TN/KY Border Battle: 23' Quick Hits
October 30, 2020
The Tennessee and Kentucky Fall premier event, the 5th annual TN/KY Border Battle, did not disappoint in 2020. Nearly 80 total prospects represented the Volunteer and Bluegrass state at Bowling Green Ballpark, home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, which covered two days of showcases and gameplay for some of the top prospects to display their skills and earn state bragging rights. All four games were tight, back-and forth ballgames between two hungry ball clubs coming down to late game execution.
The 2023 TN team lead in both of their contest heading to the 7th, but walks and defensive blunders would once again allow Kentucky back into the games securing both dubs with scores of 7-5 and 3-2. A disappointing result in gameplay dropping all four games, but that’s baseball when you have two really competitive skilled clubs battling it out. The next generation of talent is rising, so dive in below and become familiar with several names from the 23-24' class to watch over the next few years.
23' Quick Hits
Daniel Parris, RHP/SS, Knoxville Catholic, 2023
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound right hander has established himself as one of the top uncommitted arms in the 23’ class. After sitting 85-88 earlier this fall with 3-pitch mix, Parris followed by posting the top velo (86.2 mph) for the 23’ talent while tossing two scoreless frames while striking out 5. Tall, lean frame with good projection. Repeatable delivery with great body control, mixing deliveries/timing to disrupt hitters and base runners. Feel for pitches and pitches with plan, attacking hitters with 4-pitch mix. 2-Seam FB sat 82-86 (T2380 rpm via Trackman) with late life and slight arm side action. Mixed hard CT/SL at 77-79 (T2661 rpm per Trackman) with sharp 10/4 bite. 11/5 CB at 74-76 (T2572 rpm) with good depth, leading to swing n’ miss. If that wasn’t unfair enough, Parris showed a fading CH at 75-79 with good deception off FB tunnel. Positional, very sound all around, soft hands and crisp transfers. Sneaky range in gameplay (Video Below) compared to sixty time, making a nice backhand in the 6-hole. Offensively, uses his frame for some line drive, gap-to-gap power, but a high-ceiling arm on the bump.
23’ RHP/SS Daniel Parris (@DParris23; @kchs_baseball) impressed, tallying 5 punchies. Mixing looks and timing in delivery.
— PBR Tennessee (@PBRTennessee) October 26, 2020
2-seam FB sat 83-86 (T2381 rpm @TrackManBB) with diverse 4-pitch mix. CT/SL in upper 70s, downer CB at 73-75 (T2661 rpm) plus fading CH. #TNKYBorderBattle pic.twitter.com/VXfwSO0kRJ
Bishop Quarles, OF, Goodpasture Christian, 2024
The 5-foot-9, 155-pound left handed hitting outfielder continued to establish himself as one of the top 2024 players in the TN class. Lean, twitchy frame with good bounce and a gliding runner (6.96 sixty time). Defensively, effortlessly covers some serious ground in the OF, projecting as a true CF at the next level. Loose, quick arm with some strength going 80 mph from the OF. Offensively, relaxed, athletic stance with good balance. Short, simple load allowing consistent timing to barrel up baseballs. Developing more strength to drive the ball, but a table setter hitter with good patience and sprays line drive to all fields.
Jordan Carter, 3B/OF, Grace Christian, 2023
The 6-foot, 200-pound 3B/OF has some serious juice in the barrel and great athleticism with a powerful frame. Proportional, frame with present strength throughout and sneaky burst. At the dish, relaxed, balanced stance getting on plane early and often for consistent hard contact. Great bat speed (T 75.8 mph per Blast) and acceleration data (T 19.1 G per Blast) with balanced approach at the plate and power to all fields. Defensively, splitting time at the hot corner and the OF. Can really pick it and handle the glove at the corner with average stiff arm, but tools fit well in the OF as a 6.97 runner and feel for tracking the baseball. Good enough to contribute at both positions at the next level, especially considering the high-ceiling offensively to do damage.
Caden Colson, RHP/1B, Upperman, 2023
The 6-foot-2, 189-pound right hander showcased an intriguing skill set, specifically on the bump. Big, projectable frame with simple motion to the plate. Easy effort, quick arm, getting good extension. Heavy, FB at 80-83, T85 (T 2124 rpm per Trackman) early before settling 76-82 in his 2nd inning of work. Mixed a solid 70-74 mph SL (T 2110 rpm) with 11/4 shape and some downer bite. Occasional CH at 73-74 which could develop into solid third offering. Punched out two and stayed poised pitching around some defensive miscues during his two innings of work. Positionally, average at 1B with adequate speed (7.53 sixty) and average hands. Offensively, possessed great bat speed (T 76.6 mph via Blast) and rotational acceleration (T 28.7 G per Blast) while clubbing balls to the poolside with some strength. An intriguing 23’ arm with some raw upside positionally.
