Following each weekend throughout the fall, we’ll be breaking down the top performances from PBR Tournaments during the days prior. This past weekend featured several illustrious tournaments spanning the country, including: the PBR Cup at LakePoint, the Grand Park Fall Championships, the Creekside Fall Championships, the Upper Midwest Fall Showdown, the and the Virginia Fall Championships, among others.

Follow @pbrtscouting on Twitter for highlights from over the weekend, as well as in-event coverage during ongoing tournaments.

THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND

BEST IN SHOW

UNCOMMITTED CLASS OF 2024

+ C J.T. Stiner (Cathedral HS, IN): Stiner has a short, quick right-handed swing geared for all-fields contact. Quiet lower half, simple/balanced swing, generates high bat speed with innate strength that helps him leverage hard-hit contact to both gaps. Arm strength from behind the plate, with efficient and on-target throws to second base. Stiner is currently the top-ranked uncommitted senior in PBR Indiana.

J.T. Stiner (9/16/23)

+ 3B/RHP Eric DeCosta (Wheaton Academy HS, IL): DeCosta is built at a premium 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, with budding strength in his long levers that’s helped him generate some buzz on the mound all year long. In Indiana, DeCosta sat 88-90 mph with his heavy, running fastball; mixed in a tight, late-action slider, 81-83 mph. One of PBR Illinois’ top uncommitted senior prospects.

Eric DeCosta (9/16/23)

+ SS Alex Schuler (Borden HS, IN): Rhythmic right-handed, strength on impact that complements a naturally inclined bat path. Above-average hands for the left side of the infield with the arm strength to continue to project on that side of second base.

Alex Schuler (9/16/23)

+ RHP Carter Orner (Plainfield HS, IN): The 6-foot-7 right-hander works from a straight over-the-top slot on a 84-87 mph fastball that is boosted by efficient backspin, creating above-average IVB marks that makes it tough to square up at the top of the strike zone. He utilizes a splitter and a curve as go-to secondaries.

Carter Orner (9/15/23)

+ RHP Michael Furmanek (Plainfield East HS, IL): Listed at 6-foot-6, 195 pounds, Furmanek offers a unique next-level profile. He generates arm-side run on his upper-80s fastball (T90 mph), made tougher on right-handed hitters, especially, as he works closed down the mound. Meanwhile, the slider has average action, but it’s enhanced as it works off the same plane as his running fastball, creating some additional deception to it that can be effective so long as he locates the pitch. Furmanek is an upside PBR Illinois uncommitted prospect to know.

Michael Furmanek (9/16/23)

+ RHP Micah Vessely (Greenwood Community HS, IN): A break-out righty who was spinning his 72-74 mph curveball at rates that eclipsed the 3,000 rpm threshold. Loose, quick arm; arm-side life on a mid-80s fastball (T87 mph), changeup, 80-81, is an effective third pitch.

+ 3B Drew Helton (Whiteland HS, IN): Helton swing a red-hot bat at Grand Park over the weekend for Indiana Bulls. Creates easy bat speed from the right side, beginning with some rhythm in the pre-pitch, and his simplicity throughout his load helps him carry an accurate barrel to the box, which was on display frequently at last weekend’s Indiana tourney. Helton is one of PBR Indiana’s top uncommitted right-handed hitters.

+ RHP Jack Grunkemeyer (Batesville HS, IN): As a physical 6-foot-2, 205-pound righty, Grunkemeyer creates easy upper-80s velocity with some arm-side action generated from a lower average release height, especially for his size. He has the feel to spin a biting curveball, 69-71 mph, that flashed sharp over the weekend, during an outing in which he punched out five batters over two frames.

Jack Grunkemeyer (9/16/23)

+ OF Braylon Whitaker (Cox Mill HS, NC): From a summer USA Prime Scout Day event, hosted by PBR North Carolina: “5-foot-10, 160-pound frame with room to add strength. Left-handed hitter with a fluid swing and feel for the barrel. Squared several balls up working to both gaps. Loose hands with quickness, barrel stays through the zone. Top exit velocity at 93.2 mph, average EV at 87.9; arm up to 89 mph from the outfield.”

2024 OF Braylon Whitaker (NC) flashes the potential of an impact leadoff CF.

Advanced approach w/ minimal chase and impressive bat-to-ball. Exceptional range in center.

Comes through w/ a clutch oppo knock here to score two late.@ShooterHunt // @PrepBaseballNC // #PBRCup pic.twitter.com/E86zh4qnxd

— Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) September 17, 2023

+ RHP Brady Hudson (Holy Family HS, CO):

2024 RHP Brady Hudson (CO)@HF_Athletics | @Slammersbasball

6-foot-3, 175 pounds

FB: 84-87, T88
CB: 75-79

XL build with impressive pitchability. Strong FB movement. Avg. 7’0” extension (T 7’6”) ‼️ making FB appear faster. Dominant. #PBRCup @PBR_Uncommitted | @pbrcolorado pic.twitter.com/2z5Cxq6EmZ

— PBRT Scouting (@pbrtscouting) September 16, 2023

+ RHP Noelan Slyter (Davenport North HS, IA):

Quality look at 2024 Noelan Slyter for #MidwestElite today.

FB played up in the zone, T84 mph. Flashed feel for a downer type CB and a CH with fade.#IAFallShowdown | @UpperMWBaseball pic.twitter.com/1TiFfMwiro

— PBR Iowa (@PBRIowa) September 16, 2023

RELATED CONTENT