9 to Know - 2023 Grads to Watch

Here is a look at 9 2023 Grads who performed well at PBR events in 2019 and will be worth a follow moving forward.

Joshua L. Jackson 2B / SS / South Pointe, SC / 2023 Small profile with proportional build and lean strength. Flashes of twitchy actions throughout. 6.69 sixty time. 73 mph infield velocity. 81 mph exit velocity (tee). Slightly open stance at the shoulders, hands set just off the back shoulder. Small hand load and medium stride coil the barrel behind the head. Low line drive tendencies with a flat to slightly lofted path through contact. Worked the middle of the field and the pullside during his BP round. Good first step quickness and showed the ability to maintain body control on multiple ground balls. Above avg hands and short arm stroke. Additional arm strength is needed to stick on the left side of the infield.

 

 

Gabriel Simmons SS / RHP / Nation Ford, SC / 2023 5-10, 170lbs with broad sloped shoulders and mixture of strength and athleticism that suggests a high ceiling. 7.29 sixty time. 79 mph infield velocity. 85 mph exit velocity. Stance at the shoulders with a slight bend in the knees. Medium high stride pushes the hands back and coils the barrel at the top. Showed ability to lag the barrel on a slightly uphill path. Works to elevate the ball with gap to gap power that should trend up. Wanted to pull the ball during his BP rounds. Releases the barrel through contact and has a one handed level follow through to the swing. Controlled stop and start footwork in the infield with a quiet head. Quick exchanges off the left side of his midline. OTT arm action with plenty of carry.  Worked the FB up to 79 from the mound with a 67-70 mph CB. Used short rocker step to a balance point at the belt. Short arm action and limited extension down the mound. Repeated the delivery well and had feel for the strike zone.

 

 

Jack Moseley 1B / RHP / A. C. Flora, SC / 2023 6-2, 195 lb large frame with room for additional development as he matures. Frame suggests additional growth is coming and will allow him to add strength throughout. 1B ran a 8.41 sixty and put up a 63 mph infield velocity. Moseley recorded an 83 mph exit velocity from the tee and translated that number into a solid round of BP with a HR and multiple balls to the wall. Raw power is present with a medium high, long stride. Loose hands whip the barrel through the zone with a lofted path. Solid defender with developing body control. Good hands and foot work with a longer arm action. Used a small rocker step to get to a balance point just above the belt. Uses a full arm action on the back side to get through an OTT slot with avg arm speed. FB was up to 74 with the CB ranging from 58-60.

 

 

Devin Phillips / Lamar, SC / 2023 6-2, 180lb Athletic frame with an advanced physical presence. At the plate, the hitter showed his power in the box with a strong exit velocity of 93 mph. Began in an athletic open stance, has a big load and uses a small leg kick right before his swing. Shows an uphill swing plane, explosive bat speed and level finish. Was able to create some loud contact and found lots of barrels during his round. Pull side approach, driving multiple balls out of the yard. In the infield, made throws across the field up to 81mph; has a clean exchange, soft hands and athletic footwork. Fields the ball out front while his movements laterally were athletic. Using a long arm action, showed consistent accuracy to the bag from a high ¾ slot. In the 60-yard dash, he clocked a time of 7.22. On the mound, showing above avg arm speed, had a high ¾ angle and a loose arm action. He is a feel type pitcher and uses some effort. Has in line shoulders with an athletic balance point off the mound. Has an athletic finish and lands square. Threw his fastball 78-79 mph and topped out at 80 mph; shows a hard movement. Showed a tight curveball (68-69). He had fadingaction on his changeup(70-71).

