OSSAA Team Preview: Bishop Kelley Comets

February 28, 2024
Scott Hood and Max Fisher
Oklahoma Staff

Team: Bishop Kelley Comets
2023 Record: 25-16
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Parker Frazier

Total Runs: 242/188

Average Runs: 5.9/4.56

Average Differential: 1.32

Outlook:

The Comets under Parker Frazier made a run to the 5A State Championship game after getting hot down the stretch in 2023. 2024 brings a new challenge for Bishop Kelley as they move up in class to 6A but has a chance to make some noise in the new classification. They will have some holes to plug off of last year’s squad like Grayson Smith, Jackson Archambeau, and Kamden Thompson who are all now competing for Eastern Oklahoma state. While losing those three players will be tough, the Comets bring back a strong core group of contributors and prospects with high upside talent. Their strength is their depth on the mound with multiple arms to choose from to pitch throughout the week. Getting these arms up and going will be crucial, especially early on as they get the bats up to speed.

Impact Players:

Tanner McMurray, 2024, UTL/RHP, Oral Roberts

Down to their final out and trailing by 2, 2024 INF/C ⁦⁦@tanner_mcmurray⁩ (⁦@bkcometsBB⁩) drills a 2 run homer over the LCF wall to tie up at 6 in the top of the 7th. Short and compact stroke that can play all over the field pic.twitter.com/ZEaSaieLab
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) March 17, 2023

McMurray returns as one of the leaders of the Comets and one of the more proven “gamer” type players in the state. Originally a catcher, McMurray has expanded his role to also playing a high level of defense at shortstop with a solid glove and knack for making plays. Offensively, he shows some sneaky pop with a feel for the barrel in the zone. He picked up multiple key hits throughout the 2023 campaign and will be relied upon to lead the charge of the offense. He will also make his impact felt on the mound where he pounds the zone in the mid 80’s and has already proven the ability to miss barrels.

Blake Rogers, 2025, OF/RHP, Uncommitted

2025 OF/RHP @blake_rogers_@bkcometsbb

Exit Velo: 95.4 mph
OF Velo: 91 mph
FB Velo: 85.5 mph

Rogers continued to show big tools on both sides of the ball at the Tulsa Preseason ID. Strong rotational swing w/ball jumping off the barrel & raw arm strength in OF & the mound. pic.twitter.com/1GJczzQ0qW
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) January 18, 2024

Rogers comes into the 2024 campaign as one of the more talented and physically gifted prospects in the 2025 class. He has big tools across the board with strength at contact from the right side and a big arm from the outfield. He will also add some pitching depth to the staff where the right-hander has worked the fastball up to 86 mph in the past with the feel for a mid 70’s slider. Rogers has a ton of untapped potential and should be an intriguing follow into his junior season.

Mason Gooding, 2024, RHP, Uncommitted

Gooding has shown high pitchability in the past with a low to mid 80’s fastball, a low 70’s curveball, and feel for a fading changeup in the mid 70’s. Gooding will be relied upon to take on a more expanded role in 2024 filling innings against their district opponents.

Tycen Armour, 2025, OF/RHP, Uncommitted

2025 RHP/OF @t_armour15 @bkcometsbb

FB VELO: 84.6 MPH (2394 SPIN)
SL VELO: 73.5 MPH (2770 SPIN)
OF VELO: 92 MPH

Armour showed big athleticism at the Tulsa ID having the top 30 time (3.86) w/big spin on the mound and advanced arm strength from the OF showing more in the tank pic.twitter.com/MWMt2HtkvG
— PBR Oklahoma (@PBR_Oklahoma) January 18, 2024

Armour picked up some valuable experience in 2023 on the mound for the Comets and will look to build off that into a more expanded role in 2024. Armour shows high upside on the mound with big spin rates on the mid 80’s fastball and shows advanced spin on the low 70’s slider. A strong athlete that will also see a more expanded role on offense, Armour has some of the higher upside in the 2025 class and should be primed for a breakout junior campaign.