Adam Akin
Director of Scouting



The 2017 PBR Tennessee West Tennessee Preseason Preview took place on Sunday, February 12 at Houston High School’s baseball field in Germantown, Tennessee and included a position player workout, followed by pitcher bullpens.  Players were afforded the opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of the PBR Tennessee staff and college coaches in attendance. The following is our evaluation of every pitcher that participated in the event.

 

Jett Jackson, RHP, Dickson County, 2019
Max FB: 87, FB: 84-86, CB: 69-72, CH: 76-79,
6-foot-3, 175-pound, RHP still possesses his long and athletic frame, shows flexibility and length through an extremely high leg lift at the top that gets him loaded up to explode toward the plate, creates some real tilt with his shoulders and gets down the mound in line, finishes with a slight fall toward the 1B line, long and loose arm action comes quickly through a high ¾ slot. Fastball was firm with some run, curveball was powerful with some sharp 11/5 action, changeup showed sink when kept down in the zone.  One of the top pitchers in the 2019 class.

Matthew Reed, RHP, Houston, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 84-85, CB: 65-68, CH: 75-78,
6-foot-3, 185-pound, RHP uses good tempo throughout his motion with consistent rhythm, long and athletic frame, a slightly higher leg lift create some slight shoulder tilt at the top, gets down the mound with an in line stride although he could get a little further, arm action is long through an over-the-top slot, finishes out front in a balanced position. Fastball seemed heavy through the zone with some occasional cut on a downhill plane, curveball was sharp with 12/6 shape, changeup showed some slight sink when kept down in the zone. 

Hunter Crosby, RHP/OF, Dickson County, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 80-83, CB: 66-70, CH: 67-69,
6-foot-4, 170-pound, RHP  is a good sized prospect with solid athleticism and quick-twitch muscles, moves quickly through a very up-tempo delivery that tends to jump on the hitter, leg lift is fairly high and gets him very closed, unwinds into an only slightly closed stride that gets him way down the mound before landing, quick arm action is short and comes through a high ¾ slot and has no trouble getting over his front leg.  Fastball is very heavy through the zone and can bear down on a righty, slider showed 10/4 shape and can be tight, changeup was thrown for strikes with run and sink.

Charlie Darnall, RHP, University School of Jackson, 2018
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-84, CH: 70-72, SL: 68-71
6-foot-3, 215-pound, RHP has a lot of movement in his delivery with arms flying at the hitter, big and strong build, moderate leg lift keeps his shoulders mostly even throughout, strides and lands in line with some balance, very long arm action slings through a high ¾ angle, tempo is solid and consistent.  Fastball showed some slight run, slider can be sharp at times with 10/4 action, changeup had some sink when kept down in the zone.

Parker Moss, OF/LHP, Collierville, 2017
Max FB: 80, FB: 78-80, CB: 73-74, CH: 70-72,
6-foot-1, 175-pound, LHP showed the same collected and consistent delivery we saw from him at last June’s Top Prospect Games, motion uses a moderate leg lift to keep his shoulders mostly even, strides in line and usually lands in a well-balanced position, arm action is shorter and comes through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball seemed heavy and showed some run through the zone, curveball had 1/7 shape with decent break, changeup had a lot of run at the plate, throws three pitches for strikes. Solid 2-way prospect.

Brandon Baucum, RHP, McKenzie, 2017
Max FB: 80, FB: 77-80, CB: 64-65, CH: 68-70,
6-foot-5, 200-pound, RHP has a very long and athletic build with some remaining upside, motion is smooth with consistent tempo throughout, solid shoulder tilt is created at the top of a higher leg lift and helps create a long and loose arm action through a high ¾ slot, strides and lands very slightly closed but has no trouble getting his hand out front. Fastball showed the ability to move in both directions depending on his release, curveball was solid with 11/5 shape, changeup was straight but faded a little bit at the plate.

Ethan Small, RHP/1B, Independence, 2019
Max FB: 80, FB: 77-80, CB: 62-65, CH: 68-72,
6-foot-3, 230-pound, RHP has a big frame for his age, uses a very small rocker step to kick-start a unique motion, leg lift gets him closed at the top and creates some very slight shoulder tilt, strides and lands in a closed position, gets his hand out front with some effort, finishes slightly toward the 1B side, long arm action comes through a near over-the-top release point.  Fastball was mostly straight, curveball was a good pitch with solid 11/5 shape, changeup had a little fade through the zone.

