By Adam Akin
Director of Scouting

The 2017 PBR Tennessee Top Prospect Games took place on Tuesday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 14 at Hawkins Field on the campus of Vanderbilt University and included a position player workout, followed by three 9-inning games each day. Players were afforded the opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of the PBR Tennessee staff and many college coaches in attendance. The following is our evaluation of every pitcher to compete on Day 1 of this year’s event.

Pitchers

Bryce Bowers, SS/RHP, Sequoyah, 2018
Max FB: 75, FB: 73-75, CB: 65-66,
6-foot-0, 185-pound, RHP uses a controlled delivery that gets his front side closed at the top and leads to a closed stride that forces him to throw across his body or generate an early release that leaves the ball up to his arm-side.  He stays tall and could utilize his lower half more efficiently.  Fastball was straight and left up in the zone, while his curveball showed gradual movement with 11/5 shape.

Kobe Carter, RHP, Hendersonville, 2019
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-85, CB: 70-72, CH: 70,
5-foot-7, 150-pound, RHP has a smaller frame but uses a quick and uptempo delivery to give himself a presence on the mound.  Works at his own pace and keeps the hitters on their toes.  Carter’s fastball sat 82-85 as he showed a quick arm that produced some run.  Curveball was thrown for strikes and showed 11/5 to 10/4 shape with some late movement. 

Owen Clark, LHP, Farragut, 2019
Max FB: 77, FB: 75-77, CB: 69-71, CH: 67-69,
6-foot-1, 185-pound, LHP uses a very short and compact delivery that doesn’t use much range of motion or looseness through release.  Repeatable delivery uses a short arm action through a high ¾ release point.  Strides in line and stays balanced throughout his finish.  Fastball had some run and his curveball showed 1/7 shape for some strikes.  Changeup could develop and show some fade at the plate.

Hunter Crawford, OF/RHP, Beech, 2018
Max FB: 80, FB: 78-80, CB: 66-68
6-foot-1, 185-pound, RHP begins his delivery slowly and builds up his tempo through his release and finish.  Crawford has an athletic and strong build that helps a ton from the offensive side of the baseball.  Works very linear toward his target and has a little recoil with his throwing arm after follow through.  Fastball was straight but thrown for strikes and curveball showed 10/4 shape with almost slider-like action.

Casey Eldridge, RHP, Station Camp, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 76-78, CB: 66-68, CH: 70-71,
5-foot-11, 160-pound, RHP works smoothly and showed good body control throughout his outing.  Loose arm comes through a high ¾ slot and showed some athleticism.  Should be some more velo in the tank that we may see sooner rather than later.  Fastball was pretty straight with very slight run, but thrown for strikes and his curveball had 12/6 shape through the zone.  Changeup could end up being a solid change of pace.

Brandon Feathers, RHP, Science Hill, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 81-84, CB: 67-69, CH: 72-73,
6-foot-4, 195-pound, RHP has a tall and somewhat rangy frame, but actually uses a more compact delivery and release.  Arm action is short and comes through a ¾ slot with a little bit of quickness.  Stays pretty tall even throughout his follow through.  Fastball seemed heavy and showed some occasional run when kept in on righties.  Curveball showed mostly 12/6 shape and was thrown for strikes, along with a changeup that had a little fade.

Cameron Hansen, RHP, Hendersonville, 2019
Max FB: 87, FB: 83-87, CB: 68-71,
6-foot-4, 230-pound, RHP brings a commanding presence to the mound that immediately draws attention.  A tall and stout build, he brings a lot to the table with room to improve and grow.  He works with good tempo and stays confident and smooth. His fastball can show cut or run, as the movement tends to favor whatever side of the plate he locates it.  Curveball can be very sharp with 11/5 shape that can fool a hitter.  Hansen is one of the top RHPs in the 2019 class and earned a spot on the Future Games roster from his performance

Houston High, C/RHP, Lipscomb Academy, 2020
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-78, CB: 66-67, CH: 64,
6-foot-2, 190-pound, RHP has a strong and athletic frame for a 2020 graduate and could develop into something special, should he continue to grow and improve.  Uses a long rocker step while staying under control and can sometimes get a little mechanical.  Short arm action comes through a high ¾ slot and stays simple.  Fastball showed very slight run and curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 shape through the zone.

