Adam Akin
Director of Scouting

The 2016 Tennessee/Kentucky Border Battle Games took place on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16.  The scouting directors from each state put together a team of some of the best uncommitted players available to compete against each other.  Players were afforded the opportunity to participate in a pro style evaluation, followed by two 9-inning games.  Saturday’s event consisted of mostly 2018 graduates, while Sunday’s event featured primarily 2019 graduates.  Below is an evaluation of each pitcher that participated in Saturday’s games for Team Tennessee.

 

Jack McLaughlin, RHP, Father Ryan, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 84-86, CB: 71-73, CH: 75,
6-foot-4, 175-pound, RHP dominated with one of the most impressive outings of the entire weekend, McLaughlin continued his ascent as one of the top uncommitted pitchers in Tennessee’s 2018 class with a steady showing of command and the size and length to suggest a ton of untapped potential, he works confidently and uses a tiny rocker step before utilizing a high leg lift to get loaded at the top, creates some solid shoulder tilt before heading home with his front hip, strides mostly in line and finishes under control, long arm action comes through a high ¾ slot and works very well.  Fastball showed some run with great command, curveball had 12/6 to 11/5 shape and was thrown for strikes in many counts, changeup had some fade at the plate.  McLaughlin recorded 4 strikeouts in his 2 perfect innings of work. 

Corey Wilson, RHP, Houston, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 83-86, CB: 71-75, CH: 73-74,
5-foot-11, 160-pound, RHP is a sharp and consistent competitor on the mound, smaller frame and athletic build allows him to work with a good tempo and consistency, hands stay low and together throughout his motion, solid leg lift comes just above his waist and gets his lower half loaded very well, leads toward the plate with his front hip and uses a minor shoulder tilt and an in-line stride to attack the plate, longer arm action comes through the zone quickly through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball showed consistent run, curveball had sharp 11/5 shape with bite, changeup was just a change of speed. Wilson struck out 2 hitters in his 2 innings of work.

Graham Tulloch, RHP, Brentwood Academy, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 82-85, CB: 72-73,
6-foot-4, 250-pound, RHP uses a very fluid motion and good tempo on the mound, big-bodied athlete showed confidence and a ton of improvement on the mound since his last performance at our Top Prospect Games, rhythmic delivery stays balanced and in tune throughout his approach to the plate, higher leg lift gets his lower half closed and loaded before reaching his in-line stride, arm works quickly and pretty loose through a high ¾ to over-the-top slot, some effort in his finish.  Fastball showed hard run in on the hands of righties and his curveball was thrown consistently for strikes with 11/5 to 10/4 shape.  Tulloch recorded 2 strikeouts without allowing a run in his 2 innings of work.

Matthew Steidl, RHP, Pope John Paul II, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 81-84, CB: 68-69, CH: 72,
6-foot-4, 170-pound, RHP brought another solid performance to the Border Battle Games, as he continued to turn heads with his consistent success, long and lanky build with a very high ceiling, moves with good tempo and a sense of confidence on the mound, long arm action is loose and comes through a high ¾ slot with ease, didn’t have his best stuff we have seen but showed command and continued improvement.  Fastball was mostly straight with some run, curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 shape with a good bit of movement, changeup showed some fade.  Steidl was able to record 4 strikeouts in his 2 innings of work without allowing a run or a hit.  He committed to Southern Illinois University shortly after this performance.

Ben Coulthard, RHP/OF, Montgomery Bell Academy, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 82-86, CB: 71-75,
6-foot-1, 175-pound, RHP showed very much the same as he had a few weeks earlier, which was certainly a good thing, same small rocker step and control of his motion, seems a little stiff when lifting his leg and getting loaded at the top, separation and long arm action lead to a mostly over-the-top slot with some aggressiveness and intent, strides very slightly closed and stays tall in his typically balanced finish.  Fastball stayed mostly straight but seemed heavy through the zone and his curveball had sharp 11/5 action with some swing-and-miss potential.  Coulthard recorded 3 strike outs and allowed no runs in his 2 innings of work.

Blake Wimberley, RHP, FACS, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 83-86, CB: 72-73, CH: 77-78,
6-foot-0, 175-pound, RHP has an athletic frame and doesn’t use any wasted movement in his delivery, stays compact and uses a very small rockers step and subtle leg lift in his motion, movements are fast-paced with a decent rhythm about them, crunches a little bit at the top before separation, strides toward the plate in-line and finishes very tall, shorter arm action comes through a high ¾ slot as he takes the ball straight back before delivering.  Fastball showed some run and sink and was thrown about 90% of the time, occasional breaking ball had gradual movement with 11/5 shape and changeup was a change of pace. 

Tristan Carson, LHP, Fred J Page, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 79-82, SL: 68-71
6-foot-5, 195-pound, LHP showed very much the same as we saw him at the Underclass Games and the Future Games with only a little less initial command, Carson allowed the leadoff man on by HBP in his first inning and by BB in his second inning but recovered with a double play and a strikeout in both instances, stays pretty loose with an arm action that comes through a high ¾ slot, finishes aggressively toward the plate with a slightly closed stride and a fall toward 3B after his release, gets down the mound. Fastball was heavy through the zone with some sink and was kept down in the zone pretty consistently, slider showed that same 2/8 shape with a lot of movement across the zone.  Carson struck out 2 without allowing a hit in his 2 innings of work.

Dalton Fowler, LHP, Arlington, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 79-82, CB: 69-70,
6-foot-5, 170-pound, LHP is a long and lanky prospect with a ton of room to fill out, height and length from the left side make him immediately attractive to college coaches, hands are active through a motion with fast-paced and productive rhythm, hands go down with rocker step and back up with his higher leg lift that shows his range of motion, gets tall at the top and stays that way throughout his finish, longer arm action comes through a high ¾ slot, high release point and tendency to stay very tall create a steep angle on his pitches through the zone, shoulders remained even.  Fastball was mostly straight but had that downward angle, curveball showed 1/7 shape and was thrown for strikes on occasion.  Fowler struck out 2 in his 2 innings of scoreless work.

Jacob Simmons, RHP, Harding Academy, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 80-82, CB: 66-67,
6-foot-6, 170-pound, RHP competed well for Team Tennessee, has a lanky and wiry frame that allows for a good amount of room to fill out while currently showing athletic actions and command, uses good tempo and keeps his hands near his waist until his leg lift, could get a little more loaded at the top as his shoulders stay level and his lower half doesn’t fully engage, longer arm action is quicker and comes through a ¾ slot.  Fastball was mostly straight but his curveball showed 11/5 to 10/4 shape with some deceptiveness.  Simmons struck out 1 in his two innings of work.