Prep Baseball Report

Alabama Scout Blog: Week 7 Games


Alabama Scouting Staff

The Alabama Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. 

Continue to check back over the course of the week, as the Alabama Scouting Staff will add scouting reports daily.

WEEK 7 REPORTS

 

 

7A No. 2 Hewitt-Trussville (4) vs. 7A No. 1 Auburn (3)

Friday, April 2nd @ Southern Union CC

+ RHP Skylar Jones (2021, Chattahoochee Valley CC) dazzled in his outing for the Huskies in arguably their biggest game of the year to date. Pitching against the No. 1 team in Alabama, Jones went 6 ⅓ IP, 6 H’s, 3 ER, BB and 8 K’s on Friday night. Standing a mature 6-4, 190 pounds, Jones opened up the first few innings pumping 87-88 mph and touching 89 mph a few times before settling in around 86-87 mph for the duration of his outing. Throwing all three of his pitches for strikes, he flipped in a tight 77-78 mph (2450 rpm) slider for strikes to mostly right-handed hitters and featured an 81-82 mph changeup to left-handed hitters. 

RHP Skylar Jones (4/2/21)

+ RHP Brady Fuller (2021, Southern Union CC) continues to one-up his previous performances at each look on the mound. Fuller was equally as impressive as his counterpart in a start against the No. 2 team in Alabama, tossing 5 IP, 4 H’s, 4 R’s (2 ER), BB and 6 K’s. Fuller saw an increase in velocity since our last look, working 89-90 mph and touched 92 mph (2250 rpm) once on Friday night. The breaking ball continues to separate Fuller from other arms, showing feel for spin on a sharp 77-78 mph breaking ball that spun up to 2780 rpm’s. Although he was a “tough luck loser” in this outing, Fuller pitched well enough to win the game if a play or two went his way.

RHP Brady Fuller (4/2/21)

+ C Riley Austin (2021, Southern Union CC) took one of the biggest swings of the night for either teams hitting in the middle of the order for Auburn. With a runner on 2nd base and two outs trailing by a run, Austin handled an elevated 87 mph heater and drove it over the right fielder’s head for a RBI double to tie the game up at 1-1. At 6-2, 215 pounds, Austin is a big, physical bat that hits for some power and defends well behind the plate. Handles all Tiger arms with ease behind the plate with efficient arm strength on throws to 2nd. 

C Riley Austin (4/2/21)

+ 1B Jackson Holland (2021) has been a steady performer offensively for the No. 2-ranked Huskies in 2021 so far. Slotted in the 3-hole and hitting from the left side, Holland has excellent bat-to-ball skills and looked comfortable against an arm that reached the low-90’s on Friday night. Starting off the inning in one of his at-bats, the uncommitted senior stayed professional in his approach and went with an outer-half fastball to single through the left side of the infield for a single. Extends the barrel through the zone and stays on the baseball efficiently throughout his swing. 

1B Jackson Holland (4/2/21)

+ RHP Riley Quick (2022) was called on during the 7th inning of a tight, one run game against the No. 1 team in Alabama to get the save, and he did just that. After previously being up to 90 mph in our last look a couple weeks ago, Quick only needed eight pitches to record the final two outs of the ballgame. Inheriting a runner on 1st (tying run) and 2nd (winning run) with one out in the bottom of the 7th, Quick poured in an 87-89 mph heater for strikes and flashed an 81-82 mph changeup with the same arm action. Punched out the leadoff hitter in the Tiger’s order and induced a groundout to end the game. The top arm in the 2022 Alabama Rankings.

RHP Riley Quick (4/2/21)

+ MIF Kurt Kizer (2023) led the way in the box score for the Huskies, reaching base in all three plate appearances against a quality arm on Friday night. Slotted in the 6-hole, the sophomore started off in his first at-bat recording a double that sneaked down the left field line that started the scoring, as he came around the score to take an early 1-0 lead. He also walked and singled back up the middle in the other two plate appearances. From the left side of the box, Kizer stands an athletic 5-10, 155 pounds with the ability to spray hard line drives to all fields. Playing a big role as a sophomore for the No. 2-ranked Hewitt-Trussville.

