Prep Baseball Report

Houston Underclass Trials: Outfield Analysis



By Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director
Twitter: @PBR_Texas
ALVIN, TX - On Sunday, May 21, some of the top underclassmen from around the state of Texas converged on the campus of Alvin Junior College for the Houston Underclass Trials. Here is a full analysis of the outfielders from that event.
Top performers

Logan Britt OF / RHP / All Saints Episcopal, TX / 2019

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound, Texas A&M recruit showed up to the Houston Underclass Trials and put on an outstanding display of power and athleticism. Britt is currently ranked No. 7 in the Texas 2019 Class, and No. 23 in PBR Overall Ranking. He began the day by running a 6.94-second 60-yard dash, then threw 92 mph from the outfield, and registered an exit velocity of 97 mph. He showed premium bat speed and strength at contact during batting practice with a wooden bat. Britt has an athletic lower half with easy rhythm and good weight transfer through contact. The right-handed hitter uses the middle-to-pull side of the field and has some lift in his hand path, driving multiple balls to the wall and a couple for home runs. With his long-limbed, athletic frame, look for big things from Britt this summer.

 

 

 

Justin Barnes RHP / OF / Klein Oak, TX / 2019

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-hander showed a strong, quick arm stroke from a ¾ slot with his velocity ranging from 86-90 mph. The ball explodes out of his hand with life on his fastball. He throws a hard slider for strikes with tight spin, late bite, and 10-4 shape at 77-78 mph. Barnes showed all-around strength, throwing 91 mph from the outfield with outstanding carry, and posting an exit velocity of 91 mph. The right-handed hitter starts from a balanced stance, has smooth rhythm and uses a low-hovering leg kick, his hands stay back as he lands with leverage and transfers his weight through contact. Barnes drove the ball to the pull side gap during batting practice, showing good power for his class. He ran a 7.15 60 yard dash.

 

 

 

Mitchell Andrews OF / RHP / Cy-Fair, TX / 2020

Andrews has a still-developing 5-foot-10, 145-pound, athletic, high-waisted frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean, easy arm stroke. His fastball has arm side run and sink, ranging from 77-78 mph. He throws his curveball with good 11-5 shape and feel at 66-68 mph. He throws his changeup with fastball arm speed and arm side fade at 70-72 mph. A two-way player, Andrews has projectable athleticism and fluid actions in the outfield, and threw 80 mph during the outfield workout. The right-handed hitter has a tall, slightly open set-up, smooth load, a good weight transfer in his lower half. Andrews uses the middle of the field during batting practice, with a line drive path, quick hands, and some power to the pull side. His exit velocity was 84 mph, and he ran a 7.34 60-yard dash. With his projectable frame and all-around athleticism, look for big things from this two-way player in the future. High academic student.

 

 

 

 

Carson Keithley LHP / OF / Alvin, TX / 2020

Keithley was impressive with his arm speed and athleticism in the outfield, topping out at 84 mph. And once he got on the mound, the athleticism transitioned nicely from his 5-foot-9, 145-pound frame. The left-hander has a loose, quick arm stroke from a high-¾ slot, with his fastball ranging from 79-81 mph, with more velocity to come in the future. His curveball shows good spin for his class at 65-67 mph and 1-7 shape, while his changeup was 71-72 mph. The left-handed hitter starts from a wide, neutral stance with a flat bat over his back shoulder. He uses an athletic leg kick with advanced rhythm and a level hand path to get through the baseball with a loose, easy finish. He took a quality round of batting practice, driving the ball with ease and strength at contact.

