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By Dan Williams
West Virginia / Western Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

As the PBR WV summer showcase events wrap up with the Eastern Panhandle Showcase on August 26th at Potomac State College we will recap some of the top WV prospects seen at PBR events this summer. There will be an obvious geographical bias toward the southern part of the state which should change following the upcoming showcase. It is recognized in reviewing this years high school and summer results that Northern WV and the Eastern Panhandle are home to a significant pool of underclass talent. 

Top Prospects

Austin Dearing, 2020, Hurricane, OF/RHP
6-foot-1 185-pound left-handed hitter sets up neutral and initiates swing with short knee to knee leg kick and stride. Swing is short with quick, loose hands and direct path to baseball. Bat is on plane throughout the zone with exceptional balance and rhythm present. Separation is achieved through solid weight shift moving away from hands and aggressive lower half turn. Their is good extension at point of contact and finish through the baseball. An 83 mph bat exit velocity was recorded which should improve with physical maturity. Swing mechanics suggest bat will play to both contact and gap to gap power.

Defensively, Dearing showed athletic actions in OF. He was comfortable running and tracking in drop step. Benefit would be gained from getting behind baseball more consistently and staying in line on throws.

Although hit tool is presently most advanced Dearing did show ability to repeat delivery and stay in line off mound. He would benefit from better glove hand/elbow connection to front hip in preventing early front side opening and associated arm drag. FB was thrown at 76 mph and with relatively little movement. CB sat 65-66 mph had 10-4 shape. Change up sat 70-73 with subtle arm side fade.

Noah Cummings, 2020, St Alban's, 1B/3B
Initiates swing from neutral set up with short stride .  Aggressive weight shift and movement away from hands results in good separation. Quick, loose hands help achieve bat exit velocity of 86 mph. Cummings is able to get bat on plane early and maintain plane late in hitting zone.  He stays behind baseball well and was able to consistently barrel ball in impressive round of BP.  There is some softness of front knee following heel plant. Rotating around a firmer front side should translate to bat speed gains.

Brayden McCallister, 2020, George Washington, SS
5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short knee to knee leg kick.  Hands are quick, loose and direct to baseball. There is solid balance rhythm and weight transfer. McCallister would benefit from more aggressive hip turn following heel plant as there is intermittent tendency to sway with lower half.

Defensively, attacks the ball creating good angles and hops,  Demonstrates smooth, quick transfer and accurate 76 mph across the infield arm strength. McCallister's range, lateral quickness and 7.15 sixty time are reflective of his considerable athleticism.                                                                          

Tyrus Baumgardner, 2020,  Spring Valley, RHP/SS
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-hander pitched out of a high 3/4 arm slot with a short arm action and repeatable delivery.  There is tendency to step closed and block hips with associated first base fall. Baumgardner showed a quick arm on FB 81-83 with arm side run and sink. CB 69-70 with 10-8 shape, good depth and bite. CH was thrown at 71-73 with little movement. Arm strength and secondary offerings make Baumgardner interesting follow in class of 2020.
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