Team Louisiana Junior Future Games Recap

August 20, 2019
Walt Jones
Louisiana Assistant Scouting Director

Team Louisiana's 14U Junior Future Games team held its own at the annual national mega-event, despite having only a nine-man roster. The Louisiana Team stood out as a competitive, talented group showing advanced ability throughout the lineup and grabbing attention from college recruiters on hand. Louisiana finished the weekend 2-1 with several players emerging as promising future prospects.

On the mound, the biggest standouts were 2023 right-handed pitchers Brandon Levy (Parkway HS, LA) and Jake LaRocca (Barbe HS, LA) who each tossed 2 innings giving up a combined one run in game one. Levy’s fastball worked 81-84 mph from a high-¾ slot while mixing in a developing 69-71 mph breaking ball with 11/5 shape. LaRocca followed up with another standout performance, pounding the strike zone with his fastball at 80-84mph out of a high-¾ slot, and showed advanced feel to pitch. As well as showing feel for a 67-69 mph breaking ball with 11/5 shape, that flashed out-pitch potential.

Team Louisiana also got quality outings from 2023 RHP Zach Schoenborn (Parkway HS, LA), who ran his fastball up to 80 mph and showed advanced feel for a 70 mph breaking ball. 2023 RHP John Alex Walsh, 2023 RHP Matthew Keller (Zachary HS, LA), and 2023 RHP Evan Hallmark (Oak Forest, LA) also saw time on the mound, each working in the high-70’s with solid off-speed stuff.

Offensively the entire line up contributed with big hits and loud contact all weekend. 2023 IF Matthew Keller (Zachary HS, LA), 2023 IF Brandon Levy (Parkway HS, LA), 2023 IF Jake LaRocca (Barbe HS, LA), 2023 C Zach Schoenborn (Parkway HS, LA) and 2023 3B Reid Snider (St. Louis Catholic HS, LA) all recorded multiple hit games, driving in and scoring runs.

The depth of Team Louisiana’s lineup was on full display in game one of the 2019 PBR Junior Future Games, as six consecutive batters reached base, and was capped off with three consecutive loud extra-base hits. After Walsh, Levy and Schoenborn reached to load the bases, Jake LaRocca tripled to centerfield on a ball that registered a 92 mph exit velocity, followed by a loud double from Reid Snider, and then was finished off with Barnes Williamson (Riverfield Academy HS, LA) blistering a triple over the centerfielder’s head.

Matthew Keller SS / RHP / Zachary, LA / 2023

Compact 5-foot-5, 140-pound frame with room to fill out. Plays with high-motor, advanced feel for the game, top-of-the-order spark plug type. Right-handed hitter hits from a balanced, upright stance, loads with small leg lift, short stride and balanced throughout. Line-drive type hitter with fluid rhythm, short path and quick hands that produced an exit velocity of 77 mph. Athletic defender, instincts and feel for infield play, soft hands and easy actions. Quick, fluid footwork, clean exchanges with medium arm stroke into high-3/4 release with accuracy and solid carry on throws across, produced an infield velocity of 77 mph. Also posted a 7.72 60-yard dash.

Clayton Pourciau C / Catholic(BR), LA / 2023

Strong, compact 5-foot-9, 162-pound frame, athletic build. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup with smooth load, short stride, and quality balance. Line-drive, gap-to-gap approach with fluid rhythm, and simple, direct path to the baseball. Finds the barrel consistently with solid bat speed that posted an exit velocity of 83 mph. Put together quality, productive at-bats all weekend. Advanced defender with strong, durable frame, feel to blocl the baseball, gives strong target. Showed soft hands with quick, clean exchanges and fluid footwork. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with carry and accuracy on throws, posted a positional velocity of 73 mph and consistent pop times from 2.09-2.15-seconds. Also posted a 7.94 60-yard dash time.

John Alex Walsh SS / RHP / Alexandria, LA / 2023

Athletic 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, strong build with room for physical maturity. Plays with confidence, flashed advanced instincts and feel for the game throughout the weekend. Right-handed hitter stands tall and athletic in the box using a moderate leg lift to create momentum in the swing. Creates quality leverage and strength at contact with advanced bat speed, posted an 83 mph exit velocity. Productive weekend offensively, found the barrel often with loud contact, swings with intent, trying to damage. Average defender in the outfield, took solid routes with sound exchanges into a compact arm circle and high-¾ release with solid arm strength turning in positional velocity of 78 mph. Showed solid infield actions with soft hands, athletic footwork and quick, clean exchanges. Showed ability to throw from multiple arm angles with arm strength and carry on throws across, posted a positional velocity of 80 mph. Developing athlete, turned in a 7.70 60-yard dash.