Caleb Holdcraft, SS/RHP, Eagleville, 2019
Max FB: 77, FB: 74-77, SL: 66-67,
5-foot-10, 155-pound, RHP has a smaller frame, but uses his athleticism to his advantage on the mound.  Keeps his hands together higher to begin and uses a long arm action through a low ¾ slot to deliver pitches in an almost “slinging” fashion.  Strides slightly closed and reaches out around his body on release.  Fastball showed a little run, because of his arm angle and his slider had some sweeping action across the zone with 10/4 shape.

Aaron Hubbell, RHP, Wilson Central, 2018
Max FB: 87, FB: 83-87, CB: 67-69, CH: 77-78,
6-foot-3, 210-pound, RHP has a solid frame and has continued to improve each and every time we have seen him, while his height and length should allow him to continue on that path.  Seems to stay well under control and never gets in a rush.  Hubbell uses a fairly high leg lift and occasionally strides a little closed.  Arm action is smooth and gets quick at release.  Fastball was fairly straight and curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 action through the zone.  Changeup was good to lefties.

Jett Jackson, RHP, Dickson County, 2019
Max FB: 87, FB: 84-87, CB: 69-71, CH: 79-80,
6-foot-3, 175-pound, RHP continued to impress with the length and athleticism he shows on the mound.  A quick and loose arm that gets some run on the ball and jumps at the hitter can be hard to square up.  Curveball showed its usual 12/6 action with some sharpness at the plate.  Jackson is getting better with his changeup, which could add another weapon to his arsenal.  Velo continues to improve and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.  Jackson earned a spot on the Future Games roster.

Landon Lewis, RHP/1B, McCallie School, 2020
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-78, CB: 64-66,
6-foot-4, 180-pound, RHP has a tall and lanky frame that leaves a ton of room for growth and improvement over the next few years.  Lewis stays under control and currently shows a fairly low-effort delivery.  Hand can be quick at times and create a solid jump out of his hand.  Fastball was pretty straight but can run when kept in on righties and away from lefties.  Curveball showed 12/6 shape with some gradual movement at the plate.  Look for Lewis to continue to fill out and turn some heads.

Ethan Lyle, RHP/1B, Goodpasture Christian, 2020
Max FB: 76, FB: 73-76, CB: 63-64, CH: 65,
6-foot-1, 165-pound, RHP has a thin build that leaves a ton of room for growth and improvement over the next 2-3 years.  Lyle begins smoothly in his motion and builds into a quick release that jumps at the hitter from an over-the-top slot.  He could use a little more of his lower half to generate some separation and torque.  Fastball showed very slight run and was affective when down, while his curveball showed 12/6 shape.

Ethan Mealer, RHP/3B, Forrest, 2019
Max FB: 84, FB: 80-84, CB: 73-74, CH: 70-72,
6-foot-1, 170-pound, RHP has an athletic build and competes on both sides of the ball.  Both his projectable frame and the athleticism he displays suggest a ton of upside for his career on the mound. Mealer moves well on and uses a long and loose arm action through a ¾ to high ¾ slot.  He attacks the plate and can produce the type of run and sink that bears down on a righty.  His curveball breaks sharply through the zone with 12/6 to 11/5 shape and works as a solid out pitch.  Keep an eye on Mealer as he continues to develop and fill out.

Trenton Milliken, OF/RHP, SCHS, 2018
Max FB: 78, FB: 74-78, CB: 61-63, CH: 65-66,
5-foot-10, 150-pound, RHP has a smaller but athletic frame and uses a rangy motion that features a lot of moving parts.  His rocker step is wide and leads to a high leg lift.  Milliken gathers and strides in line to stay under control and well-balanced.  His arm action is short and comes through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball was mostly straight but occasionally flashed some run, while his curveball displayed 12/6 shape through the zone.

