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Future/Junior Future Games Trials: Quick Hits

May 24, 2021
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director


 

The Future/Junior Future Games Trials took place this past Sunday, May 23rd, at Spain Park High School in Birmingham, AL. This event hosted a wide variety of players in different classes, ranging from 2022's-2026's at the event. All of these players aimed toward potentially earning an invite to the Future Games for 2023-2024 players, Junior Future Games for 2025-2026 players, and the Southeast Unsigned Senior Games for players in the 2022 class. All three of these events mentioned are prestigious events that are played at LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, GA at the end of July. 

There were numerous players that made an impressive case to earn an invite to the previously stated events above, both players we had seen before and other players who were a pleasant surprise. Beginning the post-event coverage for the Future/Junior Future Games Trials, we will be going back and taking a look at some of the top performers from this event today. Keep an eye out for the statistical leaderboards coming out tomorrow (Tuesday) and individual scouting reports for each player coming later in the week.

 

Quick Hits

 

+ SS Marc Stephens (2022, Gulf Shores) comes into the summer after a standout year for 6A Gulf Shores, where hit at the top of that lineup and played shortstop the whole year. Listed a medium 6-0, 180-pounds, Stephens took arguably the most professional and mature round of BP of the whole event. Consistently on the barrel with hard line drives back up the middle and to the pull side. Displayed some short, quick hands, which worked well to get to the pitch on the inner-half of the plate with ease. Defensively, the uncommitted rising senior showcased some steady hands and smooth feet up the middle. Ran a 7.31 60 YD, posted an 81 mph on throws across the infield, and an exit velocity of 90 mph. Although the numbers don’t jump off the chart, Stephens has shown time-after-time that he can produce at the highest level (Class 6A) at the plate and up the middle.

SS Marc Stephens (5/23/21)

 

+ RHP Jonathan “Jono” Stevens (2023, Briarwood Christian) was one of the few “pitcher-only’s” to go through this workout, but the rising junior showed some of the best stuff of the day. A 6-1, 180-pound right-handed hurler, Stevens consistently pounded the zone with three pitches for strikes. Fastball worked mainly around 86-87, but ran it up to 88 mph on one of his last few pitches. Slider looked a lot better in this look at 76-79 mph that showed late, downer action with spin up to 2400 rpm’s. Changeup at 83-84 mph also has potential to be a solid third offering, as a few more ticks down in mph on the pitch could increase swings and misses. Regarded as one of the top right-handed pitches in his class, and could be a big breakout candidate this summer.

RHP Jonathan "Jono" Stevens (5/23/21)

 

+ C/OF Taylor Bush (2022, Oak Mountain) had one of the biggest days at the plate with a loud round of BP at the event. Strong 6-1, 185-pounder that looked like a catcher with his physique. Strong forearms/hands translated well into his BP round, where he posted the top exit velocity of the event at 96 mph. Slightly uphill plane with intent to drive balls into the gaps with authority. Consistently was on the barrel, and had a max distance of 358 ft., per Trackman. Strong lower-half with quick hips allows him to hip for some power to the gaps. Also some impressive numbers using our Blast Motion sensors with a max rotational acceleration at 23.00 G’s. Impressive day for the uncommitted rising senior.
C Taylor Bush (5/23/21)

 

+ 1B/RHP Hunter Morton (2025) certainly does not look like your average rising freshman with a 6-2, 175-pound frame that exudes advanced physicality for his age. Mashed balls to the gaps with carry from the right side, and posted a 91.4 mph exit velocity during his BP round. Whippy barrel with a quick recoil. Although a physical frame, Morton looks fairly athletic for his size in the box, as well. Hopped on the mound after his BP round and ran his fastball up to 81 mph with feel for a 66 mph slurvish-type breaking ball with spin into the 2300 rpm’s. Changeup offered promise at 71-72 with late fading action. Big day for the rising freshman.