 

 

Chase Mckelvey SS / RHP / Beaufort , SC / 2023 5-foot-11, 155-pound athletic frame with upside. At theplate, the right-handed hitters best exit velocity was 84 mph. Started in an open stance, has a smooth transitional load and used a medium leg kick to start his swing. Has above avg bat speed and good extension on his finish. Found the barrel with regularity during his rounds. Gap to gap approach. In the infield, recorded position velocities up to 76 mph; had a quick exchange and twitchy hands. In the outfield, he showed the ability to make accurate throws with avg carry to the bases at 78 mph; has quick footwork and a clean exchange. Laterally, movements were athletic, body control will only improve. Showed consistentaccuracy to the bag with long arm action and a ¾ slot. He clocked a time of 7.31 in the 60-yard dash. On the mound, he showed quick arm speed, had a high ¾ angle and a long armaction. He is a drop-and-drive type pitcher and uses some effort. Has an athletic balancepoint and uphill shoulders. Successfully located his changeup (68-69 mph) for a strike.Slider (69-71 mph) had depth when it was located down by the hitter’s knees. His fastball was clocked at 73-76 mph with a max of 77 mph; shows in the zone command and tailing action.

 

 

John Wimmer SS / OF / Rock Hill, SC / 2023 Medium build with square shoulders and athletic upside. 7.49 sixty time. 75 mph infield velocity. 78 mph outfield velocity. 78 mph exit velo. Slightly open stance with some bend in the knees. Loose up body with some rhythm present. Short stride lands back to parallel, he works up hill wanting to get extension and lift through contact. Some carry present. Utility man with good athleticism in the infield and outfield. Maintained momentum through the fielding process with confident hands. Played himself into a good fielding position, fielding the ball just inside his left hip. Followed his throws with good momentum and above avg carry for his age. Quick arm from the mound with a controlled delivery. Full arm action and scap load, with good extension down the mound. Developing feel for offspeed, CB has chance to develop into a strong out pitch.

 

 

Jesse Bowers SS / C / North Central, SC / 2023 Physical athlete with a high waist and moderately strong frame. An open, slightly crouched stance at the plate leads to a controlled knee to knee load. Rushed through the lower half at times and struggled to consistently get the barrel to contact point. Hands load down and back and attack the zone from a lower slot. The ball comes off the bat with pop at times and could translate into potential plus power as he matures. (78 mph exit velo) Utility man worked as both an infielder and outfielder and showed a nice arm for his age with throws that carried to the target at 70 mph. Footwork is short and choppy at times but should smooth out as he matures. FB 68-69 topping at 70 on the mound with erratic command at times.

 

 

Ethan Belk OF / RHP / Legion Collegiate Academy, SC / 2023 Medium build with good projection remaining. 7.10 sixty time. 83 mph infield velocity. 84 mph OF velocity. 84 mph exit velocity (tee). Balanced stance with the hands set just off the back shoulder. Medium stride pushes the hands back and turns the barrel behind the head. Stride lands quickly at times with a flat bat path, slightly elevated through the finish. Smooth exchanges in the infield with confident hands. Works around the ball and maintains momentum through the fielding process. Fields balls in the OF just outside the right foot and gains ground to the target with an athletic pro step.

Noah Chapman LHP / 1B / Summerville , SC / 2023 Medium build good length throughout. Frame will support additional strength as he develops. 8.31 sixty time. 73 mph infield velocity. 72 mph exit velocity (tee) LH, 76 mph exit velocity (tee) RH. Balanced stance with the weight stacked slightly over the backside. Higher back elbow and rhythm to the bat pre pitch. Medium high leg kicks lands back in place. Steep attack angle with low line drive BP round. Quiet approach from the left side with a deeper hand set. Stride is closed and the path is more elevated than from the right side. Bat to ball skills are better from the right side. Quick hands and good feel for the glove at 1B. Played himself into a good fielding position and maintained rhythm throughout the fielding process. Repeatable delivery on the mound with a H3Q release and quick arm. Will have a chance to develop into a quality LHP. FB topped at 77, breaking balls were 64-66, mixed a CH as a third pitch at 66-66.

 

*Note: this is not a ranking, It is merely a listing of players in no specific order placed in this category because each one meets a specified demographic. This is a reference for fans, coaches, and parents to use in order to help identify top talent across the state and encourage people to take notice of these student athletes and their abilities.