By Matt Byrd
Tennessee Director of Scouting

The Prep Baseball Report Future Games took place July 30-August 1 at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana and featured 14 teams with the top uncommitted Class of 2017 and select 2018 players from nearly 20 states. In what was the biggest scouting event I have ever seen, Team Tennessee participated for the first time in front of more than 170 college coaches from all over the country and finished with a 2-1 record.

In game one, Team Tennessee jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first two innings of play against Team Select and never looked back in a 9-4 victory.

Team Tennessee starter Spencer Strider was impressive in his two innings of work with two strikeouts while picking off two runners at first base. Strider’s fastball topped out at 90 mph and ranged from 88-89 mph, while his curveball ranged from 69-71 mph. Peyton Wigginton struggled early in the third inning but settled down in the fourth inning topping out at 84 mph with his fastball from multiple arm slots. Chandler Schultz worked a quick two innings in the fifth and sixth topping out at 86 mph and used his 72-74 mph curveball effectively. Aaron Brown came in to close the game out for Team Tennessee, topping out at 87mph with his fastball.

There were plenty of offensive highlights for Tennessee, Ben Brooks went 3-for-3 with a double,  Reid Blair 1-for-3 with a home run, Bryce Jarvis  1-for-3 with a triple, Bryce Hodge 1-for-3 with a two run double, and Brandon Trammell  1-for -3 with a two run single.

In game two on Friday, an 8:00 PM contest with Team Virginia/Maryland, Team Tennessee jumped out to an early 7-2 lead after two innings, but Virginia/Maryland responded late to make things interesting as Tennessee held on for a 7-6 victory.

Reid Blair had a huge night for Team Tennessee on the mound and at the plate. Offensively Blair had two triples to lead the Tennessee offense. On the mound, Blair showed long/loose arm action with a fastball ranging from 87-89mph, and a curveball with shorter action at 75-76 mph. Thomas Zazzaro  closed the game out for Team Tennessee showing a fastball topping out at 85mph, and good feel for his 70-73 mph curveball and 77-78 mph changeup. Zazzaro’s ability to change arm slots on his pitches was very effective against hitters.

There were plenty of offensive highlights in the Team Tennessee win led by Bass Cooper going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, Brandon Trammell 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI, while Issac Howeth and John Behrends both had a double for Team Tennessee.

The final game of the event for Team Tennessee featured a matchup with Team Kentucky on Saturday. Team Tennessee let an early 3-1 lead slip away due to some late-inning pitching struggles and lack of offensive production and ended up dropping its final game to Team Kentucky 5-4.

Team Tennessee starting pitcher Bryce Jarvis pitched an impressive two innings with two strikeouts while allowing one hit. Jarvis showed off his fastball, topping out at 90 mph, curveball at 74-76 mph, and changeup at 75-76 mph. Brock Myers came in relief in the third and fourth inning topping out at 88 mph and showed good feel for all off speed pitches. Aaron Brown pitched an effective fifth topping out at 87 mph.  Keith Gabrielson came in relief in the sixth inning topping out at 88 mph, and Thomas Zazzaro pitched an effective seventh inning with his fastball reaching 85 mph.

Offensively, the Team Tennessee bats weren’t near as hot as they were on day one of game play. Bryce Hodge and Issac Howeth  led the Team Tennessee offense, with Hodge going 1-for-3 with a RBI and a single, and Howeth going 1-for-3 with a triple.