Underclass Games: Third Baseman Analysis

On Tuesday, June 2nd, PBR Georgia hosted the second annual Underclass Games for the top 2022-204 prospects. Approximately 110 uncommitted prospects from around the state descended upon LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA for a pro-style workout and simulated game.

Our positional breakdown continues to the hot corner. Despite only being a 2024, 3B/RHP Jax Phillips (East Cobb Baseball Academy) blew our staff away with his advanced barrel and feel at the plate. Phillips has a powerful swing that works gap-to-gap, and put up a max exit velocity during batting practice of 91.15 and a max distance of 330 feet according to TrackMan. The swing also plays in game as the younger prospect barreled a double into the right-center gap off a mid-80s fastball. Phillips committed to Georgia a few weeks following the event.

Two of the larger frames at the corner come in behind Phillips: 3B Casual Kay (Alpharetta, 2022) and Texas A&M commit RHP/3B Colin Linder (Lambert, 2022). Kay has a powerful bat and put it on full display during batting practice and in game. He routinely registered 90+ exit velos and had one of the hardest hit balls of the game portion with a loud double to left field. Kay stands a projectable 6-foot-2, 190-pounds with more strength on the way. Linder has a physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame and utilizes it well with his big, pull-side swing from the left-side.

Rounding out the top-5 is Wofford commit 3B/RHP Champ Davis (Marist, 2022) and 3B/RHP Tyler Hower (North Gwinnett, 2022). Davis is an athletic prospect for a third baseman, running a 7.10 60 and displaying smooth, clean action defensively. A wiry, 6-foot-2, 175-pounder he showed surprising strength at the plate, putting up a 97 mph exit velocity off a tee. Hower has a strong, wide frame at 5-foot-10, 185-pound and a gap-to-gap swing that has aggression in it. 

Top Third Baseman Prospects

Jax Phillips, 3B/RHP, East Cobb Baseball Academy, 2024
Georgia commit. 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman and right-handed pitcher, lean, projectable frame, plenty of strength on the way as he fills out his young frame, advanced offensively, ran a 7.40 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, shallow leg kick timing trigger, great balance through contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter, gains extension through the zone with an uphill barrel path, drove balls regularly with easy effort, 88 exit velocity off a tee. During game play, facing older competition, drove a ball into the right center gap for a double. Defensively, long, loose arm action to a high ¾ slot, accurate, 86 across the diamond. Plays through the ball, fields out front, funnels into mid section, quick on transfers, fluid footwork. On the mound, arm works with some length on the back-side, accelerates quickly to get out front consistently, ¾ slot. Clean drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 81-82, touched 83, flashed run. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 68-69.

Casual Kay, 3B, Alpharetta, 2022
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman, big, strong frame, projectable frame that will add a considerable amount of strength as he continues to develop, ran a 7.34 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, low hands load back into an arm bar, low leg kick timing trigger, good balance. Takes a power approach at the plate with explosive hands, carries momentum through contact, elevates and drives the ball with aggression, 91 exit velocity off a tee, big power potential. Defensively, short, athletic arm action, operates from multiple slots with accuracy, 85 across the diamond. Plays through the ball, fields out, quick and clean on transfers, smooth footwork, good body control making plays on the run.

Colin Linder, RHP/3B, Lambert, 2022
Texas A&M commit. 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting third baseman, broad shoulders, strong, physical frame, advanced lower half. On the mound, long, clean arm action, accelerates with advanced arm speed to a high ¾ slot, repeats well. Drop and drive delivery, gets into his strong lower half, high front-side, works on-line, lands strong, finishes with a slight cross over. Fastball sat 88-90, touched 91, riding action (2581 rpm), good feel for and pounded the zone for swing and misses. Curveball, 72-74, 12/6 shape, depth, potential swing and miss pitch. Offensively, balanced setup, hands drop and load back, leg kick timing trigger, good balance. Takes a power/pull approach, barrel path works long and uphill with some lift, looks to elevate and do damage with each swing, 91 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long, quick arm to a high ¾ slot, 88 across the infield. Moves well on the left-side for his size, attacks the ball with fluid footwork, clean glove work and transfers.

Champ Davis, 3B/RHP, Marist, 2022
Wofford commit. 6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed two-way prospect, wiry strength, lanky frame, athletic build, ran a 7.10 laser-timed 60. On the mound, arm works short and loose to a ¾ slot, quick hand speed, repeats well. Tall and fall delivery, repeatable, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 83-84, touched 85. Slider, tight spin, lateral action, swing and miss pitch, 71-74 (2518 rpm). Changeup, sinking action. Offensively, balanced setup, hands cock on load bringing the barrel vertical, short stride, finishes on front-side. Middle/pull hitter, meets the ball out front with an uphill barrel path, uphill path through the zone, elevates the ball, 97 exit velocity. Defensively, short arm action to a high ¾ slot, accurate, throws carry, 85 across the infield. Savvy defender, plays through the ball with fluid actions, clean transfers and footwork, soft glove hand.