Malik Pogue, RHP, Westview, 2019
Max FB: 79, FB: 76-79, CB: 63-68, CH: 71-75,
6-foot-3, 168-pound, RHP has a long and lanky frame, uses a motion that gets faster as he goes and builds up into a quick release, leg lift gets him slightly closed at the top, strides in line and uses his lower half well, shorter arm action comes through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball showed some slight run through the zone, curveball has the ability to be sharp with 12/6 to 11/5 shape, changeup was straight but can sink when kept down. 

Ryan Wells, SS/RHP, Eagleville, 2020
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-78, CB: 63-65, CH: 67-70,
5-foot-10, 150-pound, RHP gets very closed early in his motion and stays that way throughout, creates a lot of shoulder tilt at the top of his leg lift and hides the ball well, strides and lands in a closed position but has a quick enough arm to get it out front without a problem, long arm action comes through a near over-the-top slot.  Fastball showed some cut, curveball had 12/6 shape with gradual movement, changeup was straight as a change of speed.

Luke Tankersley, RHP, Collierville, 2020
Max FB: 76, FB: 72-75, CB: 58-63, CH: 66-70,
6-foot-1, 178-pound, RHP uses a quick tempo throughout his motion that begins with a short rocker step and a moderate leg lift, shoulders stay mostly even at the top, strides in line and generally finishes with good balance or an occasional drift toward the 1B side, arm action is shorter through a high ¾ release point.  Fastball had some cut, curveball was solid and showed 12/6 shape, changeup was straight but was kept down in the zone.

Riley Palmer, RHP/3B, Memphis University School, 2020
Max FB: 75, FB: 70-75, CB: 59-63, CH: 69-71,
5-foot-11, 200-pound, RHP uses a controlled and consistent motion that builds up throughout, moderate leg lift does get front side closed and creates some slight shoulder tilt, strides in line and finishes balanced and under control, slightly longer arm action comes through a high ¾ angle.  Fastball showed some slight run, curveball can be sharp with 11/5 shape, changeup was straight but kept down in the zone.

Tanner Parmely, SS/RHP, McNairy Central, 2020
Max FB: 72, FB: 69-72, CB: 49-52, CH: 58-61,
5-foot-8, 165-pound, RHP has a simple motion with very little wasted movement, small rocker step leads to a solid leg lift that keeps his shoulders even at the top, strides and lands slightly closed but with pretty good balance, slightly shorter arm action hides the ball well before coming through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball is straight, curveball had some gradual break with 12/6 shape, changeup was straight but kept down.

Paul Atkins, RHP/C, Henry County, 2020
Max FB: 71, FB: 66-71, CB: 51-55, CH: 58-62,
5-foot-10, 170-pound, RHP uses a long and methodical motion that builds up and gets a little quicker in the middle, leg lift gets into a higher position but leaves his shoulders on an even plane, strides in line but doesn’t get down the mound quite as far as he could, arm action is short through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball is straight, curveball showed gradual movement with 11/5 shape, changeup stays straight but is a change of pace.

John Gibbs, RHP/1B, Collierville, 2018
Max FB: 71, FB: 69-71, CH: 65-68, SL: 62-66
6-foot-3, 190-pound, RHP has a very long and rangy frame, begins with a slower motion that only builds slightly, high leg lift leaves his shoulders even and allows him to stride in line and remain balanced, drops spine angle down to create a long and loose arm action through a sidearm release point.  Fastball showed some occasional run, slider was sweeping with 10/4 shape, changeup showed some fade at the plate. 

Cooper Smith, LHP/OF, Henry County, 2019
Max FB: 69, FB: 68-69, CB: 60-62, CH: 66-68,
5-foot-10, 125-pound, RHP uses a smooth and fluid motion to generate a consistent delivery, higher leg lift helps create some shoulder tilt just before heading toward the plate, strides in line and finishes in a balanced spot, arm action is long through a high ¾ slot.  Fastball showed run and sink when kept down, curveball had 1/7 shape, changeup faded down in the zone.