Future Games Team Mid-Atlantic Spotlight: John Simmons

VA/DC Scout Blog

Athletic makeup with some lean strength to the frame. Simmons is a left handed bat with nice offensive upside. Barrel awareness and seems to have the ability and feel for adjusting with counts. Square athletic stance with balance throughout. Quick leg lift to stride landing on line. Short direct hand load and a quick level path to contact. Flew out twice to left field and singled on an inside fastball that he was able to pull the hands in on and deliver the barrel to contact. Started at second base and is an adequate defender. Long term think he profiles more at corner infield and corner outfield. 

VA/DC State Games

Simmons is 6-0 with an athletic frame that has some strength present and projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, low leg kick stride on line, short smooth load back. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Hands stay inside, short and very quick to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing with a strong contact point and good extension through the ball, showed a good approach working gap to gap primarily, power present in the gaps with more to pull side, still projects to add more power, exit velocity was 91. In the infield, rounds ball and fields with a wider base and above average hands. Works through the ball to a quick clean echange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short quick arm action, infield velocity was 83. Ran a 7.01 60 yard dash.

TPG West

Simmons is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, low leg kick stride on line, smooth load back to a slight wrap. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Hands stay inside, short and quick to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing path, showed a good approach working gap to gap, some strength at contact with gap power potential, exit velocity was 83. In the infield, rounds the ball and fields with a wider base and above average hands, works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters slot, position velocity was 83. Ran a 7.22 60 yard dash.

Preseason All-State II

Simmons is 5-11 with a lankier athletic frame that has a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, strides in place, loads back into a slight wrap. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside, short to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing path, has a strong contact point with extension through the ball, exit velocity was 83. In the infield, rounds the ball and fields with above average hands. Clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, velocity was 81. Ran a 4.25 home to first.

Top Prospect Games West

Simmons is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from an athletic stance, short stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball, short and quick to contact with strength at contact point and some extension through the ball. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing with some loft built in, showed ability to use the middle of the field but prefers to pull, exit velocity was 79. In the infield, rounds ball and fields with soft hands. Works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 80. Ran a 7.42 60 yard dash.