Prep Baseball Report

PBR Mid-Atlantic Fall Championships Scout Blog Part II


Staff
PBR Virginia/DC

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Over the course of the week we are going to be breaking down some talent that stood out to members of our staff during the recent PBR Tournaments Mid-Atlantic Fall Championships. Part II of the series includes 14 players across four classes and two states.

Turner Johnson RHP / 1B / Monacan , VA / 2024

Strong, athletic, projectable 6'0" 150 pound frame. Hits from a solid base with some lower half involvement. Shows quick hands through the zone with some barrel control as he consistently produced loud contact all weekend long. Present pull side pop with more projected as he gets bigger and stronger. On the mound Johnson struggled with feel for the zone early, but settled in and filled it up inducing early contact. Is athletic enough and the frame is there to continue to add velo.

Brett Allen RHP / 3B / Lee Davis, VA / 2021

Allen came on in relief of the upperclass semi-final game, which was tied in the 8th 0-0. He seemed a little amped up for the first hitter or two, but the settled in and dominated for two innnings. He came back about twenty minutes later and threw the first couple of the championship game. He sat 87-88 and touched 89-90 one time a piece. Works with some effort, but the fastball jumps out of the hand and showed occasional downhill tilt and played well down in the zone. The breaking ball was definitely more power curve at 76-79 mph and 11/5 shape. At the plate Allen helped his cause in the championship game with a two run bolt out of right center to put the Cardinals up 2-0. As he has shown before he has present power to the pull side while hitting from the left side of the plate. He will be a big offensive addition to the Hanover lineup this year.

 

Carter Lovasz RHP / SS / Midlothian, VA / 2021

Having only seen Lovasz one inning at a time previously, he was nothing short of impressive. While the velocity on the fastball was 83-86 and touching 87 he displayed the ability to throw it wherever he wanted to. He was especially dominate to the glove side promoting arm side run back to the outer edge. The breaking ball was solid and on this day his third best pitch. The curveball got up and down well with 12/6 shape at 67-68 mph. His best offspeed pitch on this day, and possibly his best pitch overall, was the changeup. The changeup sat 72-74 mph with late hard fade and feel to both sides of the plate. It was definitely one of the best amateur changeups that I have seen to date. At the plate it is a simple athletic swing. Lovasz is not afraid to use the whole field in approach and flashes doubles power. Overall an impressive arm headed to Williamsburg with secondary stuff that is ready to contribute now.

 

Trent Pulliam RHP / 2B / Mills E. Godwin, VA / 2021

On the mound works with pace and intent. Comfortable in the delivery and everything syncs up well while not being afraid to change tempo and rhythm on hitters. Best thing I like about Pulliam is nothing is straight. The fastball offers consistent cut sitting 84-86 and touch 87 on this night. Filled up the zone and challenged hitters, only allowing weak contact on balls put in play. It is a two pitch mix with a slider that offers present arm speed and late downer action at 77-78 mph. Really like Pulliam and his efficiency around the zone paired with his confidence in the action on his pitches to get hitters out.

 

Caden Plummer OF / RHP / Hanover, VA / 2021

Athletic outfielder with range and plenty of arm strength. The frame has filled out nicely and offers even more physical tools than this time last year. At the plate Plummer keeps the hands close with minimal load and displays high end hand speed generating bat speed and strength into the swing. Flashes power to all fields, but the pull side power is present. On the mound Plummer comes at hitters with a 83-84 mph fastball and can finish counts with a 12/6 hammer at 69-71 mph. The breaking ball has cleaned up nicely and is a a strike for a long time before falling off garnering plenty of swings and misses. Overall Plummer can really defend and has big offensive upside that still has some rawness to it and should only continue to get better.

 

Layton Dupree SS / RHP / Tarboro , NC / 2022

Projectable 6-foot-5 right handed pitcher that works with pace and intent. Higher leg lift from windup, short deceptive arm circle, and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. Fastball worked at both ends of the zone as it jumped on hitters when up in the zone and got some downhill tilt on it when down in the zone. Fastball sat 81-84 and touched 85-86 a few times. The breaking ball sat 67-71 and flashed some late downer bite to it. Needs to sure up the feel for the breaking ball, but it showed signs of a solid secondary pitch.

Mason Tyre 1B / 3B / DH Conley, NC / 2023

Solid 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. Hits from the left side with a square athletic stance, small lift to stride, and foot gets down on time. Hands show rhythm and are loose going into the load. Fairly level path swing with a line drive approach and while he had multiple hits through the pull side, he also flashed the ability to use the whole field in other at bats. Has solid timing to the swing and displayed ability to keep hands back on offspeed offerings. Liked the barrel control and awareness that Tyre offers and should continue to produce on the offensive side.

