Uncommitted Spotlight: 2025 Prospects (State Games)
September 19, 2023
Marcus Gradney Jr.
Class of 2025 / OF
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2025
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Primary Position: OFSecondary Position: SS
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High School: St. Edmund CatholicState: LA
- Summer Team: Gladiators
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Height: 6-0Weight: 190lbs
- Bat/Throw: L/R
Statistics
![Trackman](/images/stat_logos/trackman.png)
![Blast](/images/stat_logos/blast.png)
Pitch_Scores
Swift
Videos
16U National Championship
Player News
- Louisiana State Games: Outfielder Reports (Upperclass) - Nov 9, 2023
- Louisiana State Games: Stats Story - Oct 3, 2023
- 2023 PBR Louisiana State Games: Preview Story - Sep 27, 2023
- Uncommitted Spotlight: 2025 Prospects (State Games) - Sep 19, 2023
- Uncommitted Fall Follows: 2025 Class - Aug 31, 2023
- Quick Hits: Lake Charles Preseason ID - Jan 16, 2023
Connor Walker
Class of 2025 / C
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2025
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Primary Position: CSecondary Position: OF
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High School: Sam HoustonState: LA
- Summer Team: Sheets baseball
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Height: 5-10Weight: 178.6lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
![Trackman](/images/stat_logos/trackman.png)
![Blast](/images/stat_logos/blast.png)
Vizual_Edge
Swift
Physical
Scouting Report
Connor Walker, Sam Houston (LA), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF One of the state's top uncomitted backstops in the '25 class
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Athletic and durable
Hit: RHH. Athletic and upright stance, uses a simple load and stride to get to center Gets behind the ball early and stays on-plane to contact with slightly uphill extension and a one-handed finish, drives the ball the best to the opposite field gap 68.1 mph bat speed with 22 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 90.2 mph. 323' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-76 mph. Short and quick with a high 3/4 release
Defense: 2.10-2.13 pop times. Excellent receiver and blocker, good hip mobility and flexible, stays down in his crouch a long time, smooth and quick transfer on throw downs to the 2B bag, accurate arm
ATH: 7.22 runner in the 60.
Positional Profile: C/OF Former Future Gamer and one of the top uncommitted backstops in the state's '25 class
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hits: RHH. Balanced and athletic stance, rhythm in hands, uses a simple load and stride Quick hands take a direct path to contact with a slightly uphill finish with one hand, stays inside the ball well and repeats swing, showed most power to the opposite field gap
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 89.6 MPH. 341' max distance.
Arm: RH. Short and quick with a 3/4 release
Defense: Advanced actions behind the plate, receives the baseball well especially the low pitch which he sticks out front, blocks and smothers ball out front, quick transfer on throw downs to the bag with athletic footwork, liked the way he communicated with his pitchers during bullpens
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Athletic, compact
Hit: RHH. Starts in an upright and balanced stance using a simple load and stride with hands held above shoulder height Downhill and direct path to contact working short to long with slightly uphill extension, hardest hit balls were to the RCF gap.
Power: 92.5 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short and quick with a low 3/4 release
Defense: 1.97-2.05 pop times. Excellent receiver, especially on low pitch, excellent blocker as well, clean and quick transfers with quick footwork behind the dish.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60.
Physical 5'9" 165 lbs. frame with a sturdy and compact build. Walker was a guy that we were excited to see going into Saturday, after receiving positive reports on his fall. Flashed some pop in BP and recorded a max exit velocity of 86 mph. There's still some things he needs to clean up with the swing, but he showed strength and the ability to find the barrel. Behind the plate, quality receiver with a quick transfer that resulted in a 2.05 pop time and 72 mph positional velocity. He also posted a 7.31 in the 60. Good athlete and one to watch in the freshman class.
