LONGVIEW, TX - It never fails, but when you head out to East Texas you are gonna see strong, tough kids that have some fire in their belly's. On Saturday, March 30th, Prep Baseball Report Texas hosted the first Junior Future Games Trials, which is an identifier for the Prep Baseball Report Junior Future Games that takes place July 31-August 4 at LakePoint in Cartersville, GA. Texas will have a team at two age groups (14U & 13U). Yesterday, we posted the Top Statistical Performers in eight categories. Today, we bring you the quick hit scout notes on a handful of players that stood out.

+2023 SS Travis Sykora (Round Rock) has the actions at shorstop that stand out above his peers and should draw the attention of college recruiters early in his high school career. Moves easy with quick footwork and rhythm through the catch, clean exchange and stays on his throw across the diamond with solid arms strength (82). At 6-foot, 145-pounds, there is still plenty of room to fill out as he continues to develop.

+2024 3B Jayden Boyd (Jacksonville) is only in the 7th grade but stands 6-foot, 210-pounds. The right-handed hitter has the rhythm and bat speed (86) that project well moving forward. Loose hands with a smooth stroke and simple strength through contact. He drove the ball well from the middle to opposite side of the field and homered to right-center late in his round of BP. Not just that, but the big fella ran a 7.29 60-yard dash and was his arm works well off the mound.

+ 2023 SS Noah Paddie (Marshall) ran a 6.81 60-yard dash and is a quick twitch athlete in the middle of the field with the hands and feet to stay there moving forward.

+2023 RHP/SS Brandon Levy (Parkway, LA) homered during BP and posted a top exit velocity of 87 mph. Plays through the ball aggressively on the infield and posted a top velocity to the dish of 86 mph.

+ 2022 OF/RHP Gabriel Flores (Longview) has an athletic frame and ran a 7.35 60 to start the day. The right-handed hitter showed great strength and bat speed during BP (87) to go with a balanced leg kick and easy rhythm. Quality feel for the barrel with a short path and ability to pull the ball with authority. In the outfield, he shows quality arms speed (84) with carry as he plays through the ball with smooth footwork and quick release.

+2023 SS/RHP Trenton Lape (Parkway, LA) started the day with a 7.06 60-yard dash, then posted an exit velocity of 87 mph off the tee. The right-handed hitter has simple rhythm at the plate with feel for the barrel. Hand and feet work well together on the infield as he plays through the ball. At the end of the day, the right-hander hopped on the mound and sat 84 mph with a fast arm from a high slot. Showed a solid 12-6 breaking ball with depth at 66-68.

+2024 3B/RHP John Moore (Robert E. Lee) is still young, but has a projectable, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. The right-handed hitter has a leverage hack as he stays in his legs, slots the barrel early and works on an upward path as he rotates to contact. Loose arm swing on the infield, and on the mound with an athletic finish.

+2023 C Elliott Foreman (New Diana) took a plus round of BP, and showed quality arm action on the infield and behind the dish. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance then loads back as he cocks the barrel and strides square. Simple rhythm with quick-strong hands and easy weight transfer through contact. This guy can really deliver the barrel with a short stroke.

+ Really like the round of BP that LHH 2022 Quentin Moon (Henderson) took. Simple, easy rhythm with loose hands and feel for the barrel. Showed quality leverage driving the ball to the opposite field gap. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with athletic footwork, clean exchange and his arm works well from a ¾ slot. His easy arm swing carries over to the mound where he repeated his delivery showing feel for the zone with three pitches.

+2023 LHP Landyn Grant (White Oak) has an athletic, high-waisted frame with little ankles at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke and slight hook in the back. Good feel for three pitches with a solid 60-62 mph curveball with depth.

+ He may have been the smallest player on the field at 5-foot, 90-pounds, but everything 2022 Will McCray does is quality. Behind the dish, he receives at a high level and shows solid mobility to block. Carries himself with a veteran presence and is “not scared”. What he may lack in strength or size, he makes up for in his ability to play the game and handle the baseball defensively and offensively.

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