DFW Preseason ID: Quick Hits
January 12, 2021
PLANO, TX - On January 9th, the PBR Texas staff hosted the DFW Preseason ID event at Prestonwood Christian Academy. The event featured players from the 2022-2023 classes. Today, we are giving a quick breakdown of each of the players in attendance.
CATCHERS
Block showed quality athleticism throughout the day, starting with a 7.30 60 yard dash. Behind the plate, he showed off quick feet paired with a quick funnel to release with accurate throws on the bag at 2B, including the fastest pop time of the day at 1.99 sec with a range of 1.99-2.10 sec. He’s a quiet receiver showing good reactions to blocking balls on either side of the plate. During BP he had a max exit velocity of 92.5 mph, hitting the ball back up the middle and to the oppo gap with regularity. He also worked on the infield, showing good footwork getting into good fielding position and fielding in the middle of his body with a clean funnel to release and quick release. Block starts in a balanced stance with high hands, moving them towards the catcher and dropping slightly to trigger his load with a barrel tilt and leg lift to a toe tap long stride, finishing on a level swing path with some length.
The RHH catcher from Aledo had a quality day on Sunday running a 7.11 60 yard dash. Behind the plate he was 2.19-2.27 to 2B with good carry and some throws on the bag, topping at 77 mph. Showed good hands and good footwork working towards his target with a clean exchange. Quiet receiver using multiple setups, showing good ability to block and control the breaking ball and stick fastballs at the bottom of the zone. At the plate he had a max exit velocity of 91.57 mph and max distance of 306 feet, hitting primarily fly balls to the oppo gap. He starts from a balanced stance, leaning back and going back with his hands to trigger his load with barrel tilt. Generates lift on an uphill swing path with length throughout the swing.
Peel showed solid ability across the board on Sunday. He worked both in the infield and behind the plate. He showed good ability to get into position to keep the ball in front of him and field it out front with a clean funnel to release. Behind the plate he showed good footwork working towards his target, quick exchange to hand with accurate throws and good carry to the bag ranging from 2.12-2.18 to 2B. Offensively he had a max 88.83 mph with a max distance of 307 feet, hitting the ball consistently back up the middle and to the pull side gap. He started from a wide base, shifting his weight back and moving his hands back towards the catcher to trigger his load to an uphill swing path. On the mound, eh threw all three pitches for strikes. Fastball up to 85.91, quality changeup with good arm speed and late arm-side action at 76-77, and curveball at 70.
INFIELDERS
Purpura showed off good athleticism to get into fielding position with good hands and a clean funnel to exchange and strong arm on multiple types of throws on the infield, topping at 87 mph with accurate throws. During BP he had a max exit velocity of 98.01 mph and a max distance of 364 feet, which were the highest exit velocity and 2nd-furthest max distance. He starts his load with a torso twist and leg lift and then utilizes quick hands with a short swing to get through the zone well, showing raw power projectability to the pull side. On the mound he was 81-83 T84 with arm-side run, curveball was 66-69 and changeup was 75-76 with arm-side action and occasional depth.
Murth showed good fielding skills on the infield dirt, moving to his right, left, and coming in well, throwing 82 across the diamond. He used a hop to time his reaction, fielding the ball consistently out in front with good rhythm getting in position towards his target. During BP he had a max exit velocity of 96.5 mph and a max distance of 368 feet. Murth starts upright, slightly open with his hands at his ears. Triggers his load by dropping hands with a leg kick and then using a barrel tilt to initiate his swing.
Carter started the day with an impressive 6.90 sec 60 yard dash. In BP he showed consistent ability to pull the ball with plenty of fly balls and line drives to the pull side with a max exit velocity of 87.64 mph. He starts from a balanced stance with a slight bit of bat waggle pre-pitch, dropping his hands to load with a short leg lift on an uphill swing path. Defensively, he showed good ability to field the ball out in front of him in rhythm with a clean funnel to release.
