The Performance Academy Open ID - Pitcher Analysis

On Saturday November 11^th, Prep Baseball Report held an open prospect identification, in conjunction with the Performance Academy, at Jim Perry Stadium, on the campus of Campbell University.  With over 70 players in attendance, PBR ran a full pro-style workout, gathering information on each player in attendance.

Position players were up first, going through a full offensive evaluation that included a laser timed 60 on the turf at Campbell, an exit velocity test off a tee in the cage area, and several rounds of batting practice, live on the playing field.  Following the offensive testing, a full defensive evaluation took place with outfielders throwing from right field, infielders working out at shortstop and at first base, and catcher being evaluated on pop times, blocking and recovering, and receiving. 

Following the position players, pitchers and catchers were evaluated in a bullpen setting.  Delivery, arm action, arm speed, stuff, velocity, and command were all taken into account as scouts dialed into each arm in attendance. 

PBR scouts in attendance were able to take stats on each player in attendance, while compiling evaluations on players that will lead to potential invites to the Preseason All-State, Top Prospect Games, the Future Games, and the Super 60.  Player statistics are available, with evaluations and player video coming in the near future.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the statistics compiled.

Below is a look at 7 of the primary pitchers in attendance.  Each arm is in the 2020 - 2022 graduating years.  Six of the arms also participated as dual position prospects, going through the full offensive and defensive workouts.

By The Numbers:

+ 72 players worked out at the event.  All players ranged from 2020 – 2022 graduates.
+ 17 players ran a sub 7.20 sixty on the laser timer.  
+ 7.51 was the median sixty time for the event
+ 91 mph was the top arm velo on the day from Infielder Daniels Stephens (2020)
+ 6 players worked at 83 mph or better across the diamond with a median infield velocity of 73 mph
+ 89 mph was the top OF velocity with 6 at or above 82 mph from right field.  The median velocity was 75 mph
+ 18 catchers worked out with a median pop time of 2.12 and a median positional velocity of 72 mph out of the crouch
+ 2 catchers posted a sub-2.00 pop time with 7 at or below 2.10
+ 2 hitters broke the 90 mph barrier in exit velocity with 13 above 85 mph.  The median exit velocity was 80 mph
+ 87 mph was the top Fastball in the bullpen sessions
+ 6 players worked at 81 mph or better, out of the 16 bullpens
+ 78 mph was the median fastball for the event.

Pitcher Analysis

Jackson Hubbell LHP / Broughton , NC / 2022 Average frame with some length in the limbs at 6-foot, 160 pounds.  Some effort in a delivery that works level and on-line, landing square as a long arm swing works to a high-3/4 slot.  Stable head throughout, centering over the back side.  Short strider, there is some rhythm and the delivery continued to build more strikes throughout the bullpen session.  Front side can be early creating run and misses to the arm side.  Fastball was down in the zone, with some feel for the glove side at 68-70.  Breaking ball works near the arm speed of fastball with early, gradual downer tilt, ranging 57-60.  Has feel for the spin.  Tends to choke the change in the back of the hand, limiting some feel.  Slows the arm at times with the change at 60-61 and action to the arm side.

Hazen Lancaster LHP / 1B / Broughton , NC / 2021 Some strength present in an average 6-foot, 160 pound frame.  Small rocker step to a leg kick to the chest level, slightly coiling the hips.  Good head stability over the rubber.  Arm pauses at the bottom of the arc before working to a high-3/4 slot.  Level, lands slightly across his line with a square foot.  Run and sink on the fastball, living in the down zone at 73-75.  Has good feel and lands his breaking ball.  Spin sits 60-63 with 1/7 tilt.  Change-up has arm side run at 65.  Hand speed mimics that of fastball. Left handed hitter is balanced and tall.  Sinks in his load.  Short stride.  Works for extension.  Strength over quickness.  Stayed gap-to-gap.  Exit velocity peaked at 73 mph.  Defensively, more comfort and rhythm when on the move.  Hips can lack some bend but catches the ball with consistency.  Long exchanges to a long arm swing and high-3/4 slot.  Average accuracy and some carry at 73 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 8.70 sixty on the laser timer.

