PBR Limited Series Lynchburg Thursday Quick Hits
July 17, 2020
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Throughout the course of this four day tournament we will be adding to the quick hit list, highlighting players that stood out. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to see more from the PBR VA/DC Limited Series Lynchburg tournament.
PBR VA/DC Limited Series Quick Hits
Sterling Austin 3B/2B St. Christopher's 2022
Rhythmic load back with fluid hand separation. Strong, compact swing with quiet hands and solid lower half involvement. Quick hands through the zone with a middle of the field line drive approach. Pulled his hands in nicely on a fastball inside and drove it over the left fielders head for a double in the first game.
Cooper Newell RHP/OF Hickory 2022
Athletic, projectable 6'1" 170 pound frame. Short, compact swing with twitch and rhythm at the dish. Smooth back load with nice hand separation and quick hands through the zone. Some lower half involvement with a solid gap-to-gap line drive approach. Went 2-2 with two hard line drive singles in the first game. On the bump, Newell works from a full arm circle with easy effort. Athletic, strong leg drive down the mound from a mid to high three-quarter arm slot. Loose arm action with a heavy fastball with late life and good arm side run that exploded out of the hand. Works both sides of the plate with command of his three pitch mix. Fastball sat 84-87 mph. Breaking ball showed several shapes at 69-72 mph and changeup had late fade at 80-82 mph.
Mason Sawyers IF/RHP Culpeper 2022
Athletic body type. Quiet actions at the plate with a short, compact swing. Keeps his hands inside the ball well with a smooth middle of the field, line drive approach. Went 2-3 in the first game with a double down the right field line and a single up the middle. Showed consistent hard contact. On the mound, Sawyers throws with short arm action from a three-quarter slot. Slight arm side run on the fastball that sat 75-76, top 77 mph.
Mikey Arce 1B/RHP Mountain View 2022
Tall, athletic build. Throws with longer, loose arm action from a high three-quarter arm slot. Shows command of his two-pitch mix with fastball playing to both sides of the plate. Fastball sat 78-80 mph with a big curveball at 66-69 mph with 11/5 shape.
Projectable 6-foot-1, 150-pound frame with plenty of room to add strength. Works with a long loose arm action from a high three-quarter arm slot. Normal effort repeatable delivery and lands slightly closed at foot strike. The fastball sat 80-83 mph through his three innings of work. The fastball tended to play up in terms of velocity because of his ability to spin the breaking ball. The curveball had bigger 1/7 shape at 65-67 mph and worked to both sides of the plate. Showed ability to put the breaking ball on the back foot of right handed hitters getting multiple swings and misses. Intriguing arm with a high ceiling as the frame can hold good weight and should have more velo jumps in his future.
6-foot athletic frame with visible strength, especially in the upper body. The arm action is full and free working from an over the top slot. The fastball was 80-83 during his one inning of work. Toward the end of the inning he was able to reach back and grab one 85 and one 86 to end it. Showed the same level of effort while grabbing that extra velo. Had average feel for the 12/6 breaking ball with tight shape and sat 70-73 mph. Did not get many swings, or chases with the breaking ball, but if he can start it in the zone more then the shape and depth plays enough to be a solid secondary pitch.
Athletic frame with some projection left to it. Arm is short and quick and throws from a three-quarter arm slot. Gets shoulders and hips slightly uphill while engaging the lower half well. Fastball flashed some run while working it to the arm side, while also maintaining the ability to work in to right handers. Used an occasional breaking ball that sits at 65-66 mph.
Nico Rodriguez OF Mountain View 2021
Compact frame standing 5-foot-11, 180-pounds with some athleticism present. Level path to contact and does a nice job getting barrel to ball. Had a single to right in his first at bat and then would later line out to center field. Displays above average range in the outfield with above average arm strength.
Hunter Miller LHP Turner Ashby 2021
Solid 5-10, 220-pound frame. Works with a lower effort delivery with hips and shoulders level moving down the mound. Arm action is short with some deception in the arm swing. Throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. The fastball was 79-81 mph and had visible run to the arm side of the plate. The breaking ball had loose shape at 71-73 mph and was used sparingly.
6-foot, 155-pound frame with projection left. Fairly low effort delivery with a long loose arm stroke. Throws from a low three-quarter arm slot and gets distinct arm side run to both sides of the plate. Fastball sat 76-80 and touched 81. Breaking ball got better as the outing progressed with 11/5 shape and sat 69-72 mph. Pounded the zone with two pitches and forced early contact.
Tanner Thomas C/CIF/COF Liberty Christian 2022
Athletic 5-foot-10, 185-pound with some present strength in the frame. Athletic setup at the plate with square stance and toe tap stride. Hands show minimal load and are short to the ball. Barrel control and awareness at the plate. Flew out to left in his first at bat, later had a line drive single to center, and then singles to right field later on in the night. Thomas had one of the more complete offensive showings on opening night.