Harmon had an all-around solid day on Sunday, starting off with a 7.05 sec 60 yard dash. Defensively, he showed good footwork to get into an athletic fielding position with a clean funnel to exchange, throwing 81 across the infield. Offensively, he had a max exit velocity of 91.35 mph with a max distance of 315 feet, hitting a good mixture of line drives and fly balls, all from CF to LCF. He starts balanced with a slight bend in the knees, using a slight barrel tilt and leg lift to trigger his load with a short stride. On the mound he was 83-84 with occasional run, curveball 70-74 flashing power curve shape averaging 2218 rpm spin rate, and 78-80 changeup showing intent to keep it down in the zone.
Blanco showed good footwork getting into an athletic fielding position working through the ball towards his target at times, fielding the ball out in front with clean funnel to exchange throwing 85 across the diamond. At the plate he had a max exit velocity 88.43 mph and max distance of 286 feet, hitting everything to CF and LCF gap. He shifts his weight back onto his back leg while moving his hands back to trigger his load on an uphill swing path.
Lau showed good footwork defensively on the infield getting into good fielding position consistently, fielding the ball out in front and in the middle of his body with a smooth funnel to release and quick release throwing 76 across the diamond. At the plate, he showed a balanced stance with his hands set at the back of his stance, using a leg kick to trigger his load with minimal hand movement and an uphill swing path. He had a max exit velocity of 87.28 mph and a max distance of 305, hitting everything from CF to LF.
The long, lanky 1B/RHP from El Paso showed well at the plate and on the bump. At first base, he showed good footwork to get into a good fielding position and get set towards his target. At the plate he showed a narrow, upright stance dropping his hands with a barrel tilt and leg kick to trigger his load with a short stride and an uphill swing path. Lujan had a max exit velocity of 87.10 mph and a max distance of 264, hitting the ball back up the middle and to the oppo gap with regularity. On the bump he was 78-80 with arm-side run showing control at the bottom of the zone, 63-67 curveball was 11/5 shape, and 68-69 changeup with arm-side action and occasional depth.
Pryor showed good footwork staying behind the ball and fielding it out in front of his body with a clean funnel to release, throwing 83 across the diamond. At the plate he had a balanced stance with a narrow base and resting the bat on his shoulder pre-pitch, moving his hands back with a leg kick to trigger his load with an uphill swing path. He had a max exit velocity of 84.59 and a max distance of 306 feet, hitting everything back up the middle and to the LCF gap.
Jackson showed good ability to stay behind the ball and field the ball out in front with a clean funnel to release in good rhythm towards his target, throwing 78 across the infield. Offensively, he had a max exit velocity of 86.37 mph with a max distance of 298 feet, hitting the ball up the middle and to the LCF gap. He had a balanced stance with a wide base with a little movement of hands and leg lift to trigger the load, finishing on an uphill swing path.
OUTFIELDERS
Duer started off by running the fastest 60 of the day with a 6.81 sec 60 yard dash. From the outfield he was 84 mph with good footwork getting into athletic fielding position, fielding it off his glove foot with accurate throws and occasional carry. At the plate he had a max exit velocity of 97.19 mph and a max distance of 314 feet. He features an upright stance with a controlled load trigger of bringing his hands back paired with a short leg lift then a barrel tilt to initiate the swing. He has a long swing with good extension through his finish, hitting the majority of balls to the pull side.
Mesquita also ran a 6.81 60 yard dash, tying with Duer for the fastest on the day. From the outfield he was 84 with occasional carry and accurate throws. He fields the ball off his glove foot in good rhythm towards his target with a clean funnel to release. At the plate he had a max exit velocity of 91.78 and a max distance of 338 feet. He starts with a wide base slightly crouched using a leg lift to trigger his load with minimal hand movement into his swing, on a slightly uphill swing path creating plenty of line drives and fly balls primarily to the pull side.
PITCHERS
Harless worked three pitches from the stretch exclusively, with a slight bit of crossfire action from the 3B side of the rubber. Fastball was 80-82 with occasional run and ability to throw strikes to both sides of the plate, 74-76 curveball and a 78-79 changeup with occasional arm-side action.
Hernandez worked exclusively from the stretch, starting off closed and landing square to home plate with a high leg kick and short arm action. Fastball was 74-75 with occasional run flashing strikes to the arm side, 60-61 curveball with 12/6 and 11/5 shape flashing ability to land in the zone, and changeup from 67-68.
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