On February 3, Showtime Sports Academy hosted some of the top uncommitted players in the state across 4 graduating classes (with all 4 grad classes represented on the below statistical standouts).  Position players began the day by running a 60, getting their exit velocity, taking a 10-round swing of BP and going through defensive evaluations.  After this, pitchers threw a 15 pitch bullpen in front of scouts.

CLICK HERE to view the stats for all players who participated in the Preseason All-state Showcase.

TOP PITCHING VELOCITIES 

90 – James Sells, RHP, Franklin County, 2021
89 – Caleb Warta, RHP, Knights Academy, 2021
87 – Hunter Mann, RHP, Gordonsville, 2019
86 – Jaden Hamm, RHP/SS, Columbia Central, 2020
86 – Jack Keele, RHP, Warren County, 2020
86 – Eli Martin, RHP/2B, Smith County, 2020
85 – Zackery Graves, RHP/3B, Marshall County, 2021

- Sells had a strong all-around pen, which included him touching 90 on his final pitch of the pen.   The 6-0, 176-pounder topped out at 88 last summer and has taken a step forward, pitching consistently 87-88 in this pen while touching 89 and 90 once.  In addition to the fastball, he mixed in a tight 76-79 CB and a firm 82-85 CH that showed some fade and sink at the lower velocity range with a feel for pitching in the strike zone w/ his 3-pitch mix.

TOP EXIT VELOCITIES

93 – Luke Stofel, 1B/RHP, Lawrence County, 2020
92 – John Combs, C, Rhea County, 2021
91 – Blaze Bell, SS, Blackman, 2020
90 – Brandon LeJeune, 1B/RHP, Bearden, 2020
89 (L) – Wylie Ritter, 1B, Montgomery Bell Academy, 2020
88 – Jacob Perry, 1B/RHP, Columbia Academy, 2020
88 – Cooper Whitt, 2B, Knoxville Catholic, 2019

- Stofel, a Future Games participant last year, recorded his top exit velocity in his PBR history, topping the 91 he posted last summer at the Future Games.  The 6-4, 230-pounder showed off power potential with natural loft and ability to drive the baseball to all fields.  In addition to the offensive ability, he topped out at 84 on the mound, featuring downhill plane and extension.

TOP OF VELOCITIES 

84 – Bryce Symlar, OF, Columbia Central, 2020
83 – Brendan Jones, OF/LHP, Goodpasture Christian, 2021
83 – Garrett Liles, IF/OF, Station Camp, 2020
82 – Will Tobin, OF/LHP, Independence, 2021
82 – Alex Qualls, OF/RHP, Lipscomb Academy, 2021

- Symlar showed off his pure CF speed and the arm strength to profile as a plus defender, as he recorded the fastest 60 (6.44) and the third fastest 60 (6.59) of the event.  The uber-athletic OF showed an intriguing hit tool last spring with some barrel feel and has an intriguing profile that projects him to stay in CF and hit at the top of the lineup. 

TOP IF VELOCITIES 

89 - Jaden Hamm, SS/RHP, Columbia Central, 2020
87 - Cameron Lee, SS, Summit, 2021
83 – Brandon LeJeune, 1B/RHP, Bearden, 2020
82 – Luke Stofel, 1B/RHP, Lawrence County, 2020
82 – Eli Martin, 2B/RHP, Smith County, 2020
81 – Cooper Whitt, 2B, Knoxville Catholic, 2019

- Hamm showed big arm strength, not only on the IF, but on the mound as well, where he was up to 86 on this day.  The 6'1, 175-pounder features a tall, athletic frame w/ plenty of projection remaining and has shown the ability to progress as he showed big jumps in both his positional velocity (9 mile per hour improvement) and his exit velocity (6 mile per hour improvement).

TOP C POP TIMES 

1.96-2.04 – Kevin Okins, C/OF, First Assembly Christian, 2020
1.97-2.06 – Darin Sullivan, C, Clarksville Academy, 2020
2.00-2.09 – Quent Mizer, C, Spring Hill, 2022

- Okins showed off his athleticism and ability to stay behind the plate, leading catchers with the top pop time of 1.96 and featuring a consistent pop range.  The 5-11, 170-pounder showed improved numbers across the board from last summer, including an 86 exit-velocity and a 6.93 60.  In BP, he showed a line drive oriented approach w/ ability to use all fields, showing a potential top of the batting order skill-set.

TOP 60 TIMES

6.44 – Bryce Symlar, OF, Columbia Central, 2020
6.53 – Brendan Jones, OF/LHP, Goodpasture Christian, 2021
6.59 – Bryce Symlar, OF, Columbia Central, 2020
6.81 – Brendan Jones, OF/LHP, Goodpasture Christian, 2021
6.85 – Cole Hendrix, OF/RHP, Summit, 2020
6.91 – Cooper Whitt, 2B, Knoxville Catholic, 2019
6.93 – Caden Rector, OF, Bearden, 2021
6.93 – Kevin Okins, C/OF, First Assembly Christian, 2020
6.94 – Cooper Whitt, 2B, Knoxville Catholic, 2019
6.97 – Alec Beaman, SS/RHP, Centennial, 2020

- Two players ran the top 4 times on the day and, with Symlar’s tools being discussed in the OF velocity, we will take a look at Brendan Jones in this stat look.  After running a 6.66 last October, Jones cut off .13 from that time while showcasing his tools to stay in CF at the next level.  Making a jump from the October workout, Jones improved his OF arm to 83 (from 76) and his exit velocity to 86 (from 82).  The uber-athletic OF showed easy bat speed in BP with a lot of line drives.