Justin Neal, RHP, Roane County, 2018
Max FB: 73, FB: 71-73, CB: 60-61, CH: 58,
6-foot-5, 230-pound, RHP has a large and commanding frame that brings a presence to the mound.  Neal works slowly on the mound and could show a little more explosiveness.  He stays pretty tall and could certainly include a little more from his lower half.  He does stay balanced and seemed to be under control.  Fastball was mostly straight and his curveball showed some 11/5 shape but could get loopy when left up in the zone.

Chase Nelson, 1B/LHP, Hendersonville, 2019
Max FB: 83, FB: 79-82, CB: 67-72, CH: 68-69,
5-foot-11, 185-pound, LHP has an athletic frame and uses that build and ability to his advantage on the mound.  Strides into a closed position, but has the strength and balance to get back out and over his front side.  Arm action is fluid and comes through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball showed some run when kept down in the zone.  Curveball has 1/7 shape and can be thrown for strikes.  Changeup is simple.  Velo increase could come at any time.

Riley Palmer, RHP, Memphis University School, 2020
Max FB: 77, FB: 73-77, CB: 60-61,
5-foot-11, 200-pound, RHP shows a simple motion with a consistent rhythm and seems to never get ahead of himself.  Generates some slight shoulder tilt with his leg lift and strides in line with a balanced and low-effort delivery.  Fastball was mostly straight but could certainly become more effective if kept down in the zone consistently.  Curveball showed 11/5 shape with gradual movement through the zone.

Caleb Pearson, RHP/3B, Brentwood, 2018
Max FB: 87, FB: 84-87, CB: 69-72, CH: 75-76,
6-foot-2, 193-pound, RHP was possibly the most impressive player of the entire event.  Pearson has a strong and athletic build with potential on both sides of the baseball.  He uses a smooth and quick arm action on the mound to deliver through a high ¾ slot.  The ball jumps out of his hand and provides movement on every pitch.  Fastball showed run and some sink when kept down and his curveball had 11/5 shape with some swing-and-miss bite at times.  Changeup can be thrown for strikes and delivers a change of pace.

Patrick Queener, RHP, Brentwood, 2018
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-84, CB: 74-78, CH: 72-74,
6-foot-0, 190-pound, RHP has a solid and mature frame that allows him to compete at a high level with consistency.  Queener uses a very uptempo delivery with a quick pace and a sense of confidence that works in his favor.  His arm action is short but quick through a high ¾ release point.  He stays balanced, but could use his lower half a little more.  Fastball showed some slight run and he flashed a 12/6 curveball with sharpness.  He simply flashed the changeup.

Mitch Randall, RHP/OF, Waukee (IA), 2020
Max FB: 84, FB: 80-83, CB: 67-68, CH: 74-75,
6-foot-1, 180-pound, RHP has a strong and developed build, especially for a 2020 graduate.  Moves athletically and explodes toward the plate.  Aggressive player on both sides of the ball.  Uses good tempo and stays balanced throughout his delivery.  Fastball was firm and heavy with some slight run, but did lose a little velo from the stretch.  Curveball showed 12/6 shape with good arm speed and some occasional bite.  Strong 2-way player in the 2020 class.

Matthew Reed, RHP, Houston, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 82-86, CB: 71-73, CH: 74,
6-foot-4, 180-pound, RHP is yet another prospect from the Top Prospect Games that continues to show improvement every time we see him.  Reed already possesses the size and athleticism to become something special, while starting to bring that sharpness to the mound.  Reed throws strictly out of the stretch, in order to stay simple and produce repeatable mechanics.  A long arm action comes through a high ¾ to over-the top release point with intent.  Fastball is heavy and shows some run and sink, especially when kept down.  Curveball has 12/6 shape and can be hard to square up.

Jack Sisk, 1B/RHP, Ravenwood, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-85, CB: 69-72, CH: 75-76,
6-foot-3, 215-pound, RHP has a strong and mature frame that projects well for his development at the next level.  Uses good rhythm throughout his delivery and maintains posture.  Arm works pretty loosely and comes through a high ¾ release point with a little quickness.  Fastball was mostly straight but can be located down in the zone.  Curveball showed 11/5 shape and changeup had some fade, while both were thrown with pretty good arm speed.  Have seen Sisk with higher velo in the past 3 months.

