Prep Baseball Report

Top Gun Baseball Scout Day/Tryout: Quick Hits


Austin Sharp
Director of Scouting

OXFORD, AL-- PBR Alabama and Top Gun Baseball combined this Saturday to host a scout day for the travel organization while also serving as a tryout for players wanting to join Top Gun next year. Players went through a pro-style workout with pitchers throwing in a bullpen after. There were some very impressive players in attendance, most of which you can find on Twitter at #TGScoutDay. Let's take a look at some of the top performers from Saturday.

 

+ In the earlier session, '23 MIF Peyton Watts (Oxford) continued to standout at PBR events, as he's done all summer. Hitting from the left-side, Watts has one of the more pure & polished swings in the 2023 Alabama class. Barrel really stays on plane and consistently made hard contact. Showed some pull side juice during BP with some more power that we've seen at previous events. A sure-handed defender, Watts posted the top infield velocity of the event at 87 mph from shortstop. Feet work well on the infield and will only get better as he adds strength to his frame.

+ One 2023 that we were excited to check out was 3B/RHP Cole Edwards (Spain Park), who put on a show during BP. Added some notable strength to his 6-foot-3, 180 pound build with potential for more down the road. Looked to pull during BP, Edwards hit multiple balls deep to the warning track. A player who really stands out due to his physicality and used it to his strength during the workout.

+ '23 SS/RHP Evan Smallwood (Spain Park) is another young prospect for the Jaguars that has a great future ahead of him. Took a business-like approach to the plate during BP, as he consistently showed the ability to hit hard-line drives up the middle. Going to continue to progress down the road as he adds more strength, as he is already an excellent athlete. Love his approach to the game and was a top performer at the event.

+ '23 3B/1B Austin Wilson (Shelby County) is another physical specimen that used that 6-foot-3, 200 pound strength to his advantage during BP. Mashed balls to his pull side and show the ability to lift. Ball comes off the bat very loud. Controlled aggression that the plate. Had a great high school season for Shelby County HS before they got shut down this spring.

+ A big surprise at the event both at the plate and on the mound was '23 1B/LHP Gabriel Young (Mountain Brook). From the left-side of the plate, Young showed some present pull side strength with at least two balls leaving the yard during BP. Whippy barrel and packs a punch in that 5-foot-10, 165 pound frame. 92 mph exit velo at the event. Showed some present pitchability during his bullpen while running his fastball up to 80 mph.

+ '23 C/SS Cade Carr (Hoover) had one of, if not the, best performance of the day out of both sessions. Have seen Carr at multiple events over the past couple years and he continues to get better at each look. The bat really played well during BP, as he showcased a line-drive approach to the gaps and barreled up almost every ball. Compact frame at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds that has gotten more physical. Good defender behind the plate that handled arms very well during the bullpen session. Posted an event-leading 1.91-1.98 pop times. Definitely one to watch in our upcoming 2023 Player Rankings.

+ It was a quick turnaround for '25 SS/RHP Eli Bozeman (Oxford), who was on Team Alabama 13u at last week's PBR Junior Future Games. Listed at 6-foot, 145 pounds, Bozeman showed an advanced BP round for his age. Polished swing for a 2025, displayed a line-drive approach with balls hit hard to the gaps. Generates some above average bat speed. Up to 79 mph last week on the mound. Great future ahead for Bozeman.

+ After showing well at this summer's Underclass Games, '23 MIF Miles Mitchell (Helena) continued to impress at this event. Hitting from the right-side, Mitchell showed some pull side juice during BP but displayed the ability to go the other way. Confident in the box. Possesses very good barrel awareness and defends at a high level up the middle.

+ One player that just continues to show up at PBR events and rake is '23 1B Connor Wilson (Cherokee County). Generates some elite bat speed for his age at the plate. Crushed multiple balls during BP, at least two of which left the yard to LCF. Physical with the bat. Loves to hit and a big fan of the approach at the dish.

+ Listed as a switch-hitter, '22 C/1B Brent Honaker (Ohatchee) had one of the loudest rounds of any session from the left-side during BP. Ball comes off the bat hot, left the yard to his pull side multiple times with others landing at the warning track. Posted an event-best 94 mph exit velo from the left-side of the plate.

 

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