Prep Baseball Report

PBR TN: Uncommitted 22' Outfielders


Colton Provey
Tennessee Scouting Director

The 2022 TN outfield class saw the first two commitments over the summer with OF/LHP Nathan Brewer (Eagleville) committing to MTSU and OF Austin King (Hardin Valley) committing to ETSU. There are still eight uncommitted outfielders from the Top 50, including the number one overall prospect OF/QB Kaden Martin (Knoxville Catholic). Below, we provide scout notes on the top eight uncommitted outfielders and highlight several names to follow from the top 100 as the 2021 season approaches.  

 

2022 Outfielders

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. He was consistently on-time throughout game play with present pull side power, and has a chance to develop even more moving forward. 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. At TN/KY Border Battle, the 15th overall prospect in TN 22’ class continued to showcase his powerful swing from the left side (97.5 max exit velo; 341 ft max distance via Trackman).  Great lower half usage in swing, generating good bat speed and accelerating well through the zone for a lot of hard barrels.   Improving speed at 7.15 sixty time, but slated as an offensive lefty-swinging corner OF.

 

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.


Jack Porter, OF/SS, Father Ryan, 2022
6-foot-1, 172-pound utilityman; slim, twitchy frame with good projection. Splits time in the outfield and at middle infield with tools to succeed in both roles. Good run tool with 7.14 sixty and going 85 across the infield with good carry. At the dish, tall, relaxed stance with controlled load and moderate leg kick. Generates great bat speed (Max: 74.2 mph) and produces consistent barrels, spraying balls to all fields.  Balanced, middle approach with developing gap-to-gap power. Defensively, well rounded as OF/SS with good run tool (7.14 sixty time) and above average arm strength (85 Pos. Velo).  


Carson Yates, OF/UTL, Baylor School, 2022
6-foot-4, 218-pound outfielder; tall, large frame with good strength throughout build.  At the dish, wide, balanced stance with some physicality.  Excellent bat speed (Avg: 75.9 mph via Blast) and rotational data (Avg: 20.1 G per Blast) carried over to gameplay finishing 2 for 5, with two singles and a walk at TN/KY Border Battle.  Drove a ball deep into LCF gap that was tracked down by KY outfielder, but some high upside power for the Baylor product. Skills to play a good OF, 7.17 sixty and 84 OF velo, but some defensively flexibility as a catcher and infielder as well.  Another strong athlete that can contribute on both sides and provide some defensive depth.  


Nic Raum | OF/RHP | Ravenwood | 2022
Uncommitted; 6-foot-4, 200-pound outfielder has continued to improve in all areas.  Long, spider like frame with long limbs, yet present strength.  At the plate, tall, balanced stance with simple load and small leg kick. Generates great bat speed (Avg: 72.9 mph) and strong rotational data (20.9 G).  Shown ability to drive the ball into the gaps (88.57 exit velo).  Defensively, explosive runner (6.91 sixty time) and uses long legs to cover some serious ground. Average arm strength, but more in the tank as he's been 80-84 on the mound with a 73-75 mph CB. 

 

Kain Collins, OF, Roane Co., 2022
5-foot-10, 150-pound outfielder with lean, twitchy frame.  The Roane Co. quarterback has some spring in his legs as a bouncy runner with some strength in the frame.  At the dish, balanced, athletic stance with smooth, compact load and small leg kick. Generates some bat speed and sprays the ball to all fields with some pull side juice.  Projects as CF at next level with great range and above average arm strength.  Dynamic, high-upside profile for a speedy outfielder, swinging it from the left side.  

 

Kenneth McKinley, OF, Ensworth, 2022
6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder has great projectable frame with some lower half strength. Strong athlete with great range and glides as he tracks down balls in the gap.  Balanced, open stance with small leg kick generating solid bat speed and some juice.  Some barrel inconsistency with timing, but high-ceiling power driving the ball to the pull side.  Hit a few long balls over the summer that really jumped off the bat. Defensively, capable of playing all three outfield positions with developing arm strength.  High-ceiling prospect who can become a force once he continues to get feel for frame.  


