Puyallup, WA - We conclude our recap of last weekend’s Area Code workout with a look at some of the standout position player performances from Washington. 

While it can be tough to truly grasp what a player is capable of during an indoor workout in late January, it does give us the opportunity to evaluate how a player’s body has matured/developed and see their physical tools. 

Specifically, we get a glimpse at how they look physically, their actions both defensively & in the batter’s box plus their arm strength. Certain tools are easier to evaluate indoors than others. A catcher pop-time will look pretty much the same whether it’s an indoor or outdoor workout. Pop times will typically always be lower in this type of workout setting due to the fact there is nothing else for the catcher to worry about defensively. Outfielders can show off their arm action and footwork, but it’s tricky to evaluate how well they can read a ball off the bat when we’re indoors. Same thing applies for INF. We can get a sense of footwork, glove-hand ability and throwing motion. But we won’t be able to know for sure how they handle all the nuances of the position until we see them perform in-game. 

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the players who caught our attention and break down what specifically stood out. 

CATCHERS

‘21 C Drake Bird, Chelan, uncommitted
We saw Drake earlier this year at a Benz baseball fall workout & he continues to show a consistent and reliable skill set. This time out, we were able to better gauge his pure arm strength from behind the dish. Popped a 1.97 on his best throw down to 2nd during the defensive workout. Arm action gets a bit long/extended at times but he shows quickness out of his crouch with a clean exchange. At the plate, hits from a wide, balanced set-up. Level bat path produces gap-to-gap type of power. Uses strong lower half to stay balanced thru contact. Listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds with a frame that can handle additional weight as he continues to mature. 

‘21 C Jesse Brown, Chief Sealth, UC Santa Barbara
Athletically built with a lean, defined frame at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. Brown took one of the more complete rounds of BP during the workout. Uses a narrow, upright stance in the box with slight knee bend as he goes into a controlled, forward move. As he drifts into landing, the hands stay relaxed & his head reminds quiet. Upper body stay connected as he begins swing, allowing barrel to work inside of the ball. Uphill finish thru contact. Defensively he has plenty of athleticism & quickness to remain behind the dish. Arm path was a bit long on this look but he was consistently around a 2.00 flat on each throw down to 2nd. Reports are that he is an above average runner as well so there is a chance for him to demonstrate some defensive versatility down the road. UC Santa Barbara commit.

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