Future Games 2019: Day 2

Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland HS, NJ (2021)
Petty’s electric arm was ready to go in the opening game of the day and earliest time slot as he greeted hitters with fastballs that ran up to 94 mph on multiple occasions. Whippy-loose with the arm action, Petty delivers out of a low ¾ slot which provides for some arm side life as the ball jumps through the zone. He countered the fastball with a sharp slider at 80-82 that was a clear swing and miss offering with a chance to grade out even better as he progresses. Wiry-athletic at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, Petty’s frame has plenty of room to fill out which will aid in his progression and ability to maintain the premium stuff. Dynamic on the mound and aggressive towards the plate, he provided for an uncomfortable at-bat, and showcased a killer-mentality when putting hitters away.

Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, MA (2023)
Listed at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, White appears much taller on the mound, and got the start for Team Massachusetts against a tough New York lineup. The long-limbed southpaw proceeded to showcase what can only be described as being potential “special stuff” including a fastball that touched 90 mph on multiple occasions. Releasing out of a ¾ slot with a crossfire step, White was difficult to pick up for left-handers, and was almost equally as difficult for right-handed hitters. His fastball worked mostly 86-89 over two innings of work, and featured some sinking action in the zone. He flashed a 75 mph changeup, but it was his 72-73 slider that was most intriguing. The pitch featured sweeping shape with tighter spin when thrown at its best, and as he becomes even more comfortable with the new movement patterns that his long-limbs bring, he could find a firmer slider. Overall, White has clearly asserted himself early on as a player to take notice of in the 2023 class.

Jackson Jobe, RHP/SS, Heritage HS, OK (2021)
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Jobe may consider himself a primary shortstop now, but his ability to spin a breaking ball looks to be his long-term calling card. He certainly turned heads with his wipeout slider that he spun at a remarkable 3,000-3,3200+ rpm clip against Team Texas. Indeed, Jobe’s slider generated quite the buzz, and he paired it with an 86-89 mph fastball that played mostly true. Although Jobe is somewhat unrefined on the mound, his ability to spin a baseball at that level, coupled with his overall athleticism, makes him a high-ceiling prospect. Currently ranked No. 2 in Oklahoma’s 2021 class, No. 233 nationally.

Owen Murphy, RHP/SS, Riverside-Brookfield HS, IL (2022)
The 6-foot, 175-pound Murphy was one of the bigger winners of the day, as the two-way talent emerged as a high-ceiling arm in his one-inning stint for Team Illinois. Murphy has a simple, athletic, repeatable delivery, and pumped consistent strikes with his fastball-curveball combination. The breaking ball is tight with late downer action at 72-73 mph, and showed the ability to throw it for strikes and bury it. Murphy’s lively fastball ranged between 84-87 mph with late arm-side life. A shortstop on the mound, Murphy’s arm is highly athletic coming out of a high-3/4 slot, and should continue to trend up as he physically develops. The breaking ball showed promise of being a true putaway pitch at the next level.

Trent Hodgdon, RHP, Smiths Station HS, AL (2021)
Hodgdon possesses a projectable, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame with room to add strength in both the upper and lower-half. His fastball worked mostly 85-88 throughout his appearance which was quick an efficient. The athletic right-hander utilizes a shorter, continuous arm stroke, and controlled his fastball to both sides of the plate. His 11/5 breaking ball had some multi-tier break, and he demonstrated the ability to throw it for strikes at 72-73. There appears to be more in the tank, and given the quickness of his arm, that jump could come sooner rather than later.

Caden Dana, RHP, Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ (2022)
Dana was one of the more intriguing arms that threw on day one. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander possesses long limbs on an athletic frame with square shoulders that will likely carry plenty more strength as he continues to mature. He effortlessly worked 84-86 with the fastball which showcased some arm side life. He struggled, at times, to find his near ¾ slot, but was able to get back into counts by mixing in a mid 70s breaking ball for strikes. His short, quick arm stroke allowed the ball to get on hitters faster than the velocity indicated. Given his athleticism, projectable frame, and quick arm, Dana has a strong chance of making a big jump in the near future.

Payton Allen, SS, Bentonville HS, AR (2021)
Allen notched two hits in Team Arkansas/Kansas game against Team Louisiana, and continued a strong showing at the event and overall this summer. The 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop carries himself well on the diamond with a confident approach at the plate as well as in the field. His strong arm carries across, and a quick first step and clean hands will help him stick at shortstop moving forward. His pitch tracking abilities stood out on the day, and will help him adjust well to better pitching at the next level.

Peyton Stovall, SS, Houghton HS, LA (2021)
Stovall had a two-strike single in Team Louisiana’s victory, but it was a back-handed play in the field that stood out. The 6-foot, 175-pound shortstop has consistently proven he can hit all summer, and he went in the hole to snag a ground ball before zipping it across the diamond for an out.

Logan Maxwell, OF, Lima Shawnee HS, OH (2021)
Maxwell did not slow down after a strong performance on the workout day, and picked up two hits for Team Ohio. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound, left-handed hitter plays much bigger than his frame, and has the confidence to go along with it. He patrolled centerfield well, and his 6.85 60-yard dash time may allow him to stick there at the next level. At the plate, he tracks well, setting up open, and rocking his hands down and back with a knee-knock stride to square off before working flat through the zone. He showcased some surprising power to the pull side on the workout day, and demonstrates the ability to cover the entire plate with a gap-to-gap approach.

Dillon Orr, RHP, Shadow Ridge HS, AZ (2022)
At 6-foot-3, 188-pounds, Orr already possesses a pitcher’s frame, but still shows some projection. Warming up at 84-85 in his first inning of work, Orr hit 86-87 in his second frame as he drove the ball to the bottom of the zone on a downward plane. The big right-hander has some strength in the lower-half, and sits on his back leg as he drives down the mound, allowing his loose, quick arm to work freely to a high ¾ slot. He flashed a straight changeup at 74mph, and varied the shape and speed of his breaking ball at 66-69, an exhibited the confidence to double up on it. The breaking ball is more of a strike pitch currently, but there was some depth to the pitch which should allow it to progress quickly. Overall, as Orr’s frame matures, he has the potential to make another jump, especially given his already polished delivery.

Jack Sullivan, RHP, Carmel HS, NY (2021)
Sullivan’s quick, whippy arm was on display as he got the start for Team New York, and worked 85-88 with a fastball that featured some arm side life in the zone, and while he gave up a few hits in his outing, there was no denying the potential for electric stuff in the future.. He attacked hitters aggressively with the fastball, and showcased the makings of a swing and miss slider at 74-75 that backed up at times. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-hander was dynamic down the mound utilizing an uptempo, athletic delivery. Sullivan emerged on the scene at the NY State Games in July, and still appears to be on an upward trend.

Alec Grossman, RHP, Lake Travis HS, TX (2021)
At 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, Grossman may be a tad undersized, but his arm speed is ultra-quick and generates premium velocity, no matter the size of the frame. Grossman came out pumping 89-91 mph pellets with darting arm-side life. He also shuffled in an aggressive, sharp 78-79 mph slider that had late bite. Filled up the strike zone, worked fast and had a competitive mound presence.

Gavin Zurn, RHP, Stillwater HS, MN (2021)
Zurn opened the game for Team Minnesota/Iowa with a bang, as the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder worked 88-90 with his fastball. Wide-shouldered, Zurn has the frame to continue to take on more weight. He creates plane to his fastball and also mixed in a mid-70s breaking ball.