On October 13^th, the University of Kentucky hosted some of the top 2020’s from the states of Tennessee and Kentucky to play against each other.  Players participated in a showcase in the morning, including defensive evaluations and BP before entering into two 10 inning games.  The weather had an impact on the day, as temperatures hovered in the low to mid 40’s with consistent cloud cover.  Many of the pitchers and position players have posted better measurables during the summer and this fall in better conditions, which makes the big numbers posted by some of the players jump out even more.

CLICK HERE to view the stats for all players who participated at the Border Battle on the Tennessee side.

TOP PITCHING VELOCITIES 

86 – Jake Fitzgibbons, LHP, Mt. Juliet, 2020
83 - Matthew Gamble, 1B/RHP, Summertown, 2020
83 – Brayden Matthews, RHP/3B, Bartlett, 2020
83 – Ross Pendergrass, RHP, Rhea County, 2020
82 – Isaac German, RHP/OF, Clarksville Academy, 2020
82 – Sam Poindexter, LHP, Collierville, 2020 

- Fitzgibbons showed off his super quick arm in his first PBR event, touching 86 on his final pitch of his outing while striking out 4 and pitching consistent 82-85.  The 5-10, 155-pound lefty flashed ability to spin an above average 63-67 breaking ball when he stayed on top of it.  

TOP EXIT VELOCITIES

96 – Christian Martin, 1B/OF, Baylor, 2020
95 – Isaac German, RHP/OF, Clarksville Academy, 2020
93 – Hayden Gilliland, C, Heritage, 2020
93 – Sam Slaughter, OF, Stewarts Creek, 2020
91 – Lawrence Sutton, OF/SS, Lawrence County, 2020 

- Martin battled a severe sinus infection at the Future Games, but came out fully healthy for this event and showed off his super intriguing combination of bat speed, present strength and knack for contact while recording the top exit velocity of the event.  Swinging and missing just once on the day, the physical 1B/corner OF type showed a presence in the box and big power to all fields, as the ball makes a different sound off of his bat in BP. 

TOP OF VELOCITIES 

83 – Isaac German, RHP/OF, Clarksville Academy, 2020
81 – Garrett Byrd, OF, Westview, 2020
80 – Lawrence Sutton, OF/SS, Lawrence County, 2020 

- German had a strong all-around event, showing why he was in consideration until the end for the Future Games.  While he recorded the second highest exit velocity to go with an RBI single in game and a couple walks, he also stood out for the arm strength in the OF on a cold day.  Likely translating best to a corner OF spot, he features the bat to carry the position at the next level. 

TOP IF VELOCITIES 

85 – Austen Jaslove, SS, CAK, 2020
84 – Matthew Gamble, RHP/1B, Summertown, 2020
83 – Brayden Matthews, RHP/3B, Bartlett, 2020

- Jaslove has always stood out for his glove and continued to do so on this day.  The 6-2, 170-pounder features soft hands, quick release and the arm strength to make every throw required of a high level D-1 SS, as he topped at 88 at the Future Games in better conditions.  He has continued to make strides offensively, showing consistent barrel feel in BP w/ a gap to gap approach.

TOP C POP TIMES 

2.00-2.06 – Carter Edge, C, McCallie, 2020
2.06-2.09 – Hayden Gilliland, C, Heritage, 2020

- Edge stood out as your top thrower at the event, but it is the evolution of the rest of his game that highlighted his improvement.  Jumping out with a 78 mile per hour arm, that appeared to play even better at the CIF spot this spring, he was a 2.00-2.06 thrower w/ accuracy.  The jumps he made in the rest of the game is beginning to paint the picture of someone who can do more than just catch and throw, as he improved his home to first time by nearly 3 tenths of a second and his exit velocity by 8 miles per hour to 86 from this event last year.

TOP HOME TO FIRST TIMES

4.25 – Sam Slaughter, OF, Stewarts Creek, 2020
4.35 – Jackson Lyons, RHP/IF, Christian Brothers, 2020
4.56 – Tanner Shiver, SS, Maryville, 2020
4.59 – Carter Edge, C, McCallie, 2020
4.60 – Isaac German, RHP/OF, Clarksville Academy, 2020
4.60 – Garrett Byrd, OF, Westview, 2020

- Slaughter was your top ranked prospect to attend the event on the Tennessee side and did nothing to disappoint despite being locked into football as a LB and RB in the wishbone offense.  The OF collected 3 hits (the only player to do so on the Tennessee side) and should have had a 4^th on the play where he recorded this run time, as he beat it by half a step. He showed off his plus running speed underway regardless and featured a loud BP with consistent barrels.