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Uncommitted Spotlight: 2022 SS/OF Jacob Walker (West Mifflin)

October 7, 2021
Joe Walentin
Operations / Scouting




Scouting Report

6/13/21

 

Physical: Lean, twitchy 6-foot, 165lb frame with obvious projection and high-level athleticism in the movements. 6.57 runner in the 60-yard dash. 

Offensively: RHH - Upright, slightly open stance with a loose operation to start; utilized a leg hang stride while holding the backside coil well on the forward move, accurate barrel delivered through a flat path yielding lots of hard contact and leverage on pitches out over the plate. Found great success lifting the baseball above the belt, using a high finish with the hands on the backside shoulder; notched a 44% line drive rate per Trackman Baseball and a 94 mph bat-exit velocity during his batting practice round pointing towards the ability to hit for PWR and AVG down the road.

Defensively: The primary shortstop showed range in every direction with low posture and above-average feel for the feet; approached on time with a soft glove hand, funneling inward at the waist with sub 4.20 pace. Converted plays on the run at a high rate, with ability to change arm angles from ¾ to high ¾ when needed (84 mph arm, accurate).

 

2/07/21

 

Physical: Athletic 6-foot, 165-pound frame with lean strength throughout. 6.64 runner in the 60-yard dash flashing well above-average footspeed. 

Offensively: RHH - Open, slightly bent through the backside setup as the hands started loose at the head. Utilized a leg kick stride with intent featured in a flat attack angle on the way through the hitting zone. Peppered the middle-pull side gap with leverage at impact and ability to stay in the legs. Recorded a 30% line drive rate while getting up to a 92 mph bat-exit velocity per Trackman Baseball. Short turns in the box led to big time results, a 351 foot batted ball distance at the moment points towards doubles power, but shows that he can run it out of the yard on occasion too. A 70+ mph average bat speed is more than enough and worked efficiently up the chain to produce consistent, hard hitting results. 

Defensively: The primary shortstop was an advanced defender with quick, light footwork and ability to get downhill in a hurry. Showcased intent from the left side of the infield with feel in the backside drive leg and increased timing at the fielding window; let it rip from an accurate high ¾ slot yielding an 82 mph arm strength across the diamond. The pace was evident and gave more confidence when watching him field the play on the run with ease.


 

 

7/15/20

 

Physical: Projectable and athletic 6-foot, 165-pound frame with advanced feel for his body in all phases; had an impressive all around day at the PA Prospect Games. Ran a 6.63 laser timed 60-yard dash. 

Offensively: RHH. Wide stance with a low center of gravity and bend in the knees as the hands started with wiggle high next to the ear. Utilized a heel raise stride while consistently staying connected to the ground with the feet, a combination that allowed for launch at any time during ball flight and consistent hard contact at the front of the plate during batting practice. Showcased the ability to spray line drives/deep fly balls from gap to gap and use the whole ballpark when pitched out over the plate. Quality round with maturity throughout the approach and quick hands whipping through impact, recorded a max hand speed of 22.40 mph per Blast Motion, a measurable that stands out amongst his peers. Registered a max bat-exit velocity of 94 mph according to Trackman Baseball.

Defensively: The primary shortstop featured active, downhill footwork getting through the fielding window with intent while fielding off of the left foot on the approach. Was able to get the right of the ball first with the feet, then getting aggressive momentum towards the target with intent in the lower half. The arm played with strength and accuracy carrying across the diamond out of a high ¾ slot. Made the play on the run with athleticism, INF - 82 mph.