Prep Baseball Report

VA/DC Scout Blog: Liberty Christian


Jason Burton
Scouting Director PBR Virginia/DC

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We take a look at some video and notes on six players from my two looks at the Liberty Christian Bulldogs.


Liberty Christian Academy

 

Benjamin Blair RHP / SS / Liberty Christian Academy , VA / 2023

The Liberty commit is a Future Games Team, Mid-Atlantic alum from 2021. Really enjoy watching Blair pitch. Really long wiry frame, low three-quarter slot, and has the stuff to be a guy at Liberty in the long run. The Flames staff does such a good job with the development of their arms and I think this is a high ceiling arm that will do well there. Was up to 93 early on and settled in the 88-91 range. Feel for the slider was not there early, but it got better as he got deeper into the outing. Showed a curveball as well, but the slider was the better of the two. Showed a 82-83 mph changeup with average feel. The fastball was the best pitch on the day, getting whiffs in the zone and the ability to finish counts with it as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Landon Owen RHP / 3B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2024

Owen came on in relief on Saturday. Was pretty efficient in the zone, working mostly fastballs and breaking balls for strikes. Owen has a higher effort, high intent delivery and profiles more as a bullpen arm. In his first inning sat 81-83 with the fastball and would later fade just a touch to the 78-81 range. The breaking ball had more of a slurvy shape at 70-73 mph. Owen threw the breaking ball for strikes at a pretty regular rate and got some swings and misses, as well as uncomfortable takes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Will Palmer LHP / OF / Liberty Christian academy, VA / 2023

The Campbell commit was strong in his start on Saturday. The senior left-hander sat 85-87 through his first three innings of work and touched 88 multiple times in the first two innings. The feel for the breaking ball was not there early, but he established it a little more consistently in the third and fourth innings. He creates solid angle in to right handed hitters with the fastball, as well as showing some late life and run to the arm side. That arm side run got some chases off the plate from right handers. The breaking ball was 70-71 with more gradual 1/7 shape and had the ability to kill spin with a 76-77 mph changeup. 

 

 

 

 

Boston Torres OF / Liberty Christian, VA / 2023

Absolutely love this bat. He only had one hit in the two games I saw him, but seems like he is always on barrel and very rarely swings and misses. Easy load, rhythm in the hands, and really solid barrel control. Going to be a big piece for LCA this spring that could drive them back to another deep playoff run. 

 

 

 

 

Matt Vine SS / RHP / Liberty Christian, VA / 2023

An uncommitted senior infielder. Vine has solid actions in the infield with the ability to stay in the dirt. Could move around and contribute in multiple spots in the infield at the next level and has carry on throws across the infield. Higher set hands at the plate, level path, contact bat, and has some doubles power in the gaps. Had a two for three day on Saturday, as well as another hit in the game on Thursday versus Fluvanna. A solid piece to potentially add late in the '23 class. 

 

 

 

 

Braden Weaver OF / Liberty Christian, VA / 2024

The LCA outfielder had a big day Saturday. Weaver broke the scoring open in the fourth with a solo homerun out of right field that would ignite the Bulldog offense. He would hit a double to right center in his next at bat and scored, extending the LCA lead. Very apparent that Weaver is not afraid to use the backside of the field, with both of those hits coming from the right center gap to the line. Relaxed square stance, simple stride and load, and hands stay inside through the zone.