Prep Baseball Report

Quick Hits: Natural State Games


Brian Walker

The Natural State Games had many breakout performances from the 2019-2022 classes represented. Here are some quick hits from yesterday's showcase and games from Fayetteville High School.

+2019 OF Javii Goins ran an unbelievable 6.31 60 on his second attempt

+8 other players ran Sub 7 60 and one player from each age group. 2019 Grant Patterson, 2019 Asa Smith, 2019 Jae Kim, 2020 Wes Sutton, 2021 Asher Hastings, 2021 Eli Reichert, 2021 JT Bardwell, and 2022 Jackson Mullen.

+2019 OF Aaron Hogue had an impressive day in batting practice and in the game as he showed an advanced feel for the barrel making consistent hard contact.

+2020 SS/RHP Grant Shahan showed big power in batting practice to go along with the game as he added a bomb to left field in the game.

+2019 OF Asa Smith showed great control in all aspects of his game, taking an advanced batting practice along with a couple good at bats in the game.

+2019 C Grant Patterson showed a raw skill set but plenty of projectable pieces to his game. He led the throwing portion with a 1.89 pop time to go along with running a 6.71 in the 60 and posting exit velo of 92.

+2022 SS/2B Jackson Mullen picked up where he left off in the Junior Future Games as he had a solid day all around. A complete player that had two knocks in the game and made every play on defense. Also posted his best 60 as he ran a 6.97.

+ 2021 OF Eli Reichert continues to develop his skill set. He is an athletic frame with upside as he continues to fill out his frame.

+2020 1B Jared Toler took one of the loudest BP’s of the day launching balls to the pull side. Coming off some time off for minor injury he looked very comfortable moving around on the field and especially in the batters box.

+2019 RHP Logan Grant posted the best fastball velocity as he showed a heavy sinker getting hitters to swing and miss and hit ground balls in his two innings of work.

+2019 OF Jae Kim had an impressive day both in the showcase and the game. He notched two hits during the game to go along with a solid batting practice and above average run tool.

+2021 LHP/OF JT Bardwell showed well both on the mound and at the plate. He continues to impress each time we see him.

+2020 INF Wes Sutton had a good day coming in second in the arm strength portion of the infielders workout and running one of the 8 sub 60 times and adding two hits during the game. Athletic infielder with upside to his frame.

+ Left handed hitting outfielders 2020 Logan Lightner and 2021 Roger Alexander both had good rounds of BP. Lightner showing gap to gap approach and Alexander showing pull side power.

+2020 RHP/SS Rally Miller took a solid BP and showed advanced feel for his breaking ball in his inning of work.

+2019 RHP Brody Ammons showed a heavy boaring sinker in his two innings of work pounding the zone with strikes.