Bridger
Slade

Committed: Salt Lake CC

2022 PBR West Coast Games

One of the most improved players in the state over the course of the last 4-5 months. Slade took off this past summer playing for CBA Summit out of St. George, UT and had a great summer, being invited to the Top Prospect Games, the West Coast Games and finally the All-State Games. Slade is strong and put together and can punish the ball from the left side of the plate for a 17 yr old, with consistent 100+ mph exit velos and he saved his best for the end of fall event on Sunday with an event best 104.4, after an event best 102 at the Top Prospect Games. The hand and bat speed have remained impressive as he gets the knob turned, with a slight barrel wrap. This will need to be fixed, but the bat speed is elite at 86 mph and the hand speed gets the barrel started at 25 mph. What Slade is able to do is really release the bat head out front and accelerate his hands and the barrel to contact, which produced a line shot that left the ballpark at 389’ to RCF and out of the park. It was 3-4 balls that he blistered during the BP portion of the workout. Look for a big season in 2023 out of Bridger!

A physical broad muscled athlete with a two way profile. Tough to say where he fits on one side of the ball yet vs the other. Does show really good hitting metrics with present power and an unorthodox style to hit. The load is a deep hand launch w/the bat laid back and flat in back as he starts his hands and knob to the ball, which creates torque and bat speed, though it could be difficult to catch up to better pitching at the next level, but he does show 100-103 mph exit velos and has hand and bat speed with strength to impact the ball. Plays 1B/OF and looks to be more comfortable as a 1B’man. Fields out front, but can get choppy on his actions and foot work. Does have tools, yet just needs to translate into game performance, #’s wise. On the mound, the delivery is flexible with a high kick up top and stretches out down the rubber to use the slope and pitches downhill with angle. The arm action is short and compact thru a TQ/HTQ slot and has a loose wrist to finish the FB 82-84 and can spot up to both sides. Can have some inconsistent command at times, yet showed really well at the West Coast Games and made quick work of hitters in his 1st inn of work. The CB has the beginnings of some shape, though can spin w/some looseness in spin and back up at times. Needs added depth with getting over and on top of the pitch better, as he tends to get around the pitch and create sideways spin, creating some flat plane. May be a candidate for a SL in his future. The intrigue here is a physical put together build with well defined muscles, and impacts the baseball, while sitting at or near the top in EV at every event, while the LH arm pumped K’s. Is a great teammate and is eager for instruction and wants to get better and learn!

Positional ProfileLHP/1B
Delivery:
Arm Action: 80.
FB: T84.3, 82-84 mph. T2255, 2161 average rpm.
CB: 71-72 mph. T2471, 2213 average rpm.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B

Hits: LHH.
Power: 103 max exit velocity, averaged 93.3 MPH. 335' max distance.
Arm: LH. INF-80 mph .OF-80 mph.
Defense:
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 84.76 Edge Score

At 6-2 185, Bridger has a classic athletic and well proportioned next level build and from the left side of the mound, that's intriguing. Though not the hardest of throwers, the tucked compact balanced delivery has some deception and can be tough on LHH's as he has a late shoulder turn out front. The arm slot is low TQ to side arm and there is some restriction thru the shoulder capsule, that prevents some unlocking of more velocity, but this can be tweaked by better posture and a little higher slot, which won't take away the deception, as there is some natural cross fire in the delivery to begin with. Though the velocity is a bit low right now, with proper instruction and the right pitching coach, some further development can be unlocked. Would like to see him this fall and winter again.