By: Adam Akin
Director of Scouting

 

The 2017 PBR Tennessee Underclass Games took place on Wednesday, July 5 and included a position player workout, followed by three 9-inning games. Players were afforded the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Tennessee staff and many college coaches in attendance. The following is our evaluation of every player that was assigned to Team 2 in Wednesday’s action.

 

Alex Butler, RHP, Baylor School, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 82-83, CB: 72-74, CH: 75-76
6-0, 165-pound, RHP showed a lot of improvement from when we saw him last summer, Butler put together one of the most impressive performances on the mound at the event, stays collected and uses some good rhythm throughout his delivery, gets to the top in a closed position that loads his lower half and creates some shoulder tilt before heading home, strides mostly in line and uses a long and loose arm action through a high 3/4 slot.  Fastball actually had some cut, curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 shape, and his changeup had run and sink for strikes when kept down in the zone. 

Kameron Cox, 3B/RHP, Luasanne Collegiate School, 2019
60 Time: 7.96, Position Velocity:  IF-69, Exit Velocity: 67
5-8, 165-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and even stance with very upright posture, uses a conventional stride with a slight movement back with his hands to get loaded, lower half tries to clear but gets cut off a bit, swing plane is steep into the zone but tries to create some lift at times, Defensively, showed above average footwork and average hands in the infield, played through the ball well, uses a short arm action through a low 3/4 to sidearm slot, arm strength can improve.

Max FB: 73, FB: 71-73, CB: 64-66
5-8, 165-pound, RHP works with an uptempo motion and stays pretty tall throughout, stays in line until a very closed stride forces him to throw across his body with a longer arm action through a 3/4 slot, falls slightly toward 3B side.  Fastball was straight and his curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 shape.

Caleb Crowell, C, Cornersville, 2019
60 Time: 7.50, Pop Time: 2.02-2.14, Position Velocity:  C-72, Exit Velocity: 83
6-0, 175-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and even stance, uses a big leg kick and stride to get loaded, lower half is pretty strong but doesn't clear his hips like he wants, swing plane comes into the zone steeply but can flatten out through contact, finds the barrel and likes to pull the ball with some gap potential.  Defensively, showed above average hands and footwork behind the plate, exchange was lower and could be cut down, throws were fairly accurate. 

Spencer Garner, C, Hendersonville, 2021
60 Time: 9.00, Pop Time: 2.46-2.53, Position Velocity:  C-64, Exit Velocity: 67
5-8, 165-pound, RHH hits from a slightly wider and open stance, uses an abbreviated leg kick and stride, lower half tries to work through, bat path is pretty flat through the zone, line drive approach.  Defensively, showed average hands and feet behind the plate with a long arm action. 

Isaac Gleaves, 1B, Eagleville, 2019
60 Time: 7.45, Position Velocity:  IF-71, Exit Velocity: 84
5-11, 215-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and even stance, uses a modified toe-tap and short stride with a movement back of his hands to get loaded, stays tall throughout his swing, lower half is very active, bat path is flat through the zone with some lift at the end, showed gap power and loves the left-center gap.  Defensively, showed sure hands and above average footwork, could've played through the ball more aggressively, arm action varies, throws were accurate but could use some more strength.

Gray Glover, 1B, McCallie, 2021
60 Time: 8.12, Position Velocity:  IF-61, Exit Velocity: 76
6-0, 185-pound, RHH hits from a wider and balanced stance, uses a conventional stride and a subtle cock of his hands to get loaded, lower half fires and uses clears pretty well, stays behind the ball and produces a flat to slightly uphill bat path through the ball, finds the barrel.  Defensively, showed good hands and footwork around the bag, able to make every play and produced accurate throws, arm strength can improve. 

J.P. Key, 1B/RHP, Cookeville, 2020
60 Time: 7.83, Position Velocity:  IF-80, Exit Velocity: 81
5-10, 190-pound, LHH hits from a wide and open stance with good balance and athleticism, smooth load with a generic stride and a cocking of his hands, swing plane is very flat through the zone, likes to pull the ball and consistently barreled line drives.  Defensively, moved well around the bag with above average hands and footwork, made a few pick plays in game action, arm produced some solid throws across the infield.

Max FB: 82, FB: 79-82, CB: 68-69
5-10, 190-pound, RHP begins his delivery slowly and builds it up to an explosive finish toward the plate, in line to slightly closed stride gets him down the mound and a long arm action through a near over-the-top slot gets rid of the ball.  Fastball was mostly straight and his curveball showed 12/6 to 11/5 shape through the zone.

Mason King, RHP, Franklin, 2019
Max FB: 79, FB: 77-79, CB: 67-69, CH: 69-70, 
6-1, 170-pound, RHP has a stronger and more developed frame, uses a calm and simple motion that keeps him under control throughout, strides in a closed position but is able to get his hand out front through a high 3/4 arm slot and finish balanced.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball showed 10/4 shape, and his changeup had run and sink down through the zone. 