Zach Stephens, RHP, MTCS, 2018
Max FB: 80, FB: 76-80, CB: 67-71, CH: 70,
6-foot-2, 215-pound, RHP has a solid and mature frame with some strength and athleticism.  Stephens stays fluent and builds some solid momentum heading into his delivery and release.  He tends to fly open a little bit, but stays in line with the ability to get his hand out front.  He stays tall and could certainly generate some more torque through the use of his lower half.  His fastball was mostly straight and he flashed a curveball with 12/6 to 11/5 shape.  Stephens committed to Roane State shortly after the TP Games.

Matt Taylor, RHP, Dobyns Bennett, 2018
Max FB: 87, FB: 85-87, CB: 68-72, CH: 73-74,
6-foot-5, 235-pound, RHP works with good tempo while displaying confidence and a commanding presence on the mound.  Taylor’s frame suggests more velo could be coming, as he shows a quick and loose arm action through a high ¾ release point.  He gets good tilt on his fastball when he keeps it down, but can flatten it out when left up.  His curveball showed 11/5  shape with the ability to garner some swing-and-misses throughout the course of a game.

Graham Tulloch, RHP/1B, Brentwood Academy, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-84, CB: 70-75, CH: 70-71,
6-foot-4, 245-pound, RHP brings a commanding presence to the mound with his strong and matured frame.  Tulloch brings some confidence and pitches aggressively throughout the lineup.  He moves very athletically, especially for his size, and uses a long and loose arm action through a high ¾ slot to fill up the zone.  He showed a fastball with solid tilt and run, while also flashing a breaking ball with 11/5 to 10/4 shape.  Tulloch has a very high ceiling and committed to Middle Tennessee State shortly after the TP Games.

Solomon Washington, SS/RHP, Centennial, 2019
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-85, CB: 67-68, CH: 70,
5-foot-11, 160-pound, RHP has a very athletic and projectable frame that is already strong but leaves plenty of room for growth.  Washington moves pretty slowly throughout his motion, but uses a long and loose arm action to produce a heavy fastball that can bear down on righties from time to time.  He gets down the mound and showed a curveball with 11/5 to 10/4 shape.  With the combination of frame and athleticism he possesses, additional velo could come very quickly.

Noah Webb, C/RHP, Sevier County, 2019
Max FB: 87, FB: 84-87, CB: 70-72,
5-foot-11, 175-pound, RHP is not only one of the top catchers in the 2019 class, but also brings a potentially dominant presence to the mound.  Webb works smoothly and with good tempo, delivering pitches with confidence and intent.  His arm action is quick but loose through a high ¾ slot and attacks the hitter.  Fastball is heavy and bears down on right-handed hitters, while his curveball showed 12/6 shape with some sharpness to it.  Webb earned a spot on the Future Games team.

Austin Wells, RHP/3B, Eagleville, 2018
Max FB: 78, FB: 76-78, CB: 68-69, CH: 66,
5-foot-10, 174-pound, RHP uses a simple delivery that is easy to repeat to give himself some consistency.  Stays under control and balanced through his finish.  Arm action is smooth but some more quickness could help.  Fastball was straight when left up in the zone.  Curveball had 12/6 shape and could be a good change of pace if kept down.

Ryan Wells, SS/RHP, Eagleville, 2020
Max FB: 80, FB: 75-79, CB: 63-65,
5-foot-10, 155-pound, RHP uses a lot of the athleticism he displays from SS on the mound and showed a loose arm with potential.  With a frame that leaves plenty of room to grow, Wells could add plenty of velo over the next few years to turn some heads.  Long and loose arm action comes from a nearly over-the-top slot.  Fastball was fairly heavy but pretty straight and his curveball showed mostly 12/6 shape through the zone.  Strides closed and has to reach back across his body.