DFW Junior Future Games Trials: Quick Hits

PLANO, TX - Our tour around the state of Texas for PBR Junior Future Games Trials continues as we were in Plano this weekend to see a talented group of 13 and 14 year olds try out for Team Texas. Stats have already posted to profiles, pictures will be up by Tuesday, and video within the week. For now, let's take a quick look at some of the top players we saw on Saturday. 

+ 2023 C/OF Jerson Martin (OK) is an all around athlete with supreme baseball tools for his age. At 6-feet, 185-pound, has an advanced, athletic frame for his age with strength throughout. The right-handed hitter has loose-quick hands at the plate with gap power (88 mph exit velocity). He made loud contact during BP and hammered the ball through the middle of the field. Behind the plate, he threw darts to second base with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph and pop times of 2.0, 2.0, 2.01, 2.05, and 2.12. Moves with easy actions in the outfield and threw with a top velocity to the dish of 82 mph. A home school student that recently moved to Oklahoma in January, it’s easy to dream that he is going to catch the attention of college recruiters sooner than later.

+ 2023 3B/RHP Cooper Strawn (Farmersville HS) has a super projectable frame for an eighth grader at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. Ran a 7.17 with long strides, then posted and 89 mph exit velocity off the tee, and showed the type of leverage at the plate that is sure to catch the attention of college coaches early on in his high school career. Add in that he was 81-83 on the mound with a solid changeup at 72-73 and the sky is the limit for this young player. 

+ 2023 SS/RHP Andrew Chamberlain (Hendrickson HS) can really defend at shortstop with smooth footwork, quick exchange and easy arm swing. He threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 78 mph and shows quality feel for starting and finishing the double play. An athletic, quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-8, 135-pounds, he ran the best 60-time of the day with a 7.16.  On the mound, his fastball was 76-78 mph, and he threw a plus slider at 68-70 mph with sharp, short, late bite. The right-handed hitter has an inside-out hack and showed feel for the barrel with a middle-oppo approach during BP. 

+ 2023 C/SS Caden Mitchell (Celina HS) is a left-handed hitter with quality all-around baseball actions and arm strength that translate to three premium positions. After taking a solid round of batting practice and showing strength to the gaps with a top exit velocity of 88 mph, he threw 80 mph across the infield, 72 from behind the plate with pop times of 2.01, 2.08, 2.12, and 2.16. On the mound, his fastball was 77-79 mph with a 63-67 mph curveball, and a 73-74 mph changeup.

+ 2022 SS/RHP Jacob Hicks (Midland Lee HS) is already strong for a freshman at 6-foot, 215-pounds. He started the day with a 7.2 60-yard dash, then hammered balls from gap-to-gap with an outstanding round of batting practice and top exit velocity of 93 mph off the tee. The right-hander was also 80-82 on the mound, with a 70-72 mph changeup. 

+ 2023 C/3B Andy Neal (Grapevine Faith HS) has both strength in the barrel (88 mph exit velocity) and in his arm where he threw with true carry at 77 mph across the diamond and 71 mph from the crouch, pumping strikes to second base at 2.10, 2.12, 2.12, 2.19, and 2.23. The right-handed hitter showed pull side pop during batting practice, including a homering to left field.

+ 2024 C/3B Parker Daniels (Lovejoy HS) has a strong, durable, wide shouldered frame at 5-foot-11, 215-pounds. The right-handed hitter has a loose hack with easy rhythm and quick hands.