23’ RHP/1B @caden_colson (@Baseball_UHS; @SWAStorm) has some intriguing upside. FB sat 80-83, T85 early (T2124 rpm @TrackManBB) before settling at 76-82. Mixing SL at 70-74 and going 88 exit velo as 1B in BP.#TNKYBorderBattle pic.twitter.com/xYGHYrxGSd
— PBR Tennessee (@PBRTennessee) October 30, 2020
Jace Kirby, LHP, Summit, 2023
The 6-foot, 150-pound southpaw tossed two quick, scoreless innings with a steady three pitch mix, picking up a pair of strikeouts. Lean, wiry frame with loose quick arm working up to 3/4 slot. Good rhythm in delivery and feel for pitching, drawing a lot of weak contact. Pounds the zone with FB at 80-83 (T84 this summer), spinning it up to 2201 rpm per Trackman and some late arm side action. Mixed CB at 68-72 with 1/7 action and good depth. Rounded out arsenal with fading CH at 73-74, which showed good action and difficult tunnel off FB for RHH. One of many high skilled lefties in the 23’ class with advanced pitchability and improving upside.
Bradley Pippin, C/UTL, Riverdale, 2024
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound utilityman just about did it all for the TN squad on Sunday. Solid, frame with some projection. Primarily a catcher, Pippin showed some great arm strength with the ball jumping out of his hand (85 mph from OF; 77 from behind the plate), and the strength showed on his OF assist to gun down a runner trying to score late in game two. Behind the plate, solid setup with sound receiving and good blocking skills, while popping a best 2.09. At the dish, balanced, slightly crouched stance with high hands (quite Will Smith-esque) and generating good bat speed (73.6 mph per Blast). Showed great patience working three walks on the day plus an RBI single back up the middle in game one. A young 2024 to follow, as he should be a crucial swing piece defensively for a talented Riverdale squad.
Ty Allen, RHP/2B, Independence, 2023
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound two-way prospect has made steady climbs throughout the 2020 year. Lean frame with some present lower half strength. At the dish, balanced stance with moderate leg kick and sound timing. Generates great bat speed (T 78.2 mph via Blast) and flashes of good power (T 88.2 mph exit velo by Trackman) to pull-side as frame develops. Defensively, solid glove with crisps transfers and average arm strength. Up and down defensively on some turns in gameplay, but has the tools and speed (Event best 6.92 sixty) to contribute up the middle. On the bump, worked two scoreless frame while picking up two punchouts. High-spinning FB sat 80-83, T84 (T 2405 rpm via Trackman) allowing it to play up a bit and beating barrels up in the zone. Mixing downer CB at 67-68 with some spin feel (T 2179 rpm) and solid CH at 76-77 to round out repertoire.
Connor Cobb, SS/RHP, Ensworth, 2024
The 6-foot, 150-pound freshman two-way prospect had an up and down return to his hometown of Bowling Green, KY; however, he looks to be one of the early premier players in the 2024 class. Lanky, wiry frame with great projection and contributor on both sides. On the mound, FB worked 77-83, T84 with great spin (T 2301 rpm) from a low 3/4 slot making for uncomfortable at bats for RHH. Pounded the string, staying down in the zone. Paired with 62-64 mph 11/5 CB, generating the 2nd best spin rate at 2488 rpm. Positionally, logged a 7.32 sixty time with solid hands and good athleticism up the middle. At the dish, tall, relaxed stance while generating good bat speed (T 74.1 mph via Blast) and solid rotational numbers. Flashes of being a skilled offensive player, but some inconsistency due to lack of strength in frame, which should improve over the off-season.
Holden Warmath, SS/RHP, Covington, 2023
The 6-foot-2, 160-pound shortstop picked up right where he left off last month at Rose Park. Lean, athletic frame with good projection. Tall, balanced stance with moderate leg kick and simple load. Sprays line drives to all fields with flashes of gap power. Defensively, very sound hands and transfers with good clock making play deep in the 6-hole while playing both middle infield positions. On the bump, pounded the zone and attacked hitters with 81-84 mph FB (T 2183 rpm per Trackman). Solid CB at 68-70 with good shape and solid spin (T 2200 rpm). Tossed a perfect, three-up, three down inning while punching out two.
#TNKYBorderBattle Web Gems
— PBR Tennessee (@PBRTennessee) October 27, 2020
• 23’ Daniel Parris flashing the glove on nifty backhand.
• 23’ Max Cassle with a quick release to prevent infield single.
• 23’ Holden Warmath tracks to the hole with great clock to get runner.
• 24’ Bradley Pippen guns down tying runner from LF. pic.twitter.com/c2OHNcpjPe
Max Cassle, SS/RHP, Clarksville Academy, 2023
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound SS/RHP has a lean, wiry frame with some projection. Good athleticism and defensive flexibility, playing all over the infield. Good runner at 7.28 sixty time plus sound hands and quick transfers, making a great running play on a chopper. Offensively, balanced, athletic stance with slightly open set working into moderate leg kick. Above average bat speed with line drive approach and developing pull-side power (89.5 max exit velo). On the mound, loose, whippy arm sitting 81-83 (T 2182 rpm via Trackman) while mixing 65-68 mph CB with nice bite. Tossed a perfect inning while punching out one.