Brandon Lovell RHP / OF / Apex Friendship, NC / 2020 Average frame at 6-foot, 183 pounds. Coiled at balance, works level, landing across his line slightly with a closed landing toe.  Arm works with a short action to load the scapular.  High-3/4 release.  Arm is at times, working to catch up with the body down the hill.  Average arm speed.  Fastball sat 74-78, occasionally cutting when on the glove side.  The breaking ball sweeps the zone at 66.  Slows the arm on the breaking ball but controls the zone.  Straight change at 64-69 works with deception out of the hand but lacks some feel.  Switch hitter shows more consistency from the left side.  Works off his back leg with a direct path and some feel for the barrel.  From the right side there may be more strength but the barrel awareness is not the same. Tends to cut across or be around balls on the right side.  From the left side the exit velocity peaked at 77 mph.  On the right side it was  up to 79 mph.  Defensively in the outfield, works to play through the ball with quick feet.  Longer arm action has some stiffness getting to a high-3/4 release.  Inconsistent with the release, the arm peaked at 82 mph.

Austin Odom RHP / 1B / Croatian , NC / 2022 6 foot, 210-pound build.  Hits from the right side using a tall, open setup.  Long stride with his lower half working partly through the ball.  Average bat speed with some stiffness in the swing.  Works mostly to his pull side.  Showed the ability to hit some line drives during batting practice.  Exit velocity recorded at 76 mph.  Average hands at first base with his feet stopping at catch.  Long arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his positional velocity peaking at 62 mph.  Filled up the zone during his bullpen. Slow tempo to his delivery with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Fastball has run and sink at 69-72 mph.  Curveball has gradual break at 60-62 mph.  Flashed a changeup with fade and sink at 68 mph.  Overall a strike thrower with feel for both off speed pitches.  Recorded an 8.48 in the 60.

Jaycob Quirit RHP / OF / Nimitz, TX / 2020 Thin, athletic frame, standing 6-foot, 130 pounds.  Plenty of room to add strength in the coming years.  Twitchy athlete ran a 7.21 sixty.  Right hander works through some effort in the arm swing to a high-3/4 release.  Slight stab at the bottom of the stroke as the arm works away from the body slightly.  Fastball ranged 77-81 with run and sink.  Late run could create issues for hitters.  In the zone consistently with the fastball, showing feel for the arm side.  Breaking ball at 66-69 with late 11/5 tilt.  Around the zone with spin.  Works level and on-line, landing square.  Quick hand through release.  In the outfield, the arm remains quick with a cleaner stroke and same high-3/4 slot.  Positional velocity peaked at 85 out of the hand with accuracy.  Athletic, plays through the ball with clean exchanges.  Right handed hitter works from a tall, athletic base.  Smooth load back.  Loose.  Short path works for extension.  Line drive, gap-to-gap approach.  Stays through balls with an exit velocity of 81 mph off the barrel.

Landon Sykes RHP / 3B / Holly Springs, NC / 2022 6 foot 3, 168-pound projectable build.  Offensively he works from the right side using a balanced setup.  Small leg kick during his load with a hand pump and medium length stride.  Quick hands with above average bat speed.  Looks to get extension out front, but the barrel gets out of the zone to quickly at times.  Works mostly middle to his pull side.  Exit velocity recorded at 76 mph.  Average hands on the infield with his feet stopping at catch.  Funnels to the midsection after catch with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm across the diamond with carry.  Positional velocity peaked at 74 mph.  On the mound he has some effort in his delivery with some head tilt to the first base side.  Long arm action with some wrist cup at the bottom, then throwing from an over the top slot.  Fastball has run at 73-76 mph.  Tight curveball with 11/5 tilt at 66-67 mph.  Changeup has fade and sink at 65-67 mph.  Shows advanced feel for both secondary pitches with late action and maintaining fastball arm speed.  Recorded a 7.86 in the 60.

Cameron Williams RHP / 3B / Apex Friendship, NC / 2022 5 foot 11, 165-pound average build.  Has projection on the mound with a loose arm.  Some effort in the delivery with a fluid tempo.  Fastball has run at 79-81 mph.  Curveball has depth, with good spin at 64-70 mph.  Flashed a changeup with fade at 64-68 mph.  Strike thrower with good feel for his curveball.  Recorded a 7.47 in the 60. Offensively he works from the right side with an open setup.  Lot of movement, with quick hands and some bat whip through the zone.  Some feel for the barrel working level through the zone.  Aggressive approach during batting practice working mostly middle to the pull side.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and average hands.  Funnels to the midsection after catch, with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm across the infield that peaked at 68 mph.