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The summer 2018 West Virginia Showcase event schedule got underway on July 5th with the Southern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase in Charleston. 28 prospects gathered on the campus of the University of Charleston to put themselves on the recruiting radar.  Today we conclude our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2019.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Jacob Watters, 2019, Bland County (VA), RHP

6-foot-5 200-pound, right-hander presents with a long, athletic frame. Delivery is low effort  with loose arm action and is  repeated well.. Excellent scapular load and shoulder/hip separation are achieved. There is solid balance and rhythm. FB sat 89-91 mph touching 92 with late life. CB was commanded inconsistently but flashed tight spin, late,sharp break and good depth with 11/4 shape. Splitter at 76-77 remains work in progress. Watters present velocity, with more in the tank, combined with frame and arm action make him an interesting sleeper in Class of 2019

Connor Fizer, 2019, St. Albans, RHP/OF

Defensively, actions are athletic in getting behind and playing through the ball. Shows a soft, confident glove hand in attacking the ball on the ground. Quick twitch abilities are demonstrated by 6.87 60-yard dash time. Fizer would benefit from raising his arm slot on throws from the OF.

Offensively, the 6-foot-2 175-pound, right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Weight shift is aggressive followed by an abbreviated hip turn. Hands are loose and achieve good barrel whip. Bat path is flat and Fizer consistently squared ball to pull side during his round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 82 mph was recorded. 

On the mound, the right-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot showing ability to repeat a moderate effort delivery. Arm action is loose. Stride foot lands excessively closed compromising ability to drive over front side. Fastball was up to 81 mph and true. Curveball at 64-65 showed 11/5 shape and moderate depth while being commanded. Changeup was thrown with good sell and solid run/sink at 71-74.

Drake Mullins, 2019, Bluefield, C/RHP

Defensively, glove hand is soft in framing and receiving. There is considerable athleticism in large frame with presentation of soft wall and solid lateral agility in blocking. Throwing motion is shorter than when last seen and feet are quick. There is some length to transfer. 74 mph arm strength out of the crouch played to a 2.10 POP time.

Offensively the 6-foot-2 200-pound, right handed-hitter initiates his swing from a neutral set up with a controlled stride staying neutral. Separation, weight shift and hip turn are solid. Balance and rhythm are present. Hands work directly and swing is short. There is substantial head movement. An event best 90 mph bat exit velocity was registered.

Sam Ingram, 2019, Winfield, OF/RHP

Defensively, shows athletic actions in getting behind and playing through the ball. Reads and routes are adequate. Foot speed is advanced registering an event best 6.71 in the 60-yard dash. An accurate 75 mph arm was present on throws from the OF.

Offensively, the 6-foot 165 pound, right-handed hitter Initiates swing from a neutral set up with an aggressive knee to knee leg kick and stride to neutral. Separation is adequate. Weight shift is solid followed by a passive hip turn. There was difficulty being on time on this day. A bat exit velocity of 75 mph was recorded.

On the mound, works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot with excellent balance and rhythm. Low effort delivery is easily repeated. Arm action is long and loose. Fastball sat 79-82 mph with considerable arm side run/sink. Curveball at 68-69 although inconsistently commanded, at best flashed 11/5 shape with sharp break and good depth. Changeup at 73-77 remains work in progress.

Luke Ellis, 2019, Cabell Midland, RHP

7/5/18 6-foot-1 185-pound, right-hander works out of mid 3/4 arm slot showing ability to repeat low effort delivery. He strides closed creating crossfire action. Solid balance and rhythm are present. There is developing arm quickness with fastball at 81-83 mph and being cut to both sides of the plate. Curveball sat 73-75 with with late, sharp break and moderate depth. Changeup at 78 mph is thrown with reasonable sell and subtle sink. Splitter at 73-74 flashed late, sharp glove side lateral movement. Ellis' overall presentation makes him an arm to follow in Class of 2019.

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Tanner Buchanan, 2019, Greater Beckley Christian, RHP/SS

Defensively, actions are athletic. Feet work well to and through the ball creating optimal hops and angles. Hands are soft in funneling out front and bottom up. Throwing motion has length. An accurate 81 mh arm on throws across the diamond was demonstrated. 

Offensively, the 6-foot-180-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift and replace stride. Separation is reduced by a passive weight shift. Hip turn is aggressive and swing pah is steep. There is feel for the barrel and a bat exit velocity of 86 mph was registered.

On the mound, the right-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot demonstrating balance, rhythm and the ability to repeat a moderate effort delivery. Hip coil contributes to deception and lower half mechanics are solid. Fast ball was up to 80 mph with subtle arm side run. Curve ball at 67-68 showed 11/6 shape and moderate depth. Change up was thrown with reasonable sell and inconsistent command at 71-74. Slider at 74 mph remains a developing pitch.

Andrew Allen, 2019, Mingo Central, SS

Defensively, actions are athletic. Hands are soft and confident in funnelling bottom up. Transfer is clean and throwing motion is quick. There is tendency to play the ball deep. Arm strength of 72 mph on throws across the diamond may precipitate a move to the right side of the infield. 

Offensively, the 5-foot-11 140-pound, right-handed hitter initiates swing from wide, neutral set up with a short stride to open. There is tendency to reach with stride leg and land stiffly. Hip turn and weight shift are adequate and there is barrel feel with a bat exit velocity of 72 mph recorded.

Jordan Batten, 2019, Parkersburg, 3B/SS

Defensively, hands and feet are adequate. Throwing motion is long. Batten would benefit from benefit from playing lower while being more aggressive in attacking the ball. He registered arm strength of 74 mph on throws across the diamond.

Offensively, the 5-foot-10 180-pound, right-handed hitter initiates swing from wide neutral set up with short stride staying neutral.Separation is adequate. Weight shift and hip turn are solid. There is balance and rhythm. Swing is short with hands working directly. A bat exit velocity of 80 mph was registered. 

Kyle Newmeyer, 2019, Wheeling Central Catholic, 3B/RHP

Defensively, hands and feet are adequate. There is intermittent tendency to work top down. Throwing motion has length. Arm strength of 69 mph across the diamond may predicate a move to 1B.

Offensively, the 5-foot-10 195 pound, right handed-hitter initiates his swing from open set up with pronounced knee to knee leg kick and stride staying open. Weight shift is adequate followed by a passive hip turn. Swing has length. an 87 mph bat exit velocity was registered. 

On the mound, the right-hander works out of a mid to high 3/4 arm slot with some difficulty in repeating his moderate effort delivery. Fastball sat 69-72 mph and was cut tu glove side. Curveball at 51-53 had 11/5 shape and rolling action. Changeup at 60 was thrown with reasonable sell. Slider at 57-58 demonstrated 11/4 shape and subtle tilt.

Jay Poindexter, 2019, Nitro, OF

Defensively, is decisive in reads and tkes direct routes. Poindexter consistently gets behind baseball and plays through. He ran a 7.16 60-yard dash and threw 76 mph from the OF.

Offensively, 5-foot-11 190-pound, right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with knee to knee leg kick and stride to neutral. Separation an weight shift are adequate. Hands are dropped in slotting and there is length to swing. A bat exit velocity of 76 mph was recorded.

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