Future Games Trials: Pitching Analysis

CROSBY, TX - Thirty players in the 2021-2022 grad classes were on hand for the Future Games Trials to try and earn a coveted spot on the PBR Texas Future Games team that will compete at the beginning of August. Only the top twenty uncommitted underclassman in the state will earn an invite. Last years Future Games Team was a huge success with much of that club having already chosen a college. Here is the pitching analysis from that event. 

Jacob Guzman, RHP/OF, Alice HS, 2021
Texas-Rio Grande Valley commit. 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. On the mound, the right-hander has a quick arm swing from a high-¾ slot and the fastball jumps out of his hand at 84-86 mph. Curveball has good shape and rotation at 69-71, while his changeup has quality arm side fade at 75-76. A right-handed hitter, Guzman has a balanced setup with simple rhythm that allows him to repeat his hack with a short, direct path and quick hands producing hard contact and line drives through the middle of the field. In the outfield, he plays through the ball easy with athletic actions and accurate arm.

Tyler Abrego, SS/RHP, Argyle HS, 2021
Abrego had a solid all around day and has a seasoned presence about him. The right-handed hitter drove the ball from the middle to oppo gap with an inside-out path and quick hands. Handles the ball really well at shortstop, can start and finish the pivot in the middle and knows how to throw from different slots with a quick exchange and easy arm swing to make accurate throws with a top velocity across the diamond of 84 mph. On the mound, the right-hander has a smooth, athletic delivery with a clean arm swing. His fastball topped out at 81, sitting mostly 79-81 mph and throwing a quality changeup at 72-73 mph.

Cole Brady, RHP/3B, Central Heights HS, 2021
Brady has a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot, 170-pound frame. The right-handed hitter takes aggressive hacks that produces hard contact with lift and strength in the barrell. Starting from a slightly open stance, he pinches his knees together, pushing back to load as he triggers his hands and takes a short stride. Plenty of lag in the barrel as his hands work quick through the zone on a short path to produce a top exit velocity of 83 mph. On the infield, he shows the actions, glove play, and arm strength that should allow him to stay at third moving forward. Moves with long strides, can make the glove play, funnels the ball quickly to the midline of his body, then winds up to throw with carry across the diamond with a top velocity of 85 mph. On the mound, he uses an up tempo delivery as he brings his hands over his head. Gets down the mound with his hips turned inward and a medium stride before he uncoils at release with an athletic finish. Over the top slot with a medium arm circle and quick arm swing. Pitched at 80-82 mph with his fastball and threw a plus splitty for strikes with late drop off the table at 71-73 mph. Curveball had early break at 63-68 mph.

Joshua Barnhouse, 1B/RHP, Prosper HS, 2021
Barnhouse stands 6-foot-5, 210-pounds with an already projectable frame and plenty of upside that should put him on a ton of colleges recruiting radars as the velocity is likely to jump in the next calendar year - and he wears a size 16 shoe. The right-hander works from a high slot with a clean arm swing and an athletic delivery with good hip turn down the mound. He shows feel for four pitches with tilt on his fastball at 77-79 mph, a 67-68 mph curveball, a 72-73 mph slider, and he has a solid changeup that he throws for a strike with arm side run at 72-73 mph. Offensively, he loads back smooth as his hands slide back - then up as he takes a short stride forward, landing with separation. Flat path to contact with slight lift to finish. Strong hands with a leveraged hack and top exit velocity of 88 mph. At first base, Barnhouse does a nice job of playing low with soft hands out front. Plays through the ball with rhythm and good footwork around the back with a top velocity of 81 mph across the diamond.

Trajan Lee, RHP/1B, St. Thomas, 2021
Lee is already 6-foot-2, 190-pounds but still has room to fill out. The right-hander topped out at 83 mph on the bump, sitting mostly 80-82, spinning a 65-68 mph curveball, and throwing his changeup for strikes at 66-70 mph. Offensively, he starts from a tall setup, using a slight leg kick for timing that allowed him to be on time and on the barrel during BP. Trigges his hands down into a hitch that combined with his leg kick, created gap power and lots of carry with a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Lee stroked balls to the left-centerfield gap with aggressive hacks. At first base, he plays through the ball with smooth foortwork, staying low and centered as he fields the ball. Clean exchange from the midline and loose arm swing with a top velocity of 84 mph across the diamond.

Josiah Lewis, OF/RHP, HSAA, 2021
Lewis has a long-limbed, lean-muscular frame at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. He ran the fastest 60 time of the day at 6.82-seconds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open, tall stance, then triggers his hands down and back as he strides forward, landing with separation. Simple swing that he repeats well, hands work on a mostly flat path with a loose finish. Hard contact during BP with gap power, carry to the pull side, and top exit velocity of 87 mph. In the outfield, Lewis plays through the ball with smooth rhtyhm and quick footwork, exchanging the ball with soft hands, creating good tempo into a clean arm swing with a top velocity to the plate of 84 mph. On the mound, the right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a long, clean arm swing, high leg lift and a tall-and-fall delivery. His fastball sat 82-84 mph with slight arm side run. He was around the zone with all three pitches, including his curveball that had short break and 10/4 rotation at 70-73 mph. Maintains arm speed on his changeup, throwing it at 78-80 mph with arm side fade.

Carson Queck, OF, RHP, Woodlands Christian Academy, 2022
Queck has a big, strong, muscular frame at 6-foot, 190-pounds. The right-handed hitter made hard contact during BP as he squared it up on the barrel, launched a home run and posted an exit velocity of 91 mph. Simple strength with an efficient path the produces easy power and much more likely to come in the future. Queck also threw 88 mph from the outfield. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with soft hands and throws from a ¾ slot with a compact arm swing and tons of carry (88 mph). On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short circle and quick stroke out front. Tall-and-fall delivery with a top fastball of 81 mph, sitting mostly 78-80. His curveball had early break with 11/5 rotation at 66-68 mph.

Garrett Nail, RHP/3B, Sweeny HS, 2022
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter took an outstanding round during BP, he was on the barrel and hit the ball hard from the middle to pull side with a top exit velocity of 85 mph. Starting from a tall, open stance, he uses a quick leg kick to load, taking a short stride and landing square. Quick-loose hands delivery the barrel on an inside out path on an uphill plane with a whippy finish as he sits into his back side. On the infield, Nail has a quick first step, fielding the ball with a quick-clean exchange. Does a nice job of playing low with soft hands, getting rid of the ball quickly from a ¾ slot and top velocity across the diamond of 74 mph. On the bump, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm swing and short stride down the mound. His fastball sat 79-80 mph. Threw a quality changeup at 65-67 mph, flashing arm side depth and fade.

Collin McKinney, RHP/1B, Clear Creek HS, 2022
6-foot-3, 190-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with his hands pre-set over his back shoulder holding the bat flat. Tilted shoulders slot the barrel in the zone early, working on an uphill path as he rotates to contact, producing a top exit velocity of 75 mph. At first base, he fields the ball deep and threw 73 mph across the diamond. On the mound, the right-hander has a long arm swing with a drop and drive delivery, releasing the ball from a ¾ to low-¾ slot. His fastball topped out at 80 mph, sitting mostly 74-78. He spun his curveball at 58-62 mph with gradual depth and 10/4 shape.