 

 

 

 

Kyle Reece SS / OF / Cy-Fair, TX / 2019

Reece has a projectable, long-limbed, high-waisted frame at 6-feet, 165-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke. He shows good feel for the strike zone with both his fastball and slider. His fastball ranged from 77-79 mph with heavy action to his arm side as he turns the ball over. His slider has a short, sharp downward 11-5 break at 66-68 mph. The right-handed hitter has a tall setup and gets started with as smooth load and easy leg-kick, landing with his hands back and ready to hit. Although his exit velocity was only 84 mph, Reece transfers his weight through contact with good balance and showed strength at contact and power to the pull side during batting practice. Positionally, Reece threw 85 mph from the outfield with rhythm and athleticism coming through the ball. On the infield, Reece showed athleticism and the ability to play the left side of the field. With his projectable, strong frame and ability to play multiple positions, look for big things from Reece this summer.


 

 

Brandon Madden OF / LHP / St Pius X, TX / 2019

5-foot-10, 170-pound frame with present strength. Madden, a two-way player and right-handed hitter, starts from a balanced, athletic stance. He has fluid rhythm when he loads back, then lands into a strong position as he explodes through contact, producing line drive power with good extension. His barrel stays in the hitting zone a long time and the ball jumps off his bat. On the mound, the left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing and repeatable delivery. His fastball has some heavy action at 76-80 mph. His curveball was 63-65 mph with late action and 2-8 shape. He uses a good dancing knuckleball as his third pitch at 63 mph.

 

 

 

Mayan Mendez OF / LHP / Pfugerville, TX / 2019

Mendez has obviously added strength to his 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame since the last time we saw him before christmas. The left-handed hitter has an open, slightly crouched stance, relaxed rhythm in his hands and good energy in his swing. He loads his weight down into his legs with a quick, knee-to-knee, low level leg kick, then uncoils his lower half to produce strength at contact. Mendez took a solid round of batting practice, making consistent contact on the barrel to the pull side. His exit velocity was 82 mph off the tee. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with soft hands and longer exchange. He throw with a long, over the top arm stroke with carry at 81 mph. He ran a 7.32 60-yard dash.

 

 

 

 

BEST OF THE REST (Alphabetical)

Tate Ardoin OF / 2B / Friendswood, TX / 2021

5-foot-7, 125-pound, still developing, young frame. The right-handed hitter has a closed stance and uses a leg kick to get started and partially transfers his weight through contact. The rising freshman has a fair approach with and inside-out path to the opposite field with average bat speed for his class and an exit velocity of 74 mph off the tee. In the outfield he threw 66 mph from a high slot with a short arm stroke and long exchange. On the infield he threw 66 mph across the diamond. Ran 7.69 60-yard dash.

 

 

Brandon Kostelnik OF / 2B / George Ranch, TX / 2019

5-foot-9, 155-pound frame. The right-handed hitter has a slightly crouched stance with a positive arm bar, gets started with a short stride. Clean path to the ball with some lift as he gets the barrel on plane and has a loose finish. Exit velocity of 83 mph off the tee. Throws from an over the top slot in the outfield with carry and accuracy at 83 mph. Plays through the baseball with rhythm in his crow-hop. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash.

 

 

Caleb Spencer OF / C / Deer Park, TX / 2019

6-foot, 150-pound, long-limbed frame. The right handed hitter starts from an open stance with a front arm bar and the bat angled back toward the mound. He loads with an early gather back into a knee-to-knee rhythm, long stride with good lower half weight transfer through contact. Fair balance and bat speed with good extension through contact. Made hard contact to the pull side with an exit velocity of 78 mph off the tee. In the outfield, Spencer plays through the ball with rhythm and quick exchange, throwing 84 mph. Behind the plate, his pop times were 2.13-2.26 with a max velocity of 71 mph.

 

 

Logan Treichel 3B / OF / Cy Woods, TX / 2019

5-foot-11, 180-pound, strong, sturdy frame. The right-handed hitter starts from an athletic, crouched stance with a strong base. Coils inward to load, then lands with a short stride as his lower half works efficiently. Fast bat speed, solid approach and extension through contact with power to the pull side. His exit velocity was 88 mph off the tee. He ran a 7.28 60-yard dash. On the infield he throws from a high-¾ slot at 76 mph across the diamond with accuracy. In the outfield he plays through the ball with partial rhythm and threw 76 mph to home plate.

 

 

 

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