Prep Baseball Report was at BB&T Point in High Point, NC on Sunday October 3rd.  The Uncommitted Upperclass Games featured over 30 players from the 2020 and 2021 classes going through a full pro-style workout followed by a controlled scrimmage.  PBR scouts were able to collect and verify statistics on each player while working to put a full evaluation on each player as well.

In the coming weeks, PBR will release the full evaluations as well as video on each prospect from the Uncommitted Upperclass Games.  Today we dive into the statistics from the event .  While our PBR scouts are pouring through all of their notes, today we profile statistical leaders from the timed 60, positional velocities, exit velocity, pop times, fastballs and more.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Upperclass Uncommitted Games

 

Uncommitted Upperclass Statistical Analysis

 

THE 60 YARD DASH

The 60 has been used for a long period of time to gauge speed in baseball players.  A bit antiquated, it does allow scouts to compare players from different time periods and has become a standard testing distance for pro-style workouts.  During the Uncommitted Upperclass Games in High Point, players ran on a laser timed course.  The surface at the event was an artificial turf.   Five times came in under 7.00, with several players improving their 60 time on their PBR Profile.  There were 8 players that ran a sub-7.20.  The median time for the laser timed 60 checked in at 7.39.

 

EXIT VELOCITY

During the offensive portion of the day, players worked through an exit velocity testing station.  At this station, players attacked a ball on a tee with a radar gun reading the exit velocity of the ball off the barrel.  Players had the chance to swing their own bat, plus bats provided by Mizuno.  The numbers below are only from the exit velocity station.  The top exit velocity checked in at 95 mph and 8 players registered a speed of 90 mph or higher in the testing.  The median exit velocity from the Uncommitted Upperclass Games in High Point was 87 mph.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – INFIELDERS

Infielders were able to workout at Shortstop in the pro-style portion of the Uncommitted Upperclass Games.  Players were hit a variety of ground balls, moving to secure the ball before transitioning the ball into a throw across the diamond.  Scouts are evaluating multiple areas during this session.  Arm strength, carry, accuracy, and ease of actions can all be marked.  PBR scouts add a radar gun to give a number to the arm strength.  While the radar reading does not tell the entire story, it does give evaluators a feel for pure arm strength.  15 infielders worked out from either shortstop or 1B.  The top radar reading across the diamond registered at 85 mph, with a median reading of 79 mph.

 

POSITIONAL VELOCITY – OUTFIELDERS

Similar to the infielders, there are several data points that evaluators are looking for as outfielders took batted balls from right field, making throws to home plate.  PBR scouts, again, took radar readings on each throw, giving scouts a chance to gauge arm strength with a solid number.  Twelve outfielders worked out from right field.  The top positional throw marked at 91 mph.  The median outfield throw for the group was at 84 mph.

 

CATCHER POP TIMES & POSITIONAL VELOCITY

In the pro-style workout, catchers workout from behind home plate, making multiple throws to 2B, simulating a stolen base attempt.  Scouts again are looking for a quick, clean transition to the release as well as carry and accuracy on the throw.  For catchers, evaluators will put a stopwatch on the “pop time” or the time the ball hits their glove to the time the ball hits the MIF’s glove at 2B.  Coaches can also time the transition from when the ball hits the catchers glove to when he is able to release his throw.  PBR scouts add the radar gun to put a number on the arm strength out of the crouched position.  The top pop time in the workout was a 2.00, with a median time from the group of 6 catchers of 2.09.  The top positional velocity checked in at 78 mph out of the hand, while the median for the group clocked in at 74 mph.

 

MAX FASTBALL

Pitchers threw live in a controlled scrimmage vs hitters at BB&T Point Stadium for PBR and scouts in attendance.   In the bullpen, while getting loose, Pitchers used the PitchLogic Baseball from F5 Sports and more will be coming from the pitchers in attendance.  While scouts are evaluating stuff, mechanics, efficiency, and command, velocity can be a key component in an evaluation.  PBR used the new Stalker Pro SII radar gun to collect velocity on each arm while they threw live in the game.  Fifteen arms threw at the event with the top fastball registering at 86 mph.  The median top fastball came in at 81 mph.