Uncommitted Player Spotlight: '21 Ben Taxdahl, OF/RHP, St. Thomas Academy
April 3, 2020
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Scouting Report
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.08 runner. Open and slightly crouched stance. Leg lift trigger and hands load down. Aggressive swing. Mid/pull approach with line drive and fly ball contact. Flashes pull pop with average barrel contact. 92 mph exit velocity. C- Angled athletic stance. Average receiver and holds pitches in zone. Moves well to block and show flexibility. Long footwork with good direction on throws. Clean exchange with long arm action. 2.10-2.19 pop times with 79 mph arm strength. On mound- Good frame. Threw from stretch. Repeats delivery well with good direction. Aggressive down mound. Throws from a lower ¾ arm slot with a longer arm action. Fastball has varying action thrown at 82-85 mph. Curveball has 11/5 break with average shape and good spin at 77-79 mph.
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. On mound; controlled to higher tuck and turn balance point, long arm swing, delivers from high ¾ slot, lands slightly across body. Fastball was 84-86 mph with good life and cutting action to glove side of plate. Breaking ball has tight spin with smaller 11/5 break. Firm power changeup with split action in bottom of zone. 7.47 runner. Open stance, leg kick trigger, linear actions through hitting zone, has present strength, line drive and fly ball contact, shows flashes of above avg. pop in bat, 92 mph exit velocity. Moves well behind plate, sticks baseball in zone, works back to middle, sound overall receiver, quicker feet, clean exchange, hitchy release, inconsistent release point, flashes carry and accuracy to bag, 79 mph arm strength with 2.08-2.25 pop times.
3/17/18- 6-foot, 173-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. On mound; rocker step into higher athletic balance point, long sideways arm swing, some hitch in path but comes out well in front. Fastball was 78-79 mph with varying action to plate for strikes. Breaking ball tends to back up with inconsistent shape and spin. Above avg. fade and feel for zone with changeup. 7.75 runner. Square stance with knee to knee trigger, aggressive swinger with present strength, consistently barrels baseball, works middle of field with hard line drive contact, 82 mph exit velocity. Athletic in field, good first step, shows actions in field, sure hands, 80 mph arm strength across infield.
10/22/17- 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Projectable frame for 2021 grad. On mound; side step into high tuck and turn delivery, works down mound well and inline with catcher, compact arm action out front. Fastball was 74-75 mph, touching 79 mph once, on slight downhill plane and occasional cut. Wraps breaking ball early; has 11/5 shape and avg. depth to plate. Tends to drag elbow on changeup; cut action with solid fade. 7.64 runner. Narrow stance, linear lower half, slight lift in swing plane, produces hard line drive and fly ball contact, gap to gap approach, solid follow in 2021 class, 82 mph exit velocity. Solid range, developing footwork and actions, late glove presentation and fields deep into body, solid arm strength and carry across to bag, 78 mph arm across infield.