Videos
(7/26/23)
Player News
- Prep Baseball Louisiana 2025 Class State Rankings Update (May 2024): Risers - May 23, 2024
- Prep Baseball Louisiana: Scout Blog (Week 11) - May 6, 2024
- Prep Baseball Louisiana: Scout Blog (Week 4) - Mar 18, 2024
- Prep Basbeall Louisiana Game of the Week (Week 4): Sam Houston vs. Barbe and Natchitoches Central vs. Benton - Mar 13, 2024
- Prep Baseball Louisiana: Diamond Notes (Week 2) - Mar 6, 2024
- 2024 Team Preview: Sam Houston High School - Jan 18, 2024
- Louisiana Picks To Click: Catchers - Dec 18, 2023
- PBR Louisiana 2025 State Rankings Update: Uncommitted Follows - Dec 1, 2023
- Louisiana State Games: Catcher Reports - Nov 3, 2023
- Louisiana State Games: Quick Hits (Upperclass Position Players) - Oct 9, 2023
- Louisiana State Games: Stats Story - Oct 3, 2023
- 2023 PBR Louisiana State Games: Preview Story - Sep 27, 2023
- Uncommitted Spotlight: 2025 Prospects (State Games) - Sep 19, 2023
- PBR Louisiana 2023 Future Games Recap: Defensive Standouts - Aug 2, 2023
- Meet the Team: PBR Louisiana Future Games Position Players - Jul 18, 2023
- Average Exit Velocity Leaderboard: 2023 Summer Events (Uncommitted Prospects) - Jul 13, 2023
- Max Exit Velocity Leaderboard: 2023 Summer Events (Uncommitted Prospects) - Jul 3, 2023
- PBR Louisiana Game of the Week (Week 4): Barbe vs. Sam Houston - Mar 14, 2023
- 2023 Team Preview: Sam Houston High School - Jan 12, 2023
- Baton Rouge Preseason ID & Lake Charles Preseason ID Rosters - Jan 12, 2023
- PBR Louisiana: 2025 Rankings Update - Aug 29, 2022
- PBR Louisiana Game of the Week: Week 5 - Mar 22, 2022
- Southwest Louisiana Preseason ID - Quick Hits Story - Jan 19, 2022
Ryder Planchard
Class of 2025 / SS
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2025
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Primary Position: SSSecondary Position: RHP
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High School: Holy CrossState: LA
- Summer Team: Sheets Baseball
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Height: 5-10Weight: 160lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
![Trackman](/images/stat_logos/trackman.png)
![Blast](/images/stat_logos/blast.png)
Vizual_Edge
Swift
Physical
Scouting Report
Positional Profile: SS/RHP One of the top uncommitted MIF's in the state's 2025 class
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds. Athletic, lean, and wiry
Hits: RHH. Starts in an open and upright stance, uses a simple load and stride to get to center Works short to long and inside through the ball with a flat path and level extension with a two-handed finish, repeats swing, stayed mostly on a line up the middle of the field, showed increased bat speed in this look and should only go up as he gets stronger
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 78.3 MPH. 256' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph.Short with a 3/4 release
Defense: Had the best INF round on the day, good internal clock, plays with rhythm and athletic footwork, soft hands, understands how to cut angles
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60.
Videos
(1/22/23)
Player News
- Uncommitted Fall Follows: Louisiana 2025 Class - Aug 22, 2024
- Quick Hits: New Orleans Summer ID - Jul 5, 2024
- New Orleans Preseason ID: Position Player Reports - Jan 15, 2024
- New Orleans Preseason ID: Quick Hits - Jan 9, 2024
- New Orleans Preseason ID: Stats Story - Jan 8, 2024
- Louisiana Picks To Click: Infielders - Dec 20, 2023
- Louisiana State Games: Infielder Reports (Upperclass) - Nov 7, 2023
- 2023 PBR Louisiana State Games: Preview Story - Sep 27, 2023
- Uncommitted Spotlight: 2025 Prospects (State Games) - Sep 19, 2023
- Quick Hits: Hammond Preseason ID - Jan 23, 2023
Scouting Report
Positional Profile: OF/SS One of the top uncommitted players in the state's '25 class
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Physical, athletic, broad shoulders with narrow waist
Delivery: Starts in the middle of the rubber and stays there, strides out to 1B side, before lifting and sinking into back hip, moves aggressively down the mound, finishes on-line
Arm Action: RH. Short and quick with a 3/4 release
FB: T83.5, 81-83 mph. Good life through the zone with some run at times T2326, 2276 average rpm.
CB: 66-69 mph. "10-4" shape with equal amounts of lateral break and depth T2291, 2193 average rpm.
CH: 76-79 mph. Firm with some sink T1727, 1681 average rpm.
KN: 72-72 mph. Kills spin, drops off table similar to a SPLIT
Positional Profile: OF/SS One of the top uncommitted players in the state's '25 class
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Physical, athletic, broad shoulders with narrow waist
Hits: LHH. Starts open in a wider stance, uses a leg lift to load into back hip Used wood in this look, gets behind the ball well with an uphill path and extension to match, creates natural loft in his swing, hand/hip separation creates a lot of torque and bat speed, swings with aggression and present power to the middle and pull-side of the field
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 84.1 MPH. 342' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-84 mph.OF-88 mph. Short and quick with a high 3/4 release
Defense: OF: attacks the ball aggressively and fields with one hand out front, good arm, but could work on accuracy IF: Plays low to ground, receives with soft hands, understands how to cut angles on balls to left and right, needs to improve accuracy on throws accross the diamond
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.