Fall Upperclass Games: First Basemen Analysis

PBR Georgia hosted its second annual Fall Upperclass Games on Sunday, November 8th at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Ga. The event brought together just over 100 uncommitted prospects from the 2021 and 2022 class. Prospects participated in a pro-style workout before splitting up into teams for simulated gameplay. Today, we will continue the player analysis with a look at the first basemen.

This was a very strong group of projectable frames and power bats. At the top of the pecking order is 6-foot-6, 205-pound 1B/OF Grey Brannen (Westfield, 2022). Brannen has a huge amount of upside given the size of his frame, his athletic ability (6.93 runner) and how much filling he has left. He creates consistent hard line drive contact with a quick barrel.

Sliding in behind Brannen is switch-hitting 1B Cody McGill (Pope, 2022). McGill is a legit switch-hitter who can hit for power from both sides of the plate. He has an easy effort, repeatable swing and can drive the ball with ease. McGill starts a string of big power potential first basemen with 1B/RHP Barrett Eldrige (Walton, 2022), 1B Donson Morain (Young Americans Christan, 2021), and 1B Ashton Long (North Gwinnett, 2021) rounding out our top-5.

Keep reading to view reports on the top-5 first baseman prospects and reports on the remaining listed alphabetically.

Top First Baseman Prospects

Grey Brannen, Westfield (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-foot-6, 210-pounds. Extra large, long frame, athletic build, lean muscle, ultra projectable, ton of upside as he has barely filled out his frame.
Hit: RHH. Keeps it simple throughout, wide setup, smooth hand load as he loads weight back, short stride, good balance through finish. Hit path is mostly level through the zone, creates hard line drive contact gap-to-gap, quick hands (26.00 max hand speed), when he gets his long levers extended the ball can jump off the bat pull-side.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Creates barrel speed with strong hands, 78.40 max bat speed, 95.39 max exit velocity via TrackMan.
Arm: RH.  INF - 84 mph. OF - 84 mph. Arm action is long and loose, clean on the back-side, quick arm speed to a mostly high 3/4 slot, shortened up some when turning double plays.
Defense: An athletic fielder both in the outfielder and at first base. in outfield, plays through the ball with fluid footwork, clean on transfers, fields out front, shuffles behind on throws, covers ground with long strides. On infield, keep ball in front with a wide base, fields out front, clean transfers, good footwork around the bag and on double plays.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. 

Cody McGill, Pope (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Physical build, wide frame, strength throughout, athletic.
Hit: S/L. From left-side - balanced setup, hands start back and stay, reverse toe-tap-stride, great balance. From right-side - slightly more open, hands tart near ear and drop on load, low hanging stride, good balance.  Swing path is short and quick to the zone, uphill through, looks to pull the ball and do damage with each swing, good feel for the barrel, controlled actions. A legit switch-hitter.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential from both sides of the plate, quick and strong hands, 26.10 max hand speed, 78.10 max bat speed.
Arm: LH.  INF - 76 mph. Short arm action with a wrap on the back-side, comes out of a 3/4 slot, drops to sidearm on double plays.
Defense: Keeps ball in front with an early breakdown, fields out front, attacks the ball on double play opportunities, clean on transfers, good feel around the bag.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60.

Barrett Eldridge, Walton (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 200-pounds. Long, physical frame, strength throughout with much more to come.
Hit: RHH. Open setup with an athletic bend in his knees, hands start low and load up and back, short toe-tap stride, good balance.  Swing path is mostly level through the zone, can be steep at times causing him to hit down on the ball, when he gets extended he generates hard contact to all fields.
Power: 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential, 99.33 max exit velocity via TrackMan, strong and quick hands, 27.60 max hand speed and 76.00 max bat speed via Blast
Arm: RH.  INF - 84 mph. Arm action is long to an over-the-top slot, quick arm speed, throws carry.
Defense: Plays through the ball, confident glove hand, clean on transfers, moves well side to side on left side of infield, has very good feel around the bag at first, smooth turning double plays,.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60.

