Chris
Billings

A two way kid who caught my attention at a snowbird scrimmage in St. George at the end of January. Displayed his strength and aggressive demeanor at the Preseason ID and continued that momentum at the Preseason All-State as well. With EV’s over 100 mph and a FB form the left side, that touched a personal best of 86, with a lean yet strong muscular build, Billings already fills out the uniform nicely with his man strength to come. Has the type of tool set to man 1B in the lineup everyday at the JC level and comes out as an aggressive left on left type that gets arm side run to the FB and should be tough on LHH’s. A strong junior year at the plate and on the mound should propel Billings into a stronger senior campaign. 

Billings was recommended to me by his HS coach, Matt Bezzant, and I was asked to come speak to the Lone Peak team a few weeks back on a trip they made to St. George to get out of the cold and practice and scrimmage. I was able to watch Chris take BP and interact with him, before seeing him at the Preseason ID. I left impressed with Billings size, strength and natural loft to lift and drive the baseball. An intriguing two way LHH with a fast bat 27.6 hand speed and 80.6 bat speed, which is alite, though you will get these readings when you meet the ball way out front. But nonetheless impressive. The EV was the leader in the clubhouse at 102.4 and one of the top couple recorded in the state over the last year and half. On the mound there is an intriguing arm as well, as the arm is fluid and has natural arm strength to top out at 86 mph with the FB and sat 82-85. I can see more in the tank, as he rushes his delivery at times and can get out of sync and rely on arm strength. The statistical numbers as a junior are enough to leave room for even bigger strides as a senior, as Billings hit .345 with 6 2B's a triple and 2 HR's, while finishing 7-3 on the mound as the ace, with a 4.14 E.RA and 45 K outs in 38 IP. The walks are little high at 27, but with some lower 1/2 tweaks in the delivery, I can see a 86-89 FB with added control come mid season.