Tyler Hower, 3B/RHP, North Gwinnett, 2022
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting two-way prospect, broad shoulders and wide base, strength throughout, athletic build, ran a 7.17 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, hands start back and deepen with a short load, leg kick timing trigger, great balance through finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter, carries momentum through contact, flashed pull-side pop, drives the ball with aggression, 89 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action to a low ¾ slot, 86 across the infield. Plays through the ball, good pre-fielding footwork and timing, clean on transfers. On the mound, short, clean arm to a low ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, high front side, works on-line, lands square, finishes up right. Fastball sat 84-85, touched 86. Slider, 75-76, 11/5 shape, flashed sharp action, misses barrels with.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Blair Barnes, 3B, Grayson, 2022
6-foot-2, 190-pound, switch-hitting third baseman, physical build, broad shoulders, has serious strength in the frame, ran a 7.46 laser-timed 60. At the plate, took BP exclusively from the right-side, balanced setup, hands load up and back smoothly, short stride, good balance throughout. Easy effort swing works uphill through the zone, drove balls gap-to-gap, really got ahold of pitches up in the zone, powerful hitter, 88 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, slot varies between ¾ and over-the-top, accurate across the diamond, 79 mph. Plays through the ball, has a tendency to break down in front of the ball, fields out front, clean footwork and transfers.

Brody Bearden, 3B/RHP, Allatoona, 2022
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed two-way prospect, lean, athletic build, ran a 7.23 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced setup, smooth rhythm in hands pre-pitch, short leg lift stride, good balance through finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter, flashed pull-side pop, smooth swing, some quickness in the hands, consistent approach, 83 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action a high ¾ slot, 80 across the diamond. Approaches the ball with short, quick steps, fields out front with chest over the ball, funnels into mid section, clean on transfers. On the mound, arm plays long with a stab on the back-side out to a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, long stride, lands square, finishes crossing over towards first base. Fastball sat 81-83, touched 84. Changeup, fade action, 72-74. Slider, downer action, 71-73.

Cade Brown, 3B, Parkview, 2024
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman, a young prospect with plenty of growth left in his frame, has an already strong build, ran a 7.78 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, hands load back smoothly, long toe-tap stride to a wide base, good balance through finish. Barrel works uphill through the zone with quick hands, some whip, drives the balls gap-to-gap with back spin, 77 exit velocity off a tee, more power to come as he fills out, will develop power to all fields. Defensively, arm works short and loose to a mostly ¾ slot, showed ability to use multiple slots effectively, accurate across the diamond at 70 mph. Plays through the ball with a steady glove hand, funnels into mid section, fundamental footwork, clean transfers.

Mason Compton, RHP/3B, Flowery Branch, 2023
6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed two-way prospect, strong, lanky build, projects to add more strength as he continues to fill out. On the mound, arm works short and clean on the back-side to a ¾ slot, quick hand speed. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands toe open, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 81-84, touched 86. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, some late bite, 67-74. Slider, slurve-like, 65-68. Offensively, wide, open setup, high hands drop and load back smoothly, short stride, balanced finish. Line drive type hitter, barrel works mostly level through the zone, showed the ability to use the entire field effectively, 85 exit velocity off a tee. Ran an 8.13 laser-timed 60. Defensively, arm plays clean to a high ¾ slot, 82 across the infield. Fields the ball deep, funnels into midsection, clean glove work and transfers, fluid footwork.

Aidan Petrocco, 3B, Chattahoochee, 2024
5-foot-8, 138-pound right-handed hitting third baseman, lean frame, plenty of growth left in frame, ran an 8.12 laser-timed 60. At the plate, simple setup, balanced with a wide base, hands load back smoothly, short stride, good balance through finish. Line drive type hitter who uses the whole field, with added strength will develop into a gap-to-gap guy, mostly level swing through the zone, showed the ability to elevate the ball with square contact, 66 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, utilizes multiple slots. Displayed good body control while making plays on the run, fields out front, funnels to mid section, gets the ball out quickly, clean footwork.

Roman Smith, RHP/3B, Savannah Country Day, 2022
6-foot-2, 240-pound right-handed two-way prospect, physical build, room for firming up. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, finishes over the plate. Gap-to-gap type hitter, powerful swing, barrel path works slightly uphill, gets extension through the zone meeting the ball out front, 85 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action to a ¾ slot, 79 across the infield. Keeps the ball in front, fields square, clean on transfers. On the mound, arm plays short to a ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, remains tall, works on-line, lands square, finishes upright. Fastball sat 78-79, touched 80, mostly straight. Curveball, 64-68, 12/6. Slider, 68-69, slurve-like. Changeup, 72-73, fade.     
Justin Swords, 3B/RHP, Coffee, 2022
6-foot-4, 175-pound right-handed hitting two-way prospect, athletic, projectable build, more strength to come as he continues to develop, ran a 6.82 laser-timed 60. On the mound, arm works long and loose, quick speed to a high ¾ slot, repeats well. Works out of the stretch only, drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, momentum carries him down the mound. Fastball sat 80-82, touched 83. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 64-66, has the potential to be a swing and miss pitch. Changeup, sink, 73-74. At the plate, tall, open setup, hands load back, reverse hanging leg stride, balanced. Gap-to-gap type hitter, short to the zone, level through, carries momentum through contact, 78 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action to a high ¾ slot, 82 across the infield. Smooth fielder, funnels into midsection, clean glove work and transfers, fluid footwork.

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