Brandon Levy RHP / SS / Parkway, LA / 2023

Athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, lean build with room to add strength. Right-handed hitter hits from a taller, balanced setup using a toe-tap load to deliver a short compact stroke with length through contact. Fairly flat bat path, gap-to-gap approach with solid strength throughout the swing, posted an 85 mph exit velocity. Showed solid actions in the outfield, efficient routes to the baseball, clean exchanges into a medium arm action and high-¾ slot with advanced arm strength and carry on throws, posted an 89 mph positional velocity. During the infield workout, showed solid actions, moves athletically with soft hands, clean exchanges and advanced arm strength with quality carry, turning in an 87 mph positional velocity from shortstop. Solid athlete, posted a 7.33 60-yard dash.

Zach Schoenborn C / RHP / Parkway , LA / 2023

Physical 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, athletic build. Advanced player for his age, put together productive at-bats all weekend, and consistently impacted the game on defense. Left-handed hitter starts from tall, open setup, working backwards with knee-to-knee load, short stride, and solid balance throughout the swing. Gap-to-gap approach with fluid rhythm, rotational path into an uphill finish and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 81 mph. Quality defender with average setup, soft hands, presents firm target, fluid footwork, and quick, clean transfers. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with carry and accuracy on throws, posted a positional velocity of 77 mph and pop times in the range of 1.95-2.05 seconds. Also posted a 7.89 60-yard dash.

Jake LaRocca 3B / RHP / Barbe, LA / 2023

Physical 6-foot, 185-pound frame, strong, athletic build. Offensive force in the middle of the order all weekend, consistently found the barrel, loud contact, wants to do damage offensively. Right-handed hitter hits from a tall, upright stance using a small stride step to create momentum, slightly rotational swing with small hand hitch prior to launch that didn't affect timing in game. Gets extension through contact with bat speed, posted an 83 mph exit velocity. Showed some natural ability in the outfield, picked out hops well, clean exchanges and medium arm circle into a high-¾ release turning in an 83 mph positional velocity. Looks to be a much more natural infielder with fluid actions, soft hands, smooth exchanges and the ability to throw from multiple arm slots turning in an 83 mph positional velocity from the infield. Developing athlete turned in a 7.54 60-yard dash.

Reid Snider 3B / SS / St. Louis Catholic, LA / 2023

Strong 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, long limbs, physical build with powerful lower half. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, short stride and solid balance. Gap-to-gap type approach, athletic in the box with loose, fluid rhythm. Simple and direct to the baseball, compact stroke with flat, on-plane path. Consistently put together quality, productive at-bats, advanced feel to hit for his age, consistently found the barrel in-game, present strength at contact with quality bat speed, produced an exit velocity of 83 mph. Quality defender, likely projects to a corner infield spot. Fields it out front, hands and feet work together well, plays through the baseball athletically with quick, clean exchanges. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with carry and accuracy on throws across, produced a positional velocity of 79 mph. Developing athlete, posted a 7.70 60-yard dash.

Barnes Williamson OF / RHP / RiverField Academy, LA / 2023

Long 6-foot-2, 181-pound frame, wiry, athletic build with advanced physical development for his age. High-ceiling prospect with advanced tools and athleticism, posted a 7.01 60-yard dash. Right-handed hitter hits from a wide, balanced stance, hands around back shoulder, utilizing a toe-tap load and rhythm in his hands as a timing mechanism. Fairly clean bat path, stays on-plane with solid extension through contact. Showed advanced bat speed and strength at contact for his age, loud contact, posted an 84 mph exit velocity. Solid defender in the outfield, takes decent routes with enough speed to make up ground. Handles the baseball with solid exchanges into a longer arm action and high-¾ release from the outfield turning in an 83 mph positional velocity.

Evan Hallmark RHP / C / Oak Forest, LA / 2023

Average 6-foot, 180-pound frame, strong build with room to add strength. Right-handed hitter hits from a wide, balanced setup, loads weight to backside and uses a small stride step to create a solid base. Line drive path with a gap-to-gap approach with solid bat speed and strength, posted an 84 mph exit velocity. Solid defender with average hands, efficient footwork, and clean exchanges, works through the baseball athletically. Long arm action into high-3/4 release with accuracy and carry on throws, produced a positional velocity of 79 mph across the infield. Also worked behind the dish, solid defender with balanced, athletic setup, soft hands, presents firm target, solid footwork and clean exchanges. Medium arm action into high-3/4 release with solid carry on throws, posted a positional velocity of 71 mph and pop times in the range of 2.15-2.21 seconds. Also posted a 7.90 60-yard dash.