Names to Follow

Carson Plunk, OF/RHP, Adamsville, 2022
6-foot, 195-pound utility man with stout frame can provide production in numerous ways.  Primarily a corner outfielder, Plunk is an offensive bat with great bat speed (Max: 73.4 mph per Blast) and rotational data (29.4 G per Blast).  Simple, balanced stance with feel for barrel and gap to gap power. Not a strong runner (7.61 sixty), but solid defender at both corner infield and outfield.  On the bump, competitive and pitches with an edge.  FB sits 78-82 with high spin life (2457 rpm per Trackman) and a sharp breaking ball in upper 60s-low 70s (2437 rpm) while manipulating shape.  

Carson Mire, OF, Montgomery Bell Academy, 2022
6-foot-2, 170-pound; long lean frame with great projection.  The outfielder showed some great speed, logging a 6.88 sixty time at CBA Scout Day then followed it up with a 6.78 at Rose Park the next day.  Confident defensively with sound footwork and solid arm strength (83 mph).  Simple setup up at the dish, getting the foot down early, leading to consistent timing and hard contact.  Peppered a lengthy string of line drives to the pull-side.  

Spencer Margolis, OF, Knoxville Catholic, 2022
5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder with proportional frame and present strength.  At the dish, balanced slightly crouched stance with quick load.  Generates good bat speed (72 mph per Blast) and above average rotational data (15.2 G per Blast) while controlling the barrel through the zone.  Consistent hard barrels (Avg: 80.1 mph) with some loud contact (Max: 89.4 mph per Trackman) to all fields.  Defensively, strong runner (6.83 sixty) and range with solid arm strength.  

Tyler Jones, OF, Goodpasture, 2022
6-foot, 175-pound lefty-swinging outfielder posses some high-ceiling tools after cracking into the Top 100 this summer.  Proportional frame with present strength and some projection.  Tall, athletic stance with compact load and controlled stride.  Generates above average bat speed (72 mph per Blast) with some lift, trying to drive the ball to the pull side. Defensively, a good runner (7.22 sixty) that plays up a bit in gameplay, playing all three OF positions with solid arm strength (82 OF Velo).  

 

RJ Moore, OF, Beech, 2021
6-foot, 146-pound outfielder had a strong summer with Hit after Hit Outlaws as the leadoff man.  Lean, athletic frame with good projection.  Tall, relaxed stance with smooth compact load and quick stride getting on plane early.  Generates average bat speed (Max: 68.8 mph per Track), but strong rotational acceleration (22.2 G per Blast), allowing Moore to make later decisions on pitches.  Developing strength to drive the ball, but knack for picking up hits as table setter and putting pressure on defenses (6.99 sixty).  Can play all three OF positions with good range and tracking skills to go with solid, improving arm. 

Tanner Jones OF, Goodpasture, 2022 
6-foot, 175-pound outfielder has a similar profile to his twin brother Tyler, besides throwing from the right side.  Proportional, lean frame with some projection.  Simple, balanced stance from the left side. Has some Hunter Pence-like rhythm, getting the foot down and spraying hard line drives to all fields. Developing more power and strength, but posses good consistency in barreling up the baseball. Defensively, solid defender as a 7.28 sixty runner and average arm with ability to play multiple OF positions.  

Walker Enck, OF, Houston, 2021
5-foot-8, 165-pound outfielder with average, lean frame.  At the dish, balanced, simple stance with small leg kick and uphill swing.  Generates good bat speed, spraying line drives to all fields and some pull side power (Max Exit Velo: 91.6 mph; Distance: 345 ft per Trackman).  Defensively, good runner with 7.24 sixty time with solid range in the corners.  Short, quick arm path with some strength (82 OF Velo) with good carry and accuracy.  

 

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