2018 Southern Academic Games - Outfielder Analysis

July 7, 2018
Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
North Carolina Director of Scouting & PBR Assoc Scout

Wednesday June 20th, at Davidson College, Prep Baseball Report of North Carolina hosted the 2018 Southern Academic Games, featuring high academic players from as far away as Texas and West Virginia, with a majority of the players from North Carolina. On an unbelievably hot day, position players took part in an extended workout prior to controlled scrimmages. Pitchers were able to throw to live hitters with the staff of PBR controlling the length of the innings as most players were gearing up for another weekend of contests.

With close to 40 high academic players in attendance, several took the opportunity to separate themselves in front of college coaches in attendance and the PBR staff. As part of the event, PBR will be breaking down each player, presenting the statistics from the day, with an evaluation from a PBR scout and video.

The outfield group features 9 athletes with 5 running a sub 7.20 laser timed sixty. An oppressively hot day saw several times down, but the athleticism of the group showed. Strength is present as well as 3 outfielders produced an exit velocity above 84 mph. One 2020 grad reached 93 off the bat and showed an arm with carry at 89 mph from the positional workout.

CLICK HERE for a complete look at the Southern Academic Games Roster

CLICK HERE for a comprehensive look at the statistics collected on every player in attendance.

QUICK HITTERS
+ 5 Players ran a sub 7.10 sixty, with 2 under 7.00… 11 ran under 7.30 seconds.
+ Accuracy was on display from the OF and INF workout sessions with several players showing carry as well. Two outfielders were 84 or better and 6 infielders touched 79 across the diamond
+ 5 catchers turned in POP times of 2.10 or better, with three catchers carrying their throws out of the crouch at 75 mph or higher.
+ 4 hitters with exit velocities of 90 mph or higher… 11 above 85… 23 above 80.
+ In game action, 6 arms touched 80 or better with two 2019 grads working at 86 and 87.

Southern Academic Games - Outfielder Analysis

Griffin Adkins OF / Cabell Midland , WV / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 1

5 feet 11, 160-pound athletic build. Strength and quickness are present. Ran a 6.96 laser timed sixty on a day most times were down a bit due to the heat. Right handed hitter with a balanced setup. Smooth load using a leg kick, keeping a quiet barrel. Fluid swing with good balance and barrel awareness. Barrel works short to the ball and staying level through the zone. Line drive approach looking to stay gap to gap with ball off his bat topping at 78 mph. Simple swing, repeats it, staying direct to the ball. Showed an understanding of the strike zone in game play as well. Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and fluid feet. Works to keep the ball to the outside of his left foot through the catch. Some effort in the exchange and transition. Long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot with some accuracy to his throws. Positional velocity peaked at 75 mph.

Dylan Castoria OF / RHP / Hough, NC / 2021

Large frame at 6 feet 3, 185-pounds. Projectable build. Hits from the right side using a closed, balanced setup. Toe tap in his load with his barrel falling as he begins to approach the ball causing his swing to get long and work slightly uphill. Hands finish high. Looks to stay gap to gap with ball off the bat topping at 82 mph. Good balance throughout. Defensively, average hands in the outfield. Cautious through the ball, catching off the left foot. Long transition from the midsection to a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Lacks finish on his throws at times but still shows carry and some accuracy. Positional velocity peaked at 81 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.55 in the 60-yard dash.

Jeffrey Frey III OF / Hough, NC / 2019

6 feet, 175-pound build. Offensively he works from the left side with an athletic, open setup. Uses a small leg kick during his load, getting back in line with his feet and maintaining a quiet barrel. Barrel works short to the ball, staying in the zone and getting extension out front. Good hands with feel for the barrel using a line drive approach. Average bat speed. Exit velocity peaked at 84 mph. Plays through balls in the outfield with soft hands, clean exchanges and long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Glove works out front off the left foot, transitioning above the chest and out in front of the body. Accurate arm with carry to his throws peaking at 73 mph. Ran a 7.48 in the 60-yard dash.

Zack Michael OF / Apex, NC / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 18 / POS: 2

5 feet 10, 170-pound athletic build. Speed and strength are evident. Toolsy player that is raw at times but with high upside. Ran a 7.09 sixty on the laser timer on a very hot day that saw most times down a little. Offensively, hits from the left side using an athletic, balanced setup. Small leg kick in his load, barrel working to vertical, getting his foot down early and lower half through the ball. Loose hands with above average bat speed. Looks to drive the ball in the gaps getting good extension out front. Fluid swing with ball off the bat topping at 87 mph. Barrel awareness tends to match head discipline - as the head stays quiet he finds the barrel. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with soft hands, quick, fluid feet, and clean, quick exchanges. Aggressive to the ball. Trust in is hands. Easy exchanges. Long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Occasionally falls to the glove side on his follow through. Accurate arm with advanced carry to his throws topping at 84 mph.

