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Uncommitted Spotlight: '24 SS/2B Kayden Shaw

January 18, 2024
Steven Hardesty
Central Coast/North LA Area Scout

 

  

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

The Uncommitted Spotlight Series continues as the calendar has turned over and the start of the '24 CIF High School baseball season is quickly approaching we are highlighting some of the top uncommitted class of '24 athletes. The players featured are pulled directly from our '24 Class Rankings and remain as the top players left on the board going into the start of their senior season.

We invite you to get to know them through the eyes of our PBR California staff of scouts and the data-backed numbers collected at our events with our partnered companies. TrackMan, Blast Motion, Swift Performance, and Visual Edge provide comparable data to project and evaluate players. All of these systems come together to give a clear picture at what colleges will get when a players steps onto their campus.

Today, we put the spotlight on a NorCal '24 SS/2B Kayden Shaw out of James Logan High School in the Bay Area. With an interesting frame at 6'3 193 lbs. with some good present strength to it currently, but room to develop more as he continues to mature. Shaw is a fringe above average athlete for his size witha 6.91 60 time while showing impressive burst with a 1.65 second 10 yard time. His athletic ability should help him to stick up the middle as a solid average defender, but could slide to 3B in the future with above average potential as a defender there. The actions in defensive workouts with quick feet which show rhythm and good hands with the ability to play 2-handed as well as with 1-hand all back up the ability for Shaw to stick somewhere on the infield dirt at the next level. A switch hitter who shows a slightly better bat to ball ability on the LH side, but with more impact from the RH side. He starts from a slightly open stance with rhythm to his load and stays balanced at foot strike. Shaw uses his lower 1/2 well to generate impressive bat speed (25.7 rot. acceleration with 83.2 MPH bat speed) while sequencing well to keep his hands back with good hand speed at 23.6 MPH. Staying on the back side during the turn helps him to show lift in the bat path which combined with 94.4 MPH max exit velocity, 88 MPH average exit velocity and 85% sweet spot rate show impact potential in his bat. While the approach looks more to use the middle of the field with lift currently he could eventually polish into a pull side power hitter with the frame/strength to be an above average power hitter. Shaw should be a close follow this spring for any 4-year colleges still on the lookout for infielders and will be a strong land for a JUCO program where he could develop and polish his overall game.

College coaches and fans be sure to click on Shaw's profile to see full video and statistics. 

View Full Profile

Kayden Shaw

Class of 2024 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2024
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: James Logan
    State: CA
  • Summer Team: Headfirst Academy
  • Height: 6-3
    Weight: 197.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: S/R

Scouting Report

8/11/23

Kayden Shaw, James Logan (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B Shaw is an extremely versatile player, he can plug in anywhere on the field while hitting from both sides of the plate.
Body: 6-3, 197-pounds. Tall athletic build. Put together physique
Hit: SH. Tall open stance, hands are up by his ear. Same stance from both sides of the plate. Small stride with a smaller load. Consistent line drives to all fields. 61.2 mph bat speed with 18 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 80.7 mph. 290' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-74 mph. Comfortable throwing from all angles. Good accuracy.
Defense: Wide range, athletic on his feet. Good hands to throw mechanics.
ATH: 7.12 runner in the 60. 1.69 and 3.95 in the 10 and 30 yard splits.

2/05/23

Positional Profile: SS/2B

Body: 6-3/182. Tall, lanky build with athletic instincts. RSi- 1.79 10yd - 1.73, 60yd - 7.13, VERT - 26.9

Arm: INF - 80mph. RH. Short arm swing out of a ¾ slot. 5 out of 5 throws made accurately, ball has plenty of life across the diamond. Accurate thrower from a low slot with momentum shifting up the middle/towards the plate.

Defense: Prep step, smooth/athletic feet to the ball, gets around the ball well, funnels cleanly to chest into a quick exchange, smooth/fluid release with longer extension through throws. Keeps an open hip towards target. Athleticism is present both with the glove and arm. Confident, sure hands and looks to be a very reliable defender.

Hit: Switch Hitter. Upright, open, narrow base. Medium knee lift trigger while hands cock the barrel forward, small stride. Hands begin high by the head, barrel works down on the ball and up through extension. Can unlock power through more use of the lower half. Quick hands (Hand speed max- 23.4mph) and gets the bat head out front. Bat path slightly inconsistent every few swings. Looks to have more barrel control through the zone from the right side, but a whippier swing from the left. Projectable player both offensively and defensively.

Videos

(9/16/23)

(8/11/23)

(6/9/23)

(2/5/23)

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