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2024 Middle TN: Five Names to Know

November 23, 2022
Colton Provey
TN Scouting Director

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2024 Middle TN: Five Names to Know

Caden Shanks, RHP, Upperman, 2024
Uncommitted, 6-foot-2, 167-lb lean, wiry frame w/ athleticism and good projection. Quiet first step w/ controlled tempo and slow leg lift. Explodes out w/ high front side and drop n drive lower half. Loose, quick arm working up to 3/4 slot and closed toe landing. At Future Games, FB worked at 86-89 T90 w/ heaviness and bore down on hitters. Clean out the hand and can locate while beating barrels up in the zone. Mixed a sharp, late biting slurvy breaking ball at 71-75 (T2336 rpm). Good shape and feel for the pitch, which he can land for strikes or expand the zone. Showed some improvements with CH at 78-79 w/ some fade as solid third offering to round out his mix. Still some rawness to the delivery, but Shanks’s athleticism allows him to repeat it well. The number one uncommitted RHP is drawing a good bit of D1 interest heading into the Spring. 


Bradley Pippin, UTL/RHP, Riverdale, 2024
Uncommitted, 5-foot-10, 170-lb proportional frame w/ lower half strength and room to add mass. Pippin can do a little of everything as he’s been featured as a backstop while also spending time at 1B and in the corner outfield spots. Not an overly “showcase” prospect, but just shows hitterish qualities as he picks up knocks, including a home run this summer at Future Games. Wide, slightly open stance w/ quick hand load and minimal leg kick. Generates fair bat speed w/ level bat path, leading to consistent hard contact (T 93.6; Avg: 89 exit velo). Line drive hitter w/ pull side power and some more gap power projection (T 347 ft). Defensively, in between positions but plays all well and has a standout tool with the arm strength. Has a chance to stick behind the plate w/ some fine tuning, but willing to throw the body around on blocks and slow the run game with the arm (81 C Velo; 1.94-2.07 pop). Comfortable at 1B and spent some time in corner OF and the tools translaet there. An arm injury limited him on the mound the past year, but he was 87-89 w/ feel for a sharp breaking ball, fitting a reliever profile. Pippin has shown two-way upside and his return to the mound should intrigue college recruiters to take another look. 

 


Brady Cooper, 2B/1B, Rossview, 2024
Uncommitted, 6-foot-1, 185-lb long, lean frame w/ good projection and room to add strength. Cooper might have one of the better left handed strokes in the TN class. Tall, balanced stance w/ quiet load and actions. Quick hands w/ flat bat path and fair bat speed. Natural strength, effortlessly lifting baseballs w/ easy lag. Advanced approach, posting quality at bats and getting off good swings. Sprays line drives (T 95.4; Avg: 87.1), working gap to gap w/ plenty of pop (T 372 ft). Defensively, good actions w/ consistent footwork and wide base while covering ground well (7.17 sixty). Presents the glove well w/ sure hands and clean transfers. Short, compact arm slot, using various slots. Lacks arm strength, due to a previous basketball injury, limiting to 2B/1B, but if it improves Cooper could play all over to get his bat in the lineup. Cooper just hits and he will hit for a long time, as his settles on the best fit defensively. 



Konner Bowden, OF, Columbia Central, 2024
Uncommitted, 6-foot, 165-lb lean, wiry frame w/ room to add mass. Bowden quietly climbed the boards this Spring as he posted strong numbers in a very challenging district. As the summer unfolded, it became evident that he’s a consistent performer and still is scratching the surface of his ceiling. Tall, slightly open stance w/ quick stride and quiet hands. Generates great bat and hand speed while gets on plane early and often. The Blast metrics backed what the eyes were seeing, as he sprayed hard line drives gap-to-gap (T 98.8; Avg: 88.4) w/ pull side power (T 354 ft) and more to project. He’s got a knack to pick up hits while staying balanced w/ feel for going the other way. Defensively, sound in the outfield as he tracks balls really well, including a great diving catch in the gap at Future Games. He’s consistently been around a 7.00 sixty with his best time at 6.96. Long, loose arm action w/ good arm strength (T 87 OF velo). Chance to play all three outfield positions, but could be advanced defender in the corner spots.


Layne Akers, C/2B, Siegel, 2024
5-foot-11, 165-lb lean, narrow frame w/ room to add strength. Easily the top uncommitted pure catcher in the class, as he’s proved to be a worker and student of the game. Great receiver while handling the pitching staff w/ quick transfers and sharpshooter accuracy (1.94-2.02). Not over the top arm strength, but gets the ball out quick and on target. Offensively, tall, balanced stance w/ leg kick and simple hand load. Generates good bat speed w/ compact, level bat path. Does a nice job getting on plane while spraying line drives to all fields (T 90; Avg: 82.2). Flashes of some pop, but simple approach at the plate as a consistent offensive contributor. He’s also shown to be a sound infielder, providing some versatility to fill in at 2B. If a college recruiter is looking to better their program, Akers checks a lot of boxes as he is tough as nails and plays the game the right way.


UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE DATE LOCATION
Mid-South Preseason ID 1/14 University of Memphis Indoor Facility (Memphis, TN)
Nashville Preseason ID 1/22 Showtime Sports Academy (Franklin, TN)
East Tennessee Preseason ID 1/28 BC Athletics Facility (Knoxville, TN)
Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) 2/4 Showtime Sports Academy (Franklin, TN)

 

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