Hayden Mullins, LHP, Hendersonville, 2019
Max FB: 88, FB: 87-88, CB: 70-71, CH: 77-78
6-0, 170-pound, LHP is athletic on the mound and showed some of the huge improvements in his game that we've been hearing about, works quickly and with a lot of movement in his delivery, high leg and hand lift gets him loaded at the top and creates some slight shoulder tilt.  strides in line to slightly closed but has no trouble getting his hand out front, arm action is loose and quick through a 3/4 slot.  Fastball showed hard run, his curveball was powerful with late 1/7 shape, and his changeup could develop into a big pitch with some fade.

Thom Nowell, RHP, Independence, 2019
Max FB: 75, FB: 71-75, CB: 63-67
6-0, 175-pound, RHP uses a very clean motion with good rhythm that keeps him steady and under control throughout, begins a little quickly but collects him before heading toward the plate, strides very slightly closed and uses a high 3/4 srm slot.  Fastball was mostly straight and his curveball showed 11/5 shape. 

Joey Parliment, 2B, Gordonsville, 2019
60 Time: 6.94, Position Velocity:  IF-74, Exit Velocity: 79
5-8, 150-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and open stance and in a strong position, uses a conventional and early stride with a movement back of his hands to get loaded, lower half fires through and creates very good separation, stays behind the ball and drives through it with a slightly uphill bat path, peppers line drives from gap to gap.  Defensively, showed above average hands and footwork, gets behind the ball and plays through it, could be a little smoother but gets the job done, arm strength should continue to develop. Performed very well. 

Baine Peters, C/RHP, Hickman County, 2020
60 Time: 8.84, Pop Time: 2.08-2.15, Position Velocity:  C-70, Exit Velocity: 74
5-9, 185-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and open stance, uses a leg kick and stride with a strong lower half to create a strong and balanced base, swing plane is pretty flat through contact. Defensively, showed average hands and footwork, stood up too soon, lower exchange led to a long arm action.

Max FB: 72, FB: 68-72, CB: 62-63
5-9, 185-pound, RHP uses a quick and simple motion that doesn't use much wasted movement, strides pretty well in line and uses a longer arm action through a 3/4 slot.  Fastball was straight and his curveball showed gradual movement through the zone with 11/5 to 10/4 shape.

Nick Pettit, RHP/OF, Grace Christian Academy, 2019
Max FB: 79, FB: 74-79, CB: 63-65
6-1, 165-pound, RHP uses a steady and consistent motion that remains easily repeatable, stays in line even through his stride and finishes very slightly toward the 1B side, stays tall and could utilize his lower half better, arm action comes through a high 3/4 slot.  Fastball was mostly straight and his curveball showed 11/5 shape with gradual break through the zone.

60 Time: 7.66, Position Velocity:  OF-75, Exit Velocity: 74
6-1, 165-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and mostly even stance, uses an abbreviated leg kick and stride to get loaded, lower half works but he gets handsy before he can clear, wraps around the ball to pull it at times.  Defensively, showed pretty good hands and footwork in the outfield, plays through the ball with some confidence, stays under control, arm action comes through a 3/4 slot.

Will Portera, SS/C, Memphis University School, 2020
60 Time: 7.56, Pop Time: 1.99-2.07, Position Velocity:  IF-83, C-69, Exit Velocity: 82
5-10, 165-pound, SHH hits very similarly from both sides of the plate with a wide and slightly open stance and a lower hand positioning, uses a short stride and a subtly move with his hands to get loaded, lower half is strong and active, swing plane is a little steep but seems to flatten out through contact, likes to pull the ball but can drive it.  Defensively, showed the ability to play both SS and C at a high level, soft hands and quick/efficient footwork put him in some great positions, not afraid to play through the ball and use his quick hands.  registered a sub-2 pop time, arm action is short and efficient. 

Dalton Pyzer, OF/LHP, Franklin, 2019
60 Time: 7.78, Position Velocity:  OF-79, Exit Velocity: 84
6-0, 195-pound, LHH hits from a narrow and very open stance with some tall posture, uses a leg kick and a long stride to load, lower half clears and creates some positive separation, stays loose and produces a flat to uphill bat path with some lift at the end, takes some hacks and showed some power to RF.  Defensively, moves confidently in the outfield, gets behind and plays through the ball smoothly, exchange is clean and uses a loose arm action through a high 3/4 slot, throws were accurate and on a line.

Max FB: 79, FB: 76-79, CB: 61-64
6-0, 195-pound, LHP begins his motion calmly and smoothly, building into an aggressive finish, gets down the mound and strides slightly closed, finishes a little toward the 3B side, arm action is shorter but stays fairliy loose through a high 3/4 slot.  Fastball was mostly straight but thrown for strikes and his curveball showed 12/6 to 1/7 shape through the zone.