MIF Kurt Kizer (4/2/21)

 

 

6A Gulf Shores (9) vs. 6A Robertsdale (2)

Friday, April 2nd @ Robertsdale High School

+ RHP Thrasher Steed (2022, UAB) turned in another solid outing for the Dolphins, this time in the Area 2 opener for both teams. Steed, a power right handed arm with a very physical lower half, almost exclusively lived off the fastball early in the game. The delivery is low effort and the ball comes out of the hand very well, leaving one to believe there is additional velocity to build on in the future. In the first inning Steed was 87-89 mph and settled in at 86-87 mph during the back half of his 6 inning stint. The pitch showed some late arm side action and that movement seemed to increase as his pitch count grew. He did a nice locating the pitch to both sides of the plate. He did show a well-shaped power breaking ball when needed at 75-78 mph. Only showed the changeup a few times at 80-81 mph that tumbled into RH hitters. For the night, Steed went 6 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 earned runs. He struck out 7 and walked 3 hitters.

RHP Thrasher Steed (4/2/21)

+ SS Marc Stephens (2022) is a name Dolphin fans are used to seeing in the lineup as he has been a mainstay for the last few years. Stevens moves very well and is a definite threat on the base paths as he had a stolen bag on Friday night. There are some natural instincts in the dirt and he showed plenty of lateral range with the glove. At the plate, he started with a slightly open stance and simple approach with the front side, which allows him to be on time with the barrel. There is a definite middle of the field approach but he also showed some quickness in the hands by getting the barrel to a pitch on the inner half for a double down the left field line.

SS Marc Stephens (4/2/21) 

 

 

5A No. 7 UMS-Wright (6) vs. 6A Satsuma (2)

Thursday, April 1st @ UMS-Wright Preparatory School

+ LHP Maddux Bruns (2021, Mississippi State) made his first area start on Thursday night against Satsuma in front of tons of MLB scouts in attendance. Bruns, who has one of the highest ceilings in this year’s draft, allowed two runs, one of which was earned, in the 1st inning before settling in and mowing down the Gator’s lineup for the next four frames. We’ve seen the fastball reach into the upper 90’s this spring, but pitched more 90-93, 95 mph (2200-2300 rpm) in this outing for the Bulldogs. He was able to hold this velocity throughout his outing thanks to a durable, 6-2, 205 pound frame that projects to as a starter. Although he may not have needed it, Bruns flipped in a 71-72 mph (2650-2800 rpm) 12/6 breaking ball the second and third times through the order after attacking hitters with the fastball in the first few innings. Showing elite spin, the talented southpaw spun the breaking ball for strikes and hitters had a difficult time picking up the pitch. Along with the FB/BB combo, Bruns flashed a few above average changeups to right-handed hitters at 81-82 mph that showed fade & swing and miss capability. After laboring through the 1st, Bruns hit his stride after that inning, as he punched out 8/9 hitters at one point during the outing. He was credited with the win and finished striking out 12 hitters, walked four, and allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit (bunt single) over five innings. He was pulled after 82 pitches, 50 of which were strikes. Continues to cement his status as one of the top prep prospects for this summer’s MLB Draft.

LHP Maddux Bruns (4/1/21)

 

 

4A No. 1 Mobile Christian (12) vs. 6A Baldwin County (4)

Monday, March 29th @ Mobile Christian

+ 3B Charlie Keller (2022, Mississippi State) has started off his junior year as hot as anybody at the plate for the Leopards. Leading the way for a Murderer’s Row lineup, Keller had blasted six home runs heading into this game, and he added two more to his collection on Monday night. The first came in the 4th inning, when Keller handled an elevated pitch and hit a towering blast to the back side, which is the first clip in the video below. The second game in the 6th inning, and he did not miss this one. Working his way into a 3-1 count, Keller took advantage of a pitch left over the plate and blasted a two run shot, this time to the pull side. At 6-3, 185 pounds, Keller has made significant strides to his body in terms of strength and filling out. He’s added more muscle and looks the part in the box. He’s simplified his load/pre-pitch since the last look, staying more grounded and using his lower-half well now. Looks comfortable taking pitches and not missing the pitches he hunted for. Powerful stroke that’s athletic enough to stick at the hot corner in the future. 

