Trae
Harmon

A late addition for Orleans, joining the Firebirds two weeks into July, but the big-bodied masher made the most out of his half-season by slashing .357/.419/.518 over 62 plate appearances (which would have been good enough for first in average, fourth in on-base and sixth in slugging, leaguewide, had he logged enough at bats to qualify). There’s lots of stiffness in his core, creating big holes in his swing and leading to troubling whiff rates (34% this summer and 28% last spring with Kentucky), but the raw power is legit double-plus and the production was strong enough this summer to buy him some extra attention next spring. He projects as a fifth-to-eighth-round selection next July and will lace-up with Stetson after entering the transfer portal in June.

Caught my eye in batting practice for his brute strength and raw power. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder has super stiff hips and very limited use of his lower half, but he can drive the ball out to all parts of the park using just his arms. He is limited defensively with no real natural position making him a tough sell to pro scouts, but the power is big and will be his carrying tool at the next level.

Big, strong body framed first baseman. University of Kentucky commit is ranked as the No. 4 first baseman in all of the PBR states. The big righty absolutely put on a show during batting practice when he launched 5 homeruns over the wall in left field with his raw power. The thing is his swing doesn’t require a whole lot of effort. Starts his swing from an open stance getting himself squared back up to even with his hands getting into a strong launch position before he swings. It was easy getting distracted from watching his swing when he was launching what looked like golf balls after he hit them. Oh yeah, and he can play first base too. He ran a 7.36 60-yard dash. On the mound he was 88-89 mph and touched 90 mph with easier effort.

Strength and batspeed are both special for his age. Took one of the more impressive batting practices we’ve seen in a long time by putting four balls out of the park, one to dead center field. Is a special talent on the mound but it’d be hard to ignore his potential as a power threat at the next level. Registered an exit velocity of 96 mph and ran a 7.52 60-yard dash. Very athletic for his size and moves well around the bag at first base. Has fluidity to his actions and quickness to his transfer on his double play balls. Threw across the infield with very impressive 86 mph arm strength. Trae has obvious arm talent and ran his fastball up to 90 mph with long, loose arm action. Was able to throw his breaking ball for strikes. Will need to tighten the pitch up as he matures. The scary thing is he still has more room to mature mechanically and physically, making his upside through the roof. Impressed at the plate as well Proved why he is the number one rated player in Kentucky’s 2018 class.  

8/4/15 - 6-foot-3, 225-pound RHP works through a ¾ to high-3/4 arm slot with long arm action, has regular effort in delivery, shows premium velocity for his age, fastball sat 86-87 mph touching 89 on his final pitch of the day, showed a 69-70 mph curveball with short 11/5 action and likes to drop arm slot slightly on 69-71 mph slider with short lateral action, tends to slow arm on 65-70 mph changeup that was erratic and needs further development. Harmon established himself as one of the top arms in Kentucky’s 2018 class at the event. As a position player, right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares up with a leg kick and short stride, generates plus bat speed with strong frame, ball jumps off bat to all fields, consistently barreled the baseball, 98 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.52 60-yard dash. Shows good agility for size defensively, capable hands, long high-3/4 release with accurate throws, good arm strength at 83 mph across the diamond, has potential to be one of the top players in the 2018 class.