PBR Future Games - Day 1 Recap
August 2, 2018
Day one of the PBR Future Games took place today with a position player workout at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. Team Carolinas position players ran 60’s, participated in defensive evaluations, and took batting practice on the field in front of 150 plus college coaches.
Team Carolinas position players showed well in multiple areas today and below we take a look at some of the quick hits from the workout.
Quick Hits
+ The physicality of the Team Carolina hitters stood out on Day 1. Nine of the twelve hitters posted exit velocities at or above 89 mph. Nick Neal (1B, Randleman HS, 2020) led the way with an explosive 104 mph off the barrel. Trey Truitt (OF, East Mecklenburg HS, 2020) and Preston Hall (3B, Myers Park HS, 2020) each reached triple digits at 102 and 101 mph respectively. During BP, left-handed hitter Riley Chandler (SS, Cox Mill HS) worked with a professional approach, peppering the pull side gap with barrel contact. His exit velo peaked at 87 mph. Andrew Grande (3B, Christ School, 2021) is one of the younger players at the event but he caught the eye of many with his size and swing. His exit velocity touched 89 mph.
+ 4 players worked out behind the dish for Team Carolinas with each posting a 2.01 pop time or better in the workout. Alejandro Rodriguez (C/MIF, Southeast Guilford HS, 2020) led the group with a positional velocity of 82 mph from the crouch and pop times ranging 1.94 - 2.03. Chet Sikes (C, Wesleyan Christian Academy, 2020) was consistent and on the bag at 1.98 - 2.01. Drew Bryan (C, Southern Lee HS, 2020) has carry at 80 mph out of his stance and a 2.00 - 2.09 range.
+ As physical as the lineup has a chance to be, there may be opportunities for this group to create runs in different ways. Two ran sub-7.00 sixties with seven under 7.25. James Hobbs (SS, Myers Park HS, 2020) turned in a team best 6.75. The two primary outfielders both ran well with Shemar Dalton (OF, South Stokes HS, 2020) running 6.98 and Truitt running a 7.06.
+ Across the board, the infield group showed an ability to catch the baseball with consistency. Gavin Mortenson (SS, Northwest Guilford HS, 2020) works with soft hands and active feet, carrying the ball with accuracy at 81 mph across the diamond. Hobbs and Rodriguez have more than enough arm to project staying on the left side of the field with positional velocities of 84 and 87 mph respectively.
+ Caleb Freeman (RHP/C/INF, JL Mann HS, 2020) is an intriguing prospect with a lanky build. Strength his present, as evident in an exit velocity of 92 mph from the right handed hitter. Working out on the infield and behind the plate, Freeman showed some carry at 83 mph across the diamond and 76 mph out of the crouch. His pop times ranged 2.01 - 2.17. To add to the day, he also ran a 7.18 sixty. Freeman will pitch in game 2 for Team Carolinas