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PBR Louisiana 2023 Future Games Recap: Standout Pitching Performances

August 1, 2023
Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

The 2023 Future Games have come and passed again, and this year's event was as successful as ever.  Our famous tagline is #BeSeen and the prospects that were in attendance this year were definitely seen, as there was a total of 378 college coaches in attendance.  The week started on Wednesday July 26, 2023 with all prospects participating in a pro-style workout, followed by one game a day from Thursday July 27, 2023 through Saturday July 29, 2023.  This year's Louisiana group finished the Future Games with a 2-0-1 record, earning wins against Alabama and Mississippi, and a tie against Tennessee.  Below, we take a look at some of the top pitching performances from the event.  

 

STANDOUT PITCHING PERFORMANCES

 

+ 2025 RHP Cade Durbin (Parkview Baptist HS)

Wiry 6'0" 155 lbs. frame with plenty of room to add strength.  Durbin was given the ball to start Game 1 and he delivered a brilliant performance, as he went 3 innings and gave up only 1 H and 0 ER with 4 K's.  The Parkview Baptist HS product wasted no time on the mound, before working through an athletic and repeatable delivery, and releasing the ball from a 3/4 slot.  His 83-85 mph had really good ride and life through the zone and definitely played up, but was most impressive, was his ability to move his FB in, out, and up in the zone to both RHH and LHH.  He flashed a 71-72 mph sharp biting "11-5" shape CB with spin rates up to 2866 RPM's, and was able to land it for strikes and swing/miss.  Durbin also landed a quality 73-75 mph CH with late fade as well.  He's young for his class, can throw 3 pitches for strikes, and has MLB bloodlines.

+ 2025 LHP Bryce Wilson (Chalmette HS)

The Chalmette HS product has enjoyed a really good summer and he showed no signs of slowing down at last week's Future Games.  Wilson came in relief in the 3rd inning of Game 2 vs. Tennessee and turned in a fantastic outing, as he tossed 3 shutout innings giving up only 1 H with 4 K's.  The southpaw has a repeatable and athletic delivery with a compact arm stroke, and releases the ball from a 3/4-low 3/4 slot.  His FB sat in the 83-87 mph range and the pitch played up in game and saw nearly double digit in zone misses, thanks to his average spin rate of 2400-2450 RPM's on the pitch.  Wilson's FB command was excellent as well, as he was able to move his FB in, out, and up in the zone.  He mixed in a "2-8" shaped CB at 70-72 mph that he was able to land for strikes and bury for swing & miss, and he was also able to kill spin with a late fading 77-78 mph CH.

+ 2025 LHP Ross Lindsey (Natchitoches Central HS)

Durable 6'1" 185 lbs. frame with a sturdy lower-half.  The Natchitoches HS product was the lone pitcher on the staff who threw in two separate games, as he closed both Game 1 vs. Alabama and Game 2 vs. Tennessee.  Against the boys from Alabama, he came in for 1 inning and gave up 1 H and 0 ER with 1 K, and against the boys from the Volunteer State he gave up 1 H and 1 ER with 2 K's.  Lindsey works from a slower and controlled delivery with a short arm action, releasing the ball from a high 3/4 slot.  His FB sat in the 84-88 mph range with good life and spin rates that averaged 2350 RPM's.  Lindsey's go-to secondary offering was his 78-80 mph CUT that flashed short and tight lateral break, and he also landed a couple of nice 79-80 mph CH with arm-side sink.  

+ 2026 LHP Lucas Lawrence (Catholic BR HS)

Projectable, long, and lean 6'4" 160 lbs. frame with a lot of strength to come.  The southpaw was one of two underclassmen on this year's Louisiana Future Games team, and after his Game 3 performance against Mississippi, he has a lot to build on over the next 12 months.  His final stat line reads 3 IP, 4 H, and 3 ER with 4 K's, but if a couple of "50-50" plays would've gone his way, he would've ended up leaving the mound having give up 0 ER.  Lawrence worked his FB in the 79-81 mph range with classic left-handed arm side sink & run, and with some off-season strength training, there's a good chance that the velocity is going to tick up soon.  He tunneled his 68-70 mph CB well and the offering showed sharp, late bite down in the zone.  Lawrence also pulled the string on a couple of nice 70-72 mph CH as well.  The most impressive thing about his outing was how he responded after giving up a home run in his first inning of work, as he came back out the next two innings to shutout a talented Mississippi lineup.