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By Dan Williams
West Virginia / Western Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

The summer rush of PBR events continued this week with the Southern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase.  Twenty seven prospects gathered at Triana Field on the campus of the Univeristy of Charleston to display their talents.. Today we continueour analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2019.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospect

Hunter Fansler, 2019, Woodrow Wilson, OF/RHP
6-foot-2 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with relatively high knee to knee leg kick and stride.  Balance is good and an aggressive weight shift and turn are present. There is considerable bat wrap and hands do not work away from body in load creating an uphill swing path. Bat wrap creating length and leg kick also result in little room for error in regards to being on time.  There is obvious athleticism, and bat speed to swing as evidenced by recorded 88 mph bat exit velocity.

Defensively, Fansler is comfortable running and tracking in drop step.  He is decisive in reads and plays through ball on ground well.  Arm strength is of 88 mph on throws from outfield plays.  Foot speed of 7.06 in sixty would allow versatility in playing all three OF positions.

On mound FB sat 84 and touched 85 mph with some arm side run.  CB sat 69-71 with 12-6 shape with good depth and late, sharp break.  CB projects as next level out pitch.  Change up was thrown at FB arm speed and sat 76-77 with subtle arm side fade.  Fansler pitched from a high 3/4 arm slot demonstrating good balance, a loose arm and repeatable delivery.  There was some first base fall correctable through being more aggressive in driving over front side.                                         

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Connor Fizer, 2019, St Alban's, OF/RHP
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short knee to knee leg kick and aggressive stride/weight shift.  There is excellent balance and rhythm to load and swing. Hands work directly to the baseball.  Fizer gets bat on plane early and maintains plane throughout zone.  He would benefit from a more aggressive hip turn following heel plant.  Swing mechanics project to considerable improvement in recorded bat exit velocity of 79 mph with strength gains.

Defensively, catches ball at it's height, gets behind baseball and plays through well on the ground.

On mound FB sat 77 touching 78 from high 3/4 arm slot with some arm side run.  CB was thrown at 61-64 mph with 12-6 shape and rolling break.  Change up had subtle arm side fade at 68-71 mph. Mechanically, Fizer closed off front foot excessively creating locking of hips, difficulty getting over front side and first base fall.  He did consistently repeat delivery.

Tyler Haskins, 2019, Ripley, C/2B
5-foot-6, 145-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral with short. controlled stride. There is excellent balance and rhythm to load and swing.  Bat is on plane early and maintained throughout zone.  A solid weight shift and lower half turn are demonstrated.  Sound mechanics played in BP as Haskins consistently barreled ball and showed ability to cover whole plate. Recorded bat exit velocity of 75 mph should improve with strength gains.

Defensively, as catcher hands were soft, good blocking technique was demonstrated. Pop times of 2.03-2.13 were recorded with arm strength of 75 mph.  Middle infield evaluation revealed consistency in working bottom up and fielding ball out front.  Hands are soft and solid footwork is present.

Nathan Kuhn, 2019, Scott, SS/C
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift and replace stride. There is some length to swing, however, Kuhn has very good feel for barrel and hands work well to baseball.  There is good rhythm to swing and an aggressive hip turn is present.  The swing played in BP with consistent squaring of baseball.  A bat exit velocity of 85 mph was recorded.

Defensively, behind plate hands and blocking skills are adequate.  There is tendency to drop elbow with somewhat long throwing motion resulting in pop times of 2.25-2.37 on throws of 70 mph.  In middle infield shows good hands with tendency to play ball from top down.  Would benefit from working bottom up and being more aggressive in playing through ball.

Drake Mullins, 2019, Bluefield, C
6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed hitter.  Mullins initiates swing from neutral set up with short, controlled stride.  He demonstrates aggressive weight shift and hip turn with quick hands and good separation. There is some lift to swing and he did show ability to generate back spin.  Mullins recorded a bat exit velocity of 88 mph.  Based on mechanics and approach Mullins has potential to be next level power bat.

Defensively, Mullins recorded pop times of 2.05-2.10.  He will have to work hard to improve blocking technique and lateral mobility to stay behind plate

Tanner Williams, 2019, George Washington, 3B/RHP
5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed hitter, Williams initiates swing from neutral set up with short stride.. There is good balance to swing and Williams was able to achieve bat exit velocity of 83 mph.  There is tendency to grip bat deep and Williams would benefit from connecting more directly with back elbow and implementing a more aggressive hip turn.

Defensively, hands are adequate.  There is tendency to let ball get deep and play from top to bottom. Arm strength may necessitate move to right side of infield.

On mound threw from high 3/4 arm slot.  There is good balance and rhythm to delivery which was consistently repeated.  FB sat 75-77 with arm side run.  CB sat 64-67 with some depth and 11-5 shape.  Change up was thrown at FB arm speed and sat 64-65 with substantial arm side fade.

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