The Five: All-State Games Shortstops
December 11, 2018
Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director
Premium Content Area
This article is only available to PBRPlus Subscribers. If you wish to continue reading this article:
Login to the Subscriptions Website.
To purchase a NEW SUBSCRIPTION, please
click here to go to our subscription products page.
Scouting Report
11.04.18
Thorp has an athletic frame at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. The switch hitter has loose hands from both sides of the plate, with smooth rhythm and a fluid hack. Right-handed swing is more dominant because of handedness, generates solid leverage with a strong top hand and loose finish with a gap approach and line drive power with a top exit velocity of 86 mph. Can drop the head on plane and drive the ball grom gap to gap. From the left side, he appears to emulate the same load and trigger sequence, keeping the barrel in the zone a long time, working on a flat path. At shorstop, he has soft hands out front with a quick transition through the midline that allows him play through the ball with good tempo and rhythm with smooth footwork and throw with a top velocity of 83 mph across the diamond. With his athleticism, ability to play a premium position, and sneaky pop at the plate, Thorp is going to be a quality get for a program as there is still plenty of upside.
7.23.18
Athletic, 5-foot-8, 144-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a medium, clean, loose arm swing, up-tempo, drop-and-drive delivery with good momentum down the mound with an athletic finish. His fastball comes out clean, creating tilt at 79-83 mph. His curveball has 12/6 shape with some depth at 67-68 mph. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed and depth at 75 mph. A two way player and switch hitter, from the left side he starts from a tall, relaxed, grounded stance, then picks his hands up as he lifts his leg, striding forward, landing balanced. Loose-quick hands delivery the barrel with hard contact and natural lift. Loose finish with good barrel awareness and an exit velocity of 84 mph. From the right-side, he starts from a tall stance, loading back smooth with a leg kick as he triggers his hands, tilting the barrel forward, then landing balanced. Mostly opposite field approach, the ball comes off his bat with some zip, a loose finish and easy weight transfer. At shortstop, Thorp plays with a bounce in his step and easy rhythm through the ball. Solid range and good tempo ranging to both his left and right, he stays centered over the baseball and presents his hands out front, playing soft into a quick transition. Gets rid of the ball quickly with high end accuracy and a top velocity of 81 mph across the diamond. His arm works well from different slots and he can play on the run. Expect big things from Thorp moving forward.
06.12.18
Five-foot-8,140-pound frame. Showed the ability to control his body in his swing from both sides of the plate, uitilizing a small rhythmic leg kick. Has loose barrel actions from both sides, exit velos of 82 mph from the right side, and 80 mph from the left side. Has a slightly steeper plane in his swing from the left side, with a higher finish. In the infield he showed quick twitch abilities with his actions. Thorp has quick feet in the infield, and put himself in good positions to work through the baseball in line to first base, was 79 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.05 laser-timed 60.