Gaylen Rutledge, OF, Hendersonville, 2019
60 Time: 7.39, Position Velocity:  OF-81, Exit Velocity: 84
6-2, 195-pound, RHH hits from a wider and even stance and begins quietly, uses a short stride and some subtly hand movement to get loaded, strong player with a developed frame, lower half works and stays fairly balanced, swing plane is generally flat but can get steep on balls down in the zone, likes to pull the ball.  Defensively, showed good hands and smooth footwork, could be quicker and more aggressive getting to and through the ball, exchange took a while, throws were pretty firm and his arm strength should continue to improve.

Cade Sammons, OF, University School of Jackson, 2019
60 Time: 6.69, Position Velocity:  OF-83, Exit Velocity: 75
5-10, 160-pound, LHH showed as one of the top players in the entire event, athletic build and runs very well, hits from a balanced and even stance and uses a smooth leg kick with good timing to get loaded, lower half fires and clears his hips aggressively, quick hands get the bat through the zone on a slight uphill path, finds the barrel and produces line drives with a singles/doubles approach.  Defensively, showed good hands and fluid footwork in the outfield, played through the ball with aggressiveness while staying under control, arm comes through a high 3/4 slot, arm strength should continue to improve.

Cole Sammons, 2B/RHP, University School of Jackson, 2019
60 Time: 7.10, Position Velocity:  IF-71, Exit Velocity: 81
5-10, 155-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and slightly open stance in a very athletic position, uses a gather and a pretty generic stride to get loaded, lower half drifts a little bit, swing plane is a little steep, line drive and singles approach likes to stay middle.  Defensively, showed good hands and footwork in the infield, played through the ball well, exchange took a while, arm action came through a 3/4 slot.

Max FB: 76, FB: 74-76, CB: 62-65
5-10, 155-pound, RHP throws exclusively out of the stretch to keep things simple and consistent, strides into a closed position but uses a near sidearm slot and a quick hand to get to the plate, finished under control and in front.  Fastball showed some slight run and his slider had 10/4 shape with a sweeping action.

Nicholson Sparks, RHP, Hardin County, 2018
Max FB: 81, FB: 76-81, CB: 68-69, CH: 67-68,
6-0, 190-pound, RHP uses a lot of movement and covers a lot of ground to build moment in his motion, gathers high with his leg lift and stays tall, arm action is longer through a high 3/4 slot, stays pretty well under control through finish.  Fastball was straight, curveball showed 11/5 to 10/4 shape through the zone, and his changeup was straight but thrown with fastball arm speed and was very effective.

Eriq Swan, SS, Oakland, 2020
60 Time: 7.53, Position Velocity:  IF-80, Exit Velocity: 77
6-1, 160-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and slightly open stance with some subtle movement of his hands, loads with an abbreviated leg kick and stride, lower half fires and clears his hips through the zone with some quickness, bat path is pretty flat through the zone, athletic build with big upside.  Defensively, showed pretty good hands in the infield, footwork was good when moving to his left, arm action is loose through a sidearm slot, accuracy across the infield can improve with added arm strength and a tighter ball flight.

Andrew Threatt, RHP, Stewart County, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 77-82, CB: 66-68
6-0, 195-pound, RHP uses a controlled and methodical motion that slowly builds into a more aggressive move toward the plate, higher leg kick and an in line stride leads to a longer arm action through a near over the top slot.  Fastball was mostly straight and his curveball had 12/6 shape with movement down in the zone.

Harrison Travis, C, Soddy Daisy, 2019
60 Time: 8.27, Pop Time: 1.95-2.07, Position Velocity:  C-81, Exit Velocity: 83
6-2, 185-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and even stance, stays loose, has a strong and athletic frame, short stride and a smooth move with his hands gets him loaded, lower half provides some torque but does cut off a little bit at the end, swing plane is flat to uphill through the zone with some lift, drives balls with gap pop that could continue developing.  Defensively, showed good hands and solid footwork behind the plate, arm is loose and gives him a weapon, plus arm strength helped produce some sub-2 pop times.

Ben Willcoxon, SS/RHP, Sevier County, 2020
60 Time: 7.59, Position Velocity:  IF-76, OF-82, Exit Velocity: 80
5-9, 175-pound, RHH hits from a slightly wider stance than we've seen previously, a very short stride and subtle hand movement get him loaded, bat path begins a little steep but seems to flatten out through contact on balls up in the zone, line drive approach can hit the ball to all fields.  Defensively, showed soft hands and fluid footwork in the infield, plays through the ball and uses a quick release through varying slots to get rid of the ball.  Also showed a