a high 3/4 slot, accurate throws, some carry.
Defense: Has feel around the bag at first, good glove hand, clean on exchanges. Plays through in the outfield, fluid footwork, clean transfers.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60.

Ryan Combs, Blessed Trinity (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds. Lean, athletic build, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands start at ears and load back with some barrel wrap, short toe-tap stride, good balance. Hit path is short to the zone, flicks barrel uphill through, can get steep at-times, creates line drive contact gap-to-gap.
Power: 84.00 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Short arm action to a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays through the ball, attacks, tracks well, soft glove, quick footwork, clean on exchanges.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

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