Donson Morain, Young Americans Christian (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 235-pounds. Large, physical build, strength throughout, wide frame., advanced lower half.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands start near ear and load back with a cocking of the hands, short leg lift stride, good balance through finish. Swing path is mostly level through the zone, routinely gets extension through the zone with quick, strong hands, barrel explodes through contact, elevates and does damage to the pull-side.
Power: 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power, sent a ball flying 379 feet via TrackMan, creates bat speed, 76.20 max bat speed via Blast.
Arm: RH.  INF - 77 mph. Arm action is short and clean on the back-side to a high 3/4 slot, accurate across the diamond and on double plays.
Defense: Breaks down early with a wide base, fields out front, confident glove hand, clean on transfers, good feel around the bag.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60.

Ashton Long, North Gwinnett (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. Long, lean frame, projectable build, lots of room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, high hands load back into an arm bar, heel lift stride, good balance. Swing path is uphill through the zone, lifts the ball, pull-side approach, when he gets extension with his long arms the ball can fly out of the park, quick hands.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential as he continues to add to his frame.
Arm: RH.  INF - 80 mph. Short arm action to a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Rangey footwork, takes long strides, good glove hand, quick transfers.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Carter Brannon, Bleckley County (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-5, 190-pounds. Long, lean frame, lots of filling out left to do.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, low hands load back smoothly, reverse toe-tap stride, finishes open. Swing path is short to the zone, level through, keeps hands inside, line drive type hitter, takes a middle/pull approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH.  INF - 82 mph. Arm is long and loose to a 3/4 slot, accurate on throws.
Defense: Fields the ball out front with a narrow base, flat footwork, clean transfers and good feel around the bag.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

Michael Carswell Jr, Woodward (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Strong, projectable build, high waist, thick lower half.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth rhythm in high hands, drop on load, quick leg kick timing trigger. Swing path is uphill through the zone, looks to elevate and drive the ball to the pull-side.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential to pull-side when he gains extension, bat strength.
Arm: RH.  INF - 79 mph. Arm action is long to an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Moves with short, choppy steps, fields deep at-times, long on transfers.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

Aedan Cates, Trinity Christian (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 205-pounds. Physical frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, little to no load, long stride to a balanced position, finishes falling over the plate.  Swing path is short to the zone, uphill through, early timing as he looks to get extended and pull the ball with force.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential.
Arm: RH.  INF - 81 mph. Arm works long and loose with some whip, 3/4 slot when throwing across the infield, shortened up and dropped to side arm when turning double plays.
Defense: Good feel at first base, keeps the ball in front, confident hands, clean on transfers.
Run: 8.11 runner in the 60. 

Rocky MIddleton, Duluth (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-0, 200-pounds. Proportional, muscular build.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, high hands start loaded back, leg lift stride, good balance. Barrel path works long to the zone, uphill through, takes a pull-side approach, looks to elevate.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH.  INF - 77 mph. Arm action is short to 3/4 slot, some coil on back-side.
Defense: Early breakdown, waits back on the ball, fields out front, clean on transfers.
Run: 8.19 runner in the 60. 

Jett Pimentel, Duluth (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-foot-0, 210-pounds. Strong, athletic build, muscular frame.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, keeps it simple with a short hand load and stride, good balance through finish.  Swing path is short to the zone, uphill through, pull approach, looks to elevate the ball.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Big power potential, quick hands speed, 25.60, creates barrel speed, 81.10 bat speed
Arm: RH.  INF - 78 mph. Short arm action to a 3/4 slot, slings the ball.
Defense: Breaks down early, fields deep, long on transfers,
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Jess Siniard, Houston County (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-foot-0, 221-pounds. Strong, physical build
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, hands start back and deepen into an arm bar, reverse toe-tap stride, good balance through finish. Barrel path long to the zone, level through, looks to lift the ball, shoulders uphill, drives the ball pull-side when he gets extension.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH.  INF - 70 mph. Arm action is long to a high 3/4 slot, some stiffness, plays better from first base.
Defense: Uses his large frame well to get in front of the ball, breaks down with short wide steps on approach, fluid around first base with footwork, clean on transfers, good body control.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

CJ Whaley, Kennesaw Mountain (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. Strong, projectable build, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup with weight loaded onto back-side, smooth rhythm in hands as they load back, short stride, great balance. Hit path is short to the zone, level through, when he gets extension he elevates the ball with force to the pull-side, creates hard line drive to all fields.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential with consistent extension.
Arm: RH.  INF - 80 mph. Long, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate with some carry.
Defense: Athletic around first base, plays through the ball with fluid footwork, good glove hand, clean on transfers.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 




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