Prep Baseball Report

Top Viewed Profiles of 2018 - No. 2 AJ Jones


Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

As we wind down another great year, we begin to take a look back at 2018.  After drilling down into our google analytics, we have compiled a list of the twenty most viewed PBR profiles in North Carolina.  Beginning on December 17th and ending on December 30th, we will dive into the profiles that garnered the most hits in 2018.

The player profiles in PBR’s vast database received well over 7.5 million hits in 2018.  Players from each region in North Carolina drove coaches, scouts, and fans to their PBR profile to learn more.  Today we take a look at No. 2 in the 2018 countdown of the most viewed profiles from North Carolina

 

No. 2 – AJ Jones

Jones is a high motor, high IQ player who has put up solid numbers throughout the year at 3 PBR events.  He made a significant jump in the 2020 rankings after his appearance at the Future Game Trials in January.  After a solid spring season at Southern Nash, Jones showed an ability to play all over the field at the PBR Southern Academic Games in June.  Based on his progress and performance, Jones earned an invite to the PBR Top Prospect Games in August.  After each event his profile has drawn coaches, scouts, and baseball fans as he continues to make progress.



AJ Jones

Class of 2020 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2020
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: Southern Nash
    State: NC
  • Summer Team: Tri State Arsenal Scout
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 165lbs
  • Bat/Throw: L/R

Statistics

Position
7.18
60-yard
(06/12/19)
81
INF Velo
83
Exit Velo
4.52
H-1st
Position
60-yard
7.52
INF Velo
81
Exit Velo
83
Position
60-yard
7.55
INF Velo
79
Exit Velo
82

Scouting Report

08.07.18
Athletic body with some strength at 6-foot, 160 pounds.  Good defender that plays with a high baseball IQ. Comfortable all over the field.  Actions and arm may allow him to stay on the left side or in the middle of the field.  Good touchdown in setup leads to solid first step and good angles. Works to catch off the inside left hip, funneling to the midsection.  Quick, athletic transfer to a medium arm swing and high-¾ release. Average carry at 81 mph across the diamond. Accurate from multiple arm angles.  Left handed hitter has good balance in the box. High hands loaded back in the setup. Flat barrel position. Short stride. Shoulders are set slightly uphill.  Average bat speed with some barrel awareness. Some pull tendency in the swing. Works with a strong lower half allowing an exit velocity to peak at 83 mph off the barrel.  Laser timed 60 of 7.52.

06.20.18

Thin, wiry frame at 6 feet 160-pounds.  Good athlete with feel for his body. Hits from the left side using a tall, athletic, slightly open setup. Uses a leg kick in his load and gets his lower half through the ball. Loose hands with above average bat speed. Good head discipline, wants extension and shows good feel for the barrel.  Drives the ball in the gaps with a line drive approach. Good swing on a CB in game, driving it to the opposite field. Exit velocity recorded at 82 mph and will improve as he adds strength to the frame . Soft hands on the infield with fluid feet, playing through the ball. Catches the ball with ease.  Makes the routine play, routinely. Funnels to the center of his body after catch, using a short arm action throwing from different slots based on the play and his movement. Loose high-¾ slot when he needs to drive the ball with carry. Accurate arm. Plenty of carry to project him staying on the left side.  Positional velocity peaked at 79 mph. Versatile player that played in several different spots throughout the day. Worked out at 1B as well as SS, playing the position with ease and athleticism. Ran a 7.55 sixty on the laser timer. Plays in game situations at a faster pace.

 

01.21.18
Strong lower half and athletic build in a 5-foot-11, 150 pound frame that continues to add muscle.  Left handed hitter sets up with balance and athleticism, using a toe tap to load and for timing.  Vertical bat has some waggle, settling into a consistent launch position.  Good path, excellent barrel awareness, staying gap-to-gap with some authority.  Exit velocity of 78 off the barrel.  Athletic actions on defense.  Hands are easy with consistent catch can ball security.  Smooth transition to an arm arc that can adjust to the play.  Loose, high-3/4 slot can be manipulated to adjust to the speed of the game and footwork as well.  Accurate at 80 mph across the diamond.  Quickness exists running a 3.04 twenty and 5.17 agility shuttle (5-10-5).  7’10” standing broad jump. 


08.10.17

Young frame at 5-foot-10, 140 pounds.  Lots of maturation ahead.  Caught the ball at shortstop with good actions.  Soft hands secured the ball, funneling to the mid-section.  Clean exchanges with athleticism throughout each play.  Works low, with looseness in the hips.  Long arm arc to a high-3/4 slot showed advanced accuracy at 79 mph across the diamond.  Listed as a switch-hitter, worked only from the left side.  Balanced setup with a simple plan.   Short stride sets the launch position.  Average bat speed that works to stay level, at times using an inside-out approach.  Hands work away from the body as the round advanced.  Average barrel awareness.  Fundamentals are in place as strength is added to the frame.  Exit velocity touched 76.  Ran a 7.57 sixty.


05.20.17

Good athlete with a solid base in across the game. Stands 5-foot-10, 140 pounds.  Hit from the left side with a tall stance.  Hands start high and loaded.  Used a small hand trigger and a short stride to produce above average bat speed.  Works for extension, with a pull tendency.  Fluid rhythm, repeating the swing.  Exit velocity topped at 80mph off the bat.  Soft hands and fluid footwork worked to clean exchanges.  Funnels to midsection.  Feet can quicken as he matures.  Long arm action to a high-¾ slot.  Accuracy was present with the arm measuring 73 mph across the infield.  Ran a 7.46 sixty.


Videos

(8/6/18)

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