 

S'Quan Waters OF / OF / Southcentral, NC / 2023

Athletic 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Twitchy actions all over the field and extremely athletic defender in the outfield. Right now the bat is more contact driven and Waters flashes a high end run tool. Swing is short to contact with a level path and hands are quick out of the zone. Where Waters really stands out is his coverage in the outfield. Angles and initial reads are average, but there is great closing speed and adjustability present to make plays in center. Got turned around on a ball, but made an extremely athletic adjustment and made up ground to catch a ball hit to deep center. High ceiling athlete with hand speed at the plate that if he continues to progress offensively will definitely be one to watch in the future.

 

Jeremy Jensen RHP / SS / Georgetown Day, VA / 2021

Solid 6-foot-2 frame with some projection left to it. Jensen stood out all over the field. At the plate it is a level path swing with doubles power and has a solid approach using the whole field. Runs fairly well, but impresses the most with his instinctiveness on the bases. Stole home twice being safe both times and is very aggressive in his demeanor on the bases. On the mound he worked under control and attacked the zone with a two pitch mix. Fastball was 83-85 and spin got up as high as 2500 and flashed some arm side run at times, especially when working to the glove side. The breaking ball had late hard tilt with 11/5 shape at 68-71 mph. Spin stayed between 2300-2450 rpm. Overall loved the way Jensen played the game and the intangibles that he possesses are hard to come by.

 

Sam Alswang RHP / Woodrow Wilson, VA / 2021

6-foot-2, 190-pound solid frame with some strength present. Works with a controlled delivery that has some late aggression and intent to the plate. Attacks hitters with a fastball, slider, changeup mix. Fastball has life through the zone at 82-84 mph and could grab 85 mph just about whenever he wanted to, putting away multiple hitters late in counts with the fastball. Arm slot drops slightly on the 70-74 mph slider, but showed feel for it throwing it for strikes just about whenever he wanted. Also flashed a 73-75 mph changeup that is a solid third pitch. Pitches with some emotion on the mound and is not afraid to challenge hitters. Had 13 strikeouts through five and a third innings of work. Would consider him one of the better uncommitted arms remaining in the 2021 Virginia class.

Jeffrey Coakley SS / 2B / Woodrow Wilson , VA / 2021

Athletic 6-foot frame with projection left to it. Twitchy movements all over the field. Lateral range, soft hands to catch, and throws have some carry across the infield. Really like Coakley as a defender and he offers high end foot speed with some pop in the bat as well. It is a simple athletic approach at the plate with a short level path to contact. Shows doubles power to the pull side and blistered one ball off the fence on a line with wood. Definite threat on the bases with his foot speed and displays ability to stay at the top of the order. One of the best uncommitted middle infielders left in the Virginia 2021 class.

 

Luke Hanson SS / RHP / Lafayette, VA / 2022

6-foot-2, 180-pound athletic frame that continues to grow and add physical strength. Threw against Woolfolk on Friday night and the two UVA commits did not disappoint. Hanson works with a slower controlled pace on the mound. Has a shorter arm swing from a three-quarter slot with hand and arm speed out front. Attacks hitter with a four pitch mix and has control of all four. The fastball sat 86-88 and touched 89 a few times. The curveball sat 68-72 with 12/6 shape and appeared a bit slower out of the hand, but it was a nice get me over pitch early in counts with the slider playing at 73-75 mph and some hard late 12/6 break with tighter shape. Showed feel for a 74-78 mph changeup. Did not allow any runs in seven innings of work versus a strong offensive lineup. 

Cannon Peebles C / RHP / Hanover, VA / 2022

Peebles is one of the premier catch and throw players in the state and quite possibly the east coast. Receiving has improved since we last saw him at an early spring scrimmage. Presents pitches well and was able to work under Hanson's fastball ensuring a few borderline pitches remain strikes. On throws to bases the feet are quick and short to get into position, remains under control, and has big arm strength on throws with accuracy. Rolled out a 1.95 in game pop on Friday night and has the ability to shut down an opponent's running game. At the plate it is a slightly uphill path swing with doubles power present and the potential for more. The offensive piece continues to improve and the swing shows best from the left side and that is a plus as he will obviously face more right handed arms.

 

Eli Brooks C / OF / Glen Allen, VA / 2022

Compact athletic frame standing about 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Brooks has a level path contact driven swing with line drive tendency. Has occasional doubles power and should continue to improve as he adds strength to the swing. Where Brooks stood out most is in the outfield. He gets exceptional reads in the outfield. Solid angles of approach and really nice first step off the bat help Brooks play fast in the outfield. Arm strength appears to be average, but his range makes him an interesting follow going forward. 

 

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