Adam Akin
Director of Scouting


The 2016 CrossHit Baseball PBR Day took place on Saturday, December 10 at their new and impressive indoor facility in Gallatin, TN and included a position player workout and pitcher bullpens. Players were afforded the opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of the PBR Tennessee staff. The following is our evaluation of every pitcher from their 16U Black team that was in attendance.

 

Nathan Rhodes, LHP/OF, Station Camp, 2019
Max FB: 84, FB: 82-84, CB: 67-69, CH: 67-68,
6-foot-3, 168-pound, LHP is a very smooth and free-moving lefty, showed good tempo and utilized his momentum throughout the delivery, hands come up with a higher leg lift and allow him to get his front side loaded and gathered at the top, hands break on the way down as his stride leg lands in a closed position, long and loose arm action is smooth through a high ¾ slot and quite easily gets out and over his front side, big time upside.  Fastball was very firm with downward tilt and some slight run, curveball had 1/7 shape and could develop into a swing and miss pitch, changeup was a little erratic but showed some fade when thrown correctly.

Cooper Jackson, RHP/1B, Station Camp, 2019
Max FB: 83, FB: 82-83, CH: 71-73, SL: 67-69
6-foot-2, 175-pound, RHP uses an uptempo motion that utilizes his whole body at one point or another, rhythmic rocker step helps gain some momentum into his leg lift, leg straightens before heading home in a closed position, lands in line and uses a quick and loose arm action through a high ¾ slot, finishes out front and under control.  Fastball seemed heavy through the zone, slider was erratic but can be sharp with 10/4 shape, changeup had some fade but missed down a lot.

Zachary Sliger, RHP/2B, Franklin-Simpson (KY), 2019
Max FB: 81, FB: 79-81, CB: 69-71, CH: 74-75,
5-foot-11, 180-pound, RHP uses a slower and methodical motion that utilizes some near pauses along the way, hands stay together and high until separation, does a good job of getting his front side loaded at the top of his leg lift and leads toward the plate with his front hip, lands in-line to slightly closed but gets out over his front side well, arm works long and loose through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball was sharp and almost showed slider-type movement, changeup was thrown with some occasional run and sink through the zone.  

Cole Heinze, SS/RHP, Franklin-Simpson (KY), 2019
Max FB: 79, FB: 78-79, CH: 69-71, SL: 67-70
6-foot-1, 160-pound, RHP is quite athletic and begins his motion a little slower while building up to an accelerated finish, leg lift is high and gathers him at the very top before heading home, stride lands slightly closed and his quick arm action comes through a low ¾ release point, generally finishes well-balanced.  Fastball showed some hard run through the zone, slider was almost more of a cutter with late but little movement, changeup had some fade and was kept down in the zone for strikes. 

Trenton Milliken, OF/RHP, SCHS, 2018
Max FB: 76, FB: 73-76, CB: 61-64, CH: 69-70,
5-foot-10, 160-pound, RHP begins his motion slowly and with a consistent pace, hands come down with rocker step and back up with leg raise, doesn’t quite get his front side loaded before heading home, ball comes out of his glove at a high level and leads to a short arm action through a high ¾ slot, stride generally lands in line.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball was pretty sharp and showed 11/5 shape for strikes, changeup was just a change of speed.

Matthew Crittenden, RHP/1B, Franklin Simpson (KY), 2018
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-78, CB: 60-62, CH: 66-70,
6-foot-2, 195-pound, RHP threw exclusively out of the stretch, comes set with his hands near his waist and a slight bend in his back, sudden leg lift initiates the separation of his hands and leads to a long and slinging arm action through a sidearm slot, strides in line with the plate and finishes under control.  Fastball was mostly straight but used the deception of his arm angle, breaking ball had some gradual 10/4 shape, changeup sank through the zone and was thrown for strikes.