2020 Future Games: Team TN Outfielders
September 22, 2020
The 2020 PBR Future Games was a major success for the Team Tennessee squad as over 400 of the best uncommitted prospects competed at the Lakepoint Sports Complex. With a loaded roster and big time performances throughout the weekend, the team has had nine players commit over the seven weeks and more on the horizon. Next, we'll breakdown the four outfielders that donned the orange and gray at PBR Future Games.
Team Tennessee:
Outfielders Scout Blog
Kaden Martin, OF/QB1, Knoxville Catholic, 2022
The dual-sport athlete made a lot of noise at the PBR Future Games, leading the event for long distance (412 ft. via Trackman) and one of the top exit velocities at 102.3 mph. Big, physical frame (6-foot-1, 210-pounds) with great explosiveness. One of the premier power lefty bats as he continues to refine his hit tool with more consistency, but the ball jumps off the barrel. Martin committed to rounding out his offensive profile, and made great strides putting together more quality at bats. Picked up two hits, including a deep double into the LCF gap, and drew two walks while scoring once. Good defender at all three OF positions with strong arm and good carry on throws (91 OF Velo). Tossed an inning at Future Games, FB sat 83-86 with more in the tank. Mixed both CB at 69-72 and CH at 75-76, both solid secondary offerings with some upside.
Cade Hitson, OF, Rivderdale, 2022
Any schools looking for a physical left-handed bat-first outfielder might find what they are looking for in Hitson. Compactly-built at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds with some strength throughout, Hitson does not get cheated from the left side where he has a more pronounced leg kick and deeper hands load before quickly working the barrel through the zone with strength on an uphill plane. Great lower half usage in swing, generating good bat speed (Max bat speed: 76.8 mph; Avg: 74.3 mph per Blast) and accelerating well through the zone (Max: 28.5 G; Avg: 23.5 G per Blast) for a lot of hard barrels. He was consistently on-time throughout game play with present pull side power (Max exit velo: 94.5 mph; Max distance: 340 ft per Trackman), and has a chance to develop even more moving forward. Picked up three knocks over the weekend including a deep RBI double to R-CF vs Kentucky. The high-motor that he brought to each day did not go unnoticed, and he may have a chance to develop into a run-producer over time at some level.
Aaron Walton, OF, Brentwood, 2022
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder possesses great athleticism and high-ceiling tools set Tall, lean frame with present strength and good projection. Posted the best sixty time for Team TN with a 6.84, speed translates to gameplay with great range and good burst. At the plate, balanced stance with good rhythm and small leg kick. Generates great bat speed (Max: 73.7 mph; Avg: 73.3 mph per Blast) and solid rotational data (Max: 13.4 G) to go with heavy dose of line drive/fly ball metrics. Consistently barrels up the baseball with loud contact from gap to gap (Max Exit Velo: 95.4 mph; Avg: 84.1 mph per Trackman). Consistent balanced approach in gameplay, working two walks and a single with two runs scored. Defensively, can play all three outfield positions with good tracking skills and strong arm (91 mph OF Velo). Walton, also a WR at Brentwood, pitched it a bit over the summer sitting in the mid 80s and running it up to 87 at PBR Showdown.
Caleb Hampton, OF, Baylor School 2023
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound South Carolina commit has an incredibly high ceiling and showed well at the Future Games. Compact frame with present strength and physicality while maintaining excellent burst. At the dish, simple balanced stance with compact load and moderate leg kick. Generates explosive bat speed (Max: 78.1 mph; Avg: 72.1 mph per Blast) and promising rotational data (Max: 20.4 G; Avg: 15.2 per Blast). The bat path is a touch flat, but none the less some serious gap to gap juice (Max exit velo: 93.5 mph; Max distance: 354 ft per Trackman) from the 23' OF. Produces some strong quality at bats over the weekend with a single, an RBI, and two runs scored. Defensively, flashes the running back skills as a powerful runner (7.10 sixty time) with good range and arm strength (85 OF Velo). Made an impressive shoestring grab in shallow LF vs Indiana. Can play all three OF positions and be a consistent high ceiling contributor in the lineup at the next level.