3B Charlie Keller (3/29/21)

+ SS Seth Smith (2023) is a sophomore that has a chance to be a big time prospect when all things are said and done. At 6-2, 165 pounds, Smith has a high ceiling as a left-handed hitting shortstop that is playing a big role in a loaded lineup for Mobile Christian. Hitting from an upright stance and using a leg kick, Smith possesses a repeatable swing with a slightly uphill bat plane to hit for line drives. The shortstop did that on Monday night, recording two doubles and a single to both parts of the field. Smoked an outside fastball in one at-bat and drove it over the shortstop’s head and into the left-center field gap for one of his doubles. Played a clean shortstop, making routine plays look easy with efficient footwork and smooth hands. He’s really seemed to make a big jump over the last year and will be one that makes a huge jump in the upcoming 2023 Player Rankings. 

SS Seth Smith (3/29/21)

+ C Grant Jay (2022, Dallas Baptist) was a member of our first ever PBR Future Games team in 2019, where he stood out defensively behind the plate. Jay, a 6-0, 195 pounds, has continued to refine and improve his skills and it’s benefited him greatly in all facets of his game. Jay hammered an outside pitch in his first at-bat after fouling off numerous pitches with two strikes to right field for a triple to start things in the 1st. Singled again in his next at-bat for his second hit of the game. A balanced & athletic stance with feel to hit to all fields for average and power. Although he’s a strong, durable backstop with physicality, Jay displayed some athleticism by swiping two bags in this contest as well. A 6.92 runner a year and a half ago, Jay checks off a ton of boxes for what you look for in a catcher. Excellent defender with solid catch & throw skills, strong hands/forearms allow him to receive well, and blocks exceptionally well. 

C Grant Jay (3/29/21)

+ 2B Zane Stokes (2022) has been high on our radar for some time, especially after his showing at multiple events last summer. These performances were eventually  good enough for him to earn an invite to the PBR Future Games. Holding it down up the middle for the Leopards at 2nd base, Stokes reached base in all of his plate appearances on Monday night. At 5-10, 170 pounds, the uncommitted junior has an easy & simple stroke from the right side, but still drives the ball with some authority at the plate. Tall, upright stance with some quick hands. Doubled twice to the pull side and single back up the middle (all below), while also walking in his four plate appearances on the night. Equally as impressive as a defender up the middle. Solid lateral range with ability to cover ground. Smooth hands with excellent footwork on the infield. Can play 3rd base and shortstop, but probably profiles as a 2nd basemen in the future. One of the top uncommitted players in the junior class in Alabama with plenty of interest from college programs.

2B Zane Stokes (3/29/21)

+ OF Rashad Robinson (2021, Memphis) is just another Division 1 hitter that is packed into the loaded Mobile Christian lineup in 2021. In a high-scoring affair for the Leopards, Robinson was the unlucky victim of hitting balls right at people in this contest. Regardless, the Memphis signee put together some quality at-bats that the box score wouldn’t tell you. Drove in a run in the 1st inning on a RBI groundout, lined out to shortstop in another at-bat, and two more balls hard in this look in the middle of the order. Starts in a slightly open stance before coming back to square and fires a quick lower-half. Swing allows him to hit more line drives, but has also hit for power this year. A high-level athlete, Robinson can also cover tons of ground patrolling center field and can “go get it” with the best of them. Another key piece offensively for Mobile Christian that’s leading the way in his final year of high school ball.

OF Rashad Robinson (3/29/21)