Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

Twitter: @PBR_Texas

Here are some quick highlights from Tuesday’s Houston Open in Tomball, TX.

Bryce Toney, LHP, Cypress Ranch HS, 2018
The stable of arms running out of Cy-Ranch HS seems to have no end. Toney looks slightly taller than his listed 5-foot-10, 160-pounds, and has a lean-muscular, athletic, projectable frame. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a quick arm stroke. He gets his hand out front on release and locates very well to his glove side, not missing arm side once. His fastball ranged from 81-83 mph with good life. When he did miss the zone it was down to his glove side with life. He throws a hard curveball with 1-7 shape and excellent depth at 68-69 mph. Both his FB and CB come from the same window of release. His changeup is a solid pitch at 75-77 mph, and flashes depth and fade. With his athletic frame, quick arm, and ability to spin his curveball, he would be a great pickup for a college recruiting class.

Caden McMullen, OF/3B, Klein Oak HS, 2018
McMullen stand out immediately because of his 6-foot-3, 195-pound, long-limbed, high-waisted, projectable frame, but the rising senior is super athletic for his size. He ran a 6.93-second 60-yard dash and registered an exit velo off the tee at 91 mph with wood and drove the ball through the middle of the field during batting practice. His arm strength was outstanding from the outfield at 88 mph with a clean, short, high-¾ arm stroke, and he plays through the ball athletically. McMullen also worked out on the infield, he moves with fluid actions, plays low and can throw on the run. McMullen shows all the makings of a player whose best baseball is ahead of him and could end up being a great pickup for a recruiting class. Also worth noting is that McMullen is a high-academic student.

Bryce Balusek, 1B, Calallen HS, 2019
6-foot-2, 200-pound, strong, muscular frame. A left-handed hitter, Balusek took a solid round of batting practice, driving the ball from the middle to pull side with authority. He shows great athleticism at first base, he plays low and has a quick exchange with release and throws with elbow-dominant arm action from a low-¾ slot when starting the double play. All-in-all, Balusek is a guy for college recruiters to make sure they see.

Cole Marler, C, College Station HS, 2019
Marler has an athletic frame at 6-feet, 175-pounds. He has excellent mobility in his lower half and blocks with athleticism. He threw accurately with pop times of 2.0, 2.04, 2.11, 2.16 with clean arm action and release. A right-handed hitter, Marler has a fluid hack with a leg kick and finishes barrel with ease and ran a 7.1-second 60-yard dash.

Tommy Ivey, OF/RHP, Kingwood Park HS, 2019
At 6-feet-1, 160-pounds, Ivey has a lean, athletic, fast-twitch frame. The rising junior began the day with a 6.93-second 60-yard dash. He has a quick arm stroke in the outfield throwing 85 mph, and showed solid actions on the infield. The right-handed hitter has fluid hack with strength and life in his hands as the ball jumps off his bat. With his athleticism, projectable fast-twitch frame, Ivey has a high ceiling and is sure to draw the attention of college recruiters sooner rather than later.

Nick Voyles, RHP, Pleasant Grove HS, 2019
At 6-foot-3, 210-pounds, Voyles has an already projectable frame with upside. The right-hander may have only thrown his fastball 80-81 mph, but it is a heavy ball with some arm side depth from a high-¾ slot.

Josh Phillips, 3B, Bridgeland HS, 2021
Phillips is only a rising freshman but has an imposing 6-foot-2, 205-pound, strong frame. The left-handed hitter has pop in his bat with natural lift as he registered an exit velo of 86 mph.

 

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