Christobal Perez OF / C / Raleigh Charter, NC / 2019

Average 5 feet 9, 160-pound athletic build. Some strength present. Ran well, turning in a 6.82 laser timed sixty on a sweltering day where most times were down a bit. Switch hitter. From the left side uses a tall slightly open setup. Leg kick in his load with the hands working down. Starts his load late at times causing his swing to get out of sync and his barrel to work in and out of the zone. Tends to stay on the back side with average balance. Some feel for the barrel with average to slightly above bat speed. Looks to stay gap to gap with ball off the bat topping at 78 mph from the left side. Uses a tall, open setup from the right side. Goes back in his load with a short stride. Barrel works level through the zone getting long at times. Stays on the back side, lacking some balance through the finish. Sweeps the bat a little more from the right side. Works mostly middle to pull side with his exit velocity recorded at 82 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with soft hands, fluid feet, and clean, quick exchanges. Aggressive to the ball with trust in his hands and feet. Easy catch, just outside the left foot with athletic transitions at the midsection. Long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot. Good arm speed. Accurate arm with carry to his throws topping at 77 mph.

Mitchell Picton OF / 2B / Hough, NC / 2019

Average 5 feet 9, 145-pound build. Switch hitter. Some quickness in the body, running a 7.18 sixty with a good burst off the line. Time should continue to improve as strength gains are made. More strength from the right handed. Athletic, balanced setup from the right side. Smooth back in his load with a short stride. Simple swing with feel for his barrel. Good balance. Direct to the ball. Line drive approach using the whole field with his barrel working level through the zone and getting extension out front. Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph from the right side. Slightly open setup from the left side. Uses a small leg kick with his barrel working level through the zone and getting long at times. Wristy swing, lacking some balance at times. Shows feel for the barrel with average bat speed. Looks to stay in the middle of the field with his exit velocity peaking at 78 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and fluid feet. Aggressive to the ball and with his exchange. Works the ball to the midsection for the transition. Fluid crow-hop with looseness in the arm swing. Over-the-top slot. Accurate arm that peaked at 75 mph.

Ethan Roller OF / SS / Panther Creek, NC / 2021

Average 5 feet 9, 150-pound build. Some quickness in body and should improve the 7.37 sixty with increased strength. Hits from the right side using a slightly open setup. Wide base with the hands resting off the back shoulder. Slight waggle in barrel as it stays in a 45 degree launch position. Smooth back in his load with a short stride. Stiff hands cause his barrel to work in and out of the zone at times. Stays on the backside with a high finish to the hands. Average bat speed and barrel ability. Exit velocity peaked at 78 mph and should improve with added strength and getting his lower half more involved in his swing. Average hands in the outfield with a long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot. Cautious through the ball, receiving it on or inside the left foot. Transitions to the midsection with some looseness in the body and arm. Accurate arm with positional velocity topping at 75 mph.

Aidan Voorhees OF / OF / Powhatan, VA / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 139 / POS: 18

Thin 5 feet 7, 125-pound build. Room to add strength. Athleticism is present. Twitchy runner ran a 7.01 sixty, but with an excellent burst off the line and showed an ability get down the line better than this sixty suggests. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Short stride with a small load in the hands back. Barrel works from a flat position to a 45 degree launch position. Lower half glides through the baseball, lacking some hip rotation that can cause him to be long at times. Wants extension. Barrel works level through the zone, getting around balls at times. Exit velocity recorded at 72 mph and should improve with added strength. Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and fluid feet. Short arm action, loading the scapular, throwing from an over the top slot. Slight stiffness in release. Accurate arm that peaked at 74 mph.

Matthew Walker OF / SS / Saint Stephens, NC / 2020

5 feet 10, 165-pound strong, athletic build. Ran a 7.28 sixty on a day most times were down a bit. Exit velocity of 93 mph off the barrel. Tools are present. Hits from the right side using an athletic, balanced setup. Short stride with his hands and feet loading in sync. Barrel works short to the ball, staying level through the zone and getting extension out front. Looks to drive the ball in the gaps. Above average bat speed with strength in his swing. Repeats his launch position and swing consistently. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands. Aggressive to the ball, receiving it off his left foot and transitioning at the midsection. Short arm action, loading the scapular, and working to a high-¾ release. Big carry with the top positional velocity peaking at 89 mph out of the hand. Has some feel for accuracy.