By Doug Hall
Tennessee Director of Scouting

The PBR Tennessee Fall Top Prospect Games event took place at Lipscomb University on November 1 and afforded close to 60 players the opportunity to showcase their abilities in a combination showcase/game play event. Despite abnormally chilly conditions, some solid performances were turned in as some players established themselves as potential high-level prospects.

Below we take an in depth look at the group of pitchers that took the mound for Team Carbon during the event. This is pitcher analysis only. Those players who also played a position at the event will had their position player evaluation featured in a previous article.

Andrew Hayden, LHP, Davies Co (KY), 2016
6-foot-3, 175-pound prospect with lanky frame, uses long arm action, through high-3/4 arm slot, arm shows quickness, shows occasional loss of command, fastball sat mostly 79-80, touching 82 mph with slight arm side run but has been up to 85 at previous PBR Kentucky events, throws a 66-71 mph curveball with 1/7 action, near fastball arm speed, allowed three hits, and struck out two in his two inning outing, throws consistent strikes and works downhill well when he stays on top. Velocity should improve as he gains strength and better lower half usage.

Evan Porter, OF/RHP, Maryville, 2017
6-foot, 195-pound prospect with a strong body frame, uses short arm action out of a high 3/4 arm slot, fastball sat 78-80 mph touching 81mph once, good arm side run, curveball sat 69-71 mph and shows to be better secondary offering with late 11/5 movement, good arm action, occasionally gets around the ball, 73 mph changeup shows arm-side fade and should continue to develop, keeps ball down in zone, good balance, stays tall, repeatable mechanics, minimal effort, allowed three singles, struck out one in two innings of work.

Baylor Steelman, OF/LHP, L/L, LaVergne, 2016
Don't be fooled by the 5-foot-7, 135-pound prospects smaller build. Steelman uses long arm action from the high- 3/4 arm slot, fastball sat 77-78 mph, shows arm side run and occasional cut, curveball sat 65-70 mph with 1/7 shape, near fastball arm speed, can throw it effectively in the zone, changeup is second best secondary pitch with good sink at 67-69, flashes good, repeatable mechanics, most effective when front shoulder stays in, pounds bottom half of the zone, gave up two singles, and recorded four strikeouts during game play. Works quick, good presence. Needs to get stronger, especially lower half in order to take some wear and tear off shoulder.

Cameron Hope, RHP, Loudon, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect uses long arm action through high-3/4 arm slot, fastball sat 75-78 mph touching 79 mph on one occasion, slight arm side run, works both sides of the plate well with fastball, curveball sits 68-69 mph, varies between 12/6 and 11/5 shape with sharp break, had trouble with command of curveball occasionally but shows potential to be quality offering, threw a changeup during warm-ups that appeared rushed and needs to develop, works quick, pounds the zone, not afraid to pitch inside, gave up no hits in two innings of work with one strikeout.

Ethan Tressler, RHP/2B, Davidson Academy, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound prospect uses long arm action out of the high- 3/4 arm slot, throws across body, flashes quality stuff with inconsistent command, good arm quickness, fastball sat 79-83 mph, touching 84 mph on a few occasions, late arm side run, fastball flattens when left up in zone, 65-68 mph curveball has 10/4 shape while 70-71 mph slider has sharper 11/5 break, slider shows to be the better of two breaking pitches, showed a change-up during warm-ups that wasn't used during game play, gave up two singles and struck out four in two innings of work.

Avery Conkin, LHP/OF, Science Hill, 2017
6-foot-1, 192-pound prospect with a strong frame, uses long action through a high- 3/4 arm slot, can effectively work both sides of the plate with fastball that sat 77-78 mph and shows slight arm side run, uses shorter high- 3/4 arm action on curveball, curveball sat 60-64 mph with big 1/7 sweep, near fastball arm speed, shows to be a solid pitch, gave up only one hit and struck out two looking during two innings of work.

Cameron Wolfe, 3B/RHP, Baylor, 2017
6-foot-3, 160-pound prospect has a lanky frame with plenty of room to fill out, uses long arm action through high 3/4 arm slot, fastball is straight and sat 76-77 touching 78 mph once, curveball has late 11/5 movement at 67-69 mph, can throw for strikes, would like to see changeup continue to develop, stays tall, good rhythm, athletic finish, surrendered two singles and struck out three  in his two innings of work in game play.

Tyler Higgins, 1B/RHP, Covington, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect uses long arm action through an over-the-top arm slot, fastball sat 73-75 mph touching 77 mph once with arm side run, effectively throws for strikes, curveball sat 63-68 mph with 11/5 action and some depth, can throw the curveball effectively for strikes, near fastball arm speed, needs to develop more feel for changeup, gave up three singles and recorded two strikeouts during his two inning outing.