1B/RHP Hunter Morton (5/23/21)

 

+ OF/RHP Riley Miller (2024, Athens) was arguably the best surprise of the day, as the rising sophomore seemingly did it all at the event. Still a lean 6-0, 165-pound frame, that didn’t stop Miller from putting up some of the best numbers of the day. Opened up the day by showing some athleticism with a 7.01 60 YD (laser-timed), and proceeded to pepper balls into the pull side gap during his BP round with hard line drives. Creates plenty of torque with solid front foot/hand separation and fires quick hands for his age through the zone on the contact. Repeatable swing with a quick bat. Top 6 in average bat speed at 69.05 mph on our Blast Motion sensors. Also registered the top outfield velocity of the day at 86 mph, and hopped on the mound and worked up to 82 mph with solid secondary offerings out of the stretch. Stock up for the rising sophomore after a big day.

OF/RHP Riley Miller (5/23/21)

 

+ 1B Tucker Arrington (2024, Thompson) continues to make big strides each time we see him. A 5-11, 195-pound frame that continues to become more refined, while still maintaining physicality, stood out in all facets of the game at the event. Left-handed hitter with a balanced setup, showed a mature approach being able to sit back and drive the outer-half pitch the other way, and mash balls over the plate back up the middle with consistent upper-80’s exit velocities. Keeps the weight back and fires a strong lower-half through contact. Mature hitter that should only continue to get better as he fills out over the next few years.

1B Tucker Arrington (5/23/21)

 

+ 3B Brady Waugh (2023, Briarwood Christian) was another rising junior that posted an impressive round of BP at the event. Left-handed hitter with a 5-11, 175-pound frame, quick stroke with a level path allows him to hit for line drives and solid contact throughout the round. Worked up to a top exit velocity of 88 mph on the Trackman with consistent mid-80’s. Also posted one of the top line drive percentages on the Trackman on the day at 50%. Near the top of the leaderboard in the average rotational acceleration at 16.48 G’s. Plenty to like here as a hitter with continued physical growth and maturity.

3B Brady Waugh (5/23/21)

 

+ OF Cade Belyeu (2023, Auburn) jumped out at the event with multiple tools showcased with a 6-3, 190-pound frame. Left-handed hitting outfielder that showed off athleticism by running the second-best 60 YD (laser-timed) of the event at 6.97. Barreled up most pitches he saw during his BP round with deep fly balls to the power alleys. Starts with an open stance before gradually getting back to square with a minor leg kick, and used the quickest hands at the event to hit. Posted the best average bat speed at 72.65 mph, the best max hand speed at 25.20 mph and the best average hand speed at 24.45 mph on our Blast Motion sensors.

OF Cade Belyeu (5/23/21)

 

+ C Mikey Vanderheyden (2025, GW Long) jumped out this past week at the Class 2A State Championship Series in Montgomery playing catcher and hitting in a talented GW Long lineup, and he continued to showcase well into this event. Lean, athletic 5-9, 150-pound backstop who showed maturity by spraying balls back up the middle with an uphill, fluid bat path. Had the best on-plane efficiency out of any player at the event at 90%. Advanced actions behind the plate with excellent receiving and blocking skills for his age. Posted 2.16-2.22 pop times, and those will obviously improve with continued growth and maturity as a prospect. Chance to become a big-time prospect over the next four years.

C Mikey Vanderheyden (5/23/21)

 

+ OF Rick McBride III (2024, Montgomery Academy) put together another impressive day at the event, but easily the biggest thing that jumps out for the rising sophomore was the 6.63 laser-timed 60 YD he posted to start the day. Excellent athleticism in a lean 5-10, 150-pound frame that drove line drives back up the middle and to the back side during his round of BP. Displayed some arm strength on throws from the outfield at 79 mph, but can cover a ton of ground with the 6.63 speed. A lot to like here in the future with continued added physicality and improvement.


 

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
All-State Games (Invite-Only) AL 6/8 Troy University
Underclass Games (Invite-Only) AL 6/22 Choccolocco Park
Top Prospect Games (Invite-Only) AL 6/23 Choccolocco Park
PBR at The Hank AL 7/6 Hank Aaron Stadium (Mobile, AL)
Southeast Unsigned Senior Games (Invite-Only) AL 7/27 LakePoint Sports Complex (Emerson, GA)
PBR Future Games (Invite-Only) AL 7/28 LakePoint Sports Complex (Emerson, GA)
PBR Junior Future Games (Invite-Only) AL 7/28 LakePoint Sports Complex (Emerson, GA)

 

 

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