Player Spotlight 

Tate Jones: 2B/C, (2022) Perryville, AR. 5-foot-9, 160-pound lean frame. Athletic during batting practice, Jones clocked an exit velocity of 87 mph. Begins in a balanced open stance with a quick smooth load, then uses a leg kick. Bat speed was above average, used a short uphill swing plane and high finish. Barreled up multiple balls with loud contact. Line drive approach. Advanced while in the infield, made throws up to 76 mph; has a quick clean exchange, athletic rhythmic feet, and soft consistent hands. Fields the ball out front, movements laterally were athletic. Consistent accuracy to the bases, used a long arm action with a high ¾ slot. Projectable on the mound, showed a long arm action and a ¾ arm angle with quick arm speed Feel type pitcher who uses easy effort. Has even shoulder with an athletic balance point. Lands square with an athletic finish. Produced a fastball that came in at 74-77 mph; showed control around the zone with straight movement. His 11/5 curveball (62-63) had early action and in the zone control. Shows very consistent command and late action on his tight changeup (66-68). His tight slider (64-66) had command around the zone and slight action. 

Scout Evaluation 

Tate Jones, Perryville, 2022, AR

Position: 2B/C

Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pound lean frame.

Hit: (RHH) Started in a balanced open stance with a quick smooth load, then used a leg kick. Above average bat speed. High finish, short uphill swing. Line drive approach. 

Power: 87 mph exit velocity. 

Defense:  (IF) Soft consistent hands, athletic rhythmic footwork, quick clean exchange. Advanced.  Fielded the ball out front with athletic movement laterally. 

Arm: 76 mph infield velocity. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, consistent accuracy. 

Pitching: Projectable. Feel delivery, easy effort. ¾ arm angle, quick arm speed, long arm action. Athletic balance point, even shoulders, lands square, an athletic finish.

FB: T77. 74-77 mph. Around the zone accuracy, straight movement. 

CB: 62-63 mph. In the zone control, early action, 11/5 shape. 

CH: 66-68 mph. Very consistent control, late action, tight movement. 

SL: 64-66 mph. Around the zone command, slight action, tight movement. 

5-Foot-9, 150-Pound frame, lean frame with room to fill out, ran a 7.20, Offensively; open set up, leg lift, to stride barrel cocked at foot strike, back knee leerages underneath, uphill swing, short finish, pull side power, 83 mph exit velo, Defensively; active feet, fingers down to field, funnel to midline, big arm swing, average carry, 71 mph arm strength.

Pitching: over the top slot, average arm speed, short ar action, good balance point, easy effort, smooth delivery, level shoulders, clean glove arm, angled fastball, even land, fall to 1b after release, repeats delivery strike thrower, fastball 66-68 mph, straight action controlled in zone, curveball 59 mph, 11-5 shape, early action, gradual break, fastball arm speed, threw in zone.

Perryville High School, Class of 2022; 5-foot-8, 140-pound athletic frame; 2B/RHP. At the plate, the right-handed hitter had an exit velocity of 76 mph. Setup is comprised of a smooth load and open stance. Showed a flat swing plane, and his bat speed was above average. While in the infield, made throws at velocities up to 70 mph; showed quick feet and sure hands. Showed a high ¾ slot and a short arm action. During the event, he ran the 60-yard dash in 7.54. On the mound, he used a short arm action with an over-the-top arm angle. He is a tall-and-fall type pitcher and shows easy effort in his delivery. His curveball (58-59 mph) had the most depth when he located it down by the hitter’s knees; throws his 12/6 curveball with consistent accuracy. His changeup regularly came in at velocities of 56-57 mph; threw a running changeup that had some action. His fastball was 66-68 mph, controlling the zone.

5-Foot-8, 140-Pound frame, thin frame with room for strength, ran a 7.99, Offensively; open set, leg lift to stride, starts open stays open, backside over rotates to contact, and rhythm to hit, barrel works away from body, loses stability in front foot to contact, short swing, short pull side finish, line drive swing, 74 mph exit velo, Defensively; deep field, squat to field, fingers up to field, late left foot, long arm action, average carry, 68 mph arm strength.

Pitching; high ¾ slot, average arm seed, short arm action, good balance point, easy effort, smooth rhythm, closed toe land, strong front side action with glove arm, fastball 68-71 mph, straight with angled action, curveball 55-59 mph, 11-5 shape, early action, gradual break, fastball arm speed, rolls out of hand, change up 65-66 mph, fastball arm speed, straight action, control zone.

5-Foot-8, 135 Pound frame, Ran a 7.72 60, Offensively; open stance leg lift to stride lands open clear front side early, barrel cocked at foot strike limited backside rotation slight raise to hit, short stroke short finish, 76 mph exit velo, Defensively; Attacks ball, squat to field, fields off left side, funnel to midline, long arm stroke, over the top slot, late left foot to field, average carry, 69 mph arm strength.

Pitching; high ¾ slot, average arm speed, short arm action, good balance point easy effort, smooth rhythm, fastball 69-73 mph, straight with slight action at the plate, threw for strikes, pulled at times to glove side, curveball 56-58 mph, rolls out of hand, 11-5 shape, early action, gradual break, fastball arm speed, threw for strikes, underneath at times, slider 68-79 mph, cutter type action, same plane, limited movement, change up 64-66, fastball arm speed, arm side run at plate, inside elbow at release, threw for strikes.