By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The 2016 Top Prospect Games took place on June 14-15 and afforded more than 150 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and numerous college coaches in a combination showcase/game play event.

CLICK HERE to view the top statistical performers and statistics for all players in attendance.

The following is an in depth look at the position players from Team 1 (Royal) which included several standout performers. Please note that this is position player analysis only. Those position players who also pitched at the event will have their pitching performance featured in a subsequent article.

middle infielders

Kyle Gammon, SS, Greenup County, 2018
60 Time: 6.95, Position Velocity:  IF-78, Exit Velocity: 88
5-foot-11, 165-pound RHH showed significant jumps in arm strength and bat speed, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, stays quiet and uses loose hands to get the barrel consistently through the zone, impressed in BP with several hard line drives, flashes occasional pop, went 1-for-3 with a single to center field in game play, have seen slightly better 60 time (6.81). Has soft hands and displays good body control defensively, shorter high-3/4 release with accurate throws across the diamond. Gammon  is a good athlete with baseball skills to match.

Alec Brothers, SS, Desales, 2017
60 Time: 7.15, Position Velocity:  IF-71, Exit Velocity: 83
5-foot-10, 165-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance with minimal stride, stays quiet with a simple approach and a short, compact swing that produces line drive contact to all fields, had an impressive day in game play going 3-for-4 with a double to left field and a stolen base. Shows soft defensive hands and fluid lateral movement, uses athleticism well, has a quick exchange and short ¾ release that helps make up some for below average arm strength, profiles best as a second baseman with good offensive and defensive ability at the next level.

corner infielders

Alex Atkins, 1B/LHP, North Oldham, 2019
60 Time: 7.20, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 85
6-foot-3, 175-pound LHH with long and lean frame and significant room to fill out, hits from a balanced stance and uses a big load back of front foot to initiate swing, generates well above average bat speed for age, creates some lift at contact and shows good power to the pull side, went 0-for-3 in game play. Defensively, shows some athleticism at the first base position, soft hands and above average feet, accurate throws. Atkins has the potential to be a top left-handed power bat in the 2019 class as he continues to get physically stronger.

Bryson Bloomer, 3B, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 2017
60 Time: 7.33, Position Velocity:  IF-83, Exit Velocity: 83
6-foot-1, 185-pound RHH was attending his first PBR event and had a solid showing. Has a strong/athletic frame. Hits from a balanced/wide base with minimal stride, has strength in swing that translates to occasional power, ball jumps off the barrel with some lift when he squares it up, gap to gap approach, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single. Has athletic actions at third base with soft hands, arm strength is an asset at the third base position. Bloomer is a solid Class of 2017 prospect.

Aaron Burden, 3B/RHP, Elizabethtown, 2018
60 Time: 7.77, Position Velocity:  IF-79, Exit Velocity: 81
6-foot-2, 200-pound RHH with strong frame, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, has a long swing path that works uphill, went 0-for-3 in game play, showed a slight improvement in 60 time and exit velocity. Shows good hands defensively with above average body control, long high-3/4 release produces solid arm strength across the infield with mostly accurate throws.

catchers

Jackson Campbell, C/OF, Logan County, 2017
60 Time: 6.77, Pop Time: 1.85-1.90, Position Velocity:  C-76, OF-85, Exit Velocity: 99
5-foot-10, 175-pound RHH possesses significant quick-twitch athleticism, ran second best 60-yard time of the event and posted the top exit velocity, hits from a wide base and rocks back to load, shows some quickness in hands that generate bat speed, flashes occasional power for size, went 0-for-3 in game play making opposite field contact twice. Stands out defensively behind the plate, uses athleticism to his advantage, extremely quick transfer, release, and feet produced the top pop time of the event, throws were very accurate with carry to the bag. Shows solid defensive ability as an outfielder as well with athletic actions and good arm strength.

Brayden Burch, C, Beechwood, 2018
60 Time: 8.45, Pop Time: 2.00-2.06, Position Velocity:  C-72, Exit Velocity: 77
6-foot, 175-pound RHH hits from a slightly open stance, big load back with a leg kick trigger, lower half movement leads to foot getting down late at times, shows ability to square the baseball when timing is in sync, went 1-for-3 in game play with a bloop single to RF. Showed a good jump in arm strength from previous event and significant improvement in pop times, quick transfer and release, made mostly accurate throws to the bag, showed solid receiving and blocking ability.

outfielders

Thomas Larson, OF/3B, Families of Faith Christain (IL), 2017
60 Time: 7.02, Position Velocity:  OF-86, IF-86, Exit Velocity: 94
6-foot-2, 195-pound RHH possesses a strong and athletic frame, hits from a balanced stance and uses a leg kick to initiate swing, creates significant lift at contact, impressed in BP with strength-generated bat speed and power to all fields, went 0-for-3 in game play. Arm strength stands out defensively both in the outfield and at third base with long over the top arm action, made very accurate throws with carry from both positions, versatile player who likely projects best as a corner outfielder.

Trey Eden, OF, Madison Central, 2018
60 Time: 6.97, Position Velocity:  OF-81, Exit Velocity: 88
6-foot, 160-pound RHH continues to show a good combination of speed, arm strength, and offensive ability. Lean frame with room to fill out. Hits from a slightly open stance with a short stride, stays quiet in the box and produces good bat speed through the zone with a line drive, gap to gap approach, had an impressive round of BP, didn’t quite register his best 60 time (6.85 previously), went 1-for-4 in game play making hard contact in a few at bats. Shows athletic actions and works through the ball aggressively, long arm action and over the top release produce above average arm strength, made very accurate throws to the third base bag.

Brandon Tucker, OF, St. Xavier, 2019
60 Time: 7.12, Position Velocity:  OF-85, Exit Velocity: 85
5-foot-8, 150-pound RHH improved every measurable from winter event, has athletic frame that will fill out, hits from a balanced stance and loads back, initializes swing with slight leg kick, swing plane produces line drive contact to the gaps, shows some quickness in hands that produces above average bat speed, went 0-for-4 in game play making contact in each at bat. Plays through the ball aggressively, good set up on fly balls, long arm action and high-3/4 release produces very good arm strength for age, throws have very accurate on-line carry. Tucker is potential high-level 2019 prospect.