Eason
Hurd

Hurd showed well on Wednesday at the Future Games as both a hitter and infielder. Standing at a 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, Hurd features projectability and room to grow as a to-be junior. During his infield session, Hurd reached a max velocity of 83 mph from the shortstop position, displaying clean actions. Offensively, hands remain still during his load, bringing a slight leg kick, flat bat path, and a short swing. Found barrels on Wednesday, as Hurd had hard hits in 67% of his batted balls. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Athletic frame throughout, strong lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched setup. High hands, stay high. Small leg lift. Closed, controlled stride.  High connection. Feel for his hands. Quick to deliver. All fields. Hard contact.
Power: 91.1 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph.
Defense: Hands out front, feet move well and stays active, sets up to work through the baseball, above average body control.
Run: 7.08 runner in the 60.

Hurd was an athletic, skillful infield prospect inside the state’s sophomore class. Standing 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, Hurd ran a 7.08 in the 60-yard dash with notable leg strength for his size. During his batting practice, Hurd worked out of stock crouched, wide setup with his hands high, and they stayed high to enter the zone. With a controlled leg kick and striding slightly closed, he connected high to his posture, and was quick to deliver 70 mph barrel speed to the zone with flat pat. Hurd showed high-end feel for his hands and barrel, and consistently drove backspin line-drives with out-front contact points. Hurd is an impressive right-handed bat who can use the whole field with ease coupled with advanced feel for his swing. On defense, Hurd looked the part of an athletic defender who moves well with above-average hands that play out front and work though the baseball.

High bat-to-ball skills at the plate, knack for consistently making contact. Comfortable working on a line drive plane to all fields, competes in the box and puts together quality at-bats. Top-of-the-order type. Sure-handed defender on the infield, too. Hurd has a developing reputation as one of the state's most dependable right-handed hitters.

5-foot-9, 160 pounds; strong, lean, athletic build. Emerged as a two-way follow to know as we get more familiar with this incoming Class of 2024. Started GRB Rays Green’s first game of the tournament. Worked three innings, struck out six, walked only one. Easy, quick, loose arm action, short arm circle, high ¾ slot. Consistently attacked the zone with fastball sitting 75-77 mph, touching 78, throughout. He confidently mixed in a breaking ball with action that flashed sharp off an 11/5 plane; located a couple down and away to right-handed batters that earned chases out of the zone. Also showed as one of the more competitive right-handed hitters of the weekend; has an innate feel for the strike zone. Patient hitter who shows a mature approach to pick out pitches to drive. Smashed an 0-2 breaking ball down the left field line for a double against Top Tier Americans and worked a hard-earned walk in his next at-bat. A quiet, short swing path on a slight incline; inherent/advanced bat strength.

Eason Hurd (Ashwaubenon; 2024) has a physical build with natural strength that shows well on the mound and from the plate. He sat in the mid- to upper-70s throughout his three innings, but his breaking ball was tight and sharp, and he seemed to throw it exactly where he wanted to and at will.

5-foot-7, 135-pound two-way prospect with some projection. Hurd helped propel GRB Rays Green 13U to a 17-1 win over Fox Valley Freedom by blasting a two-run homerun over the left field wall. He finished the game 4-for-4, collecting four RBIs, and also added two doubles and a single to his line as well, all of which came off the barrel hard. Hurd showed an advanced approach for his age, hitting from a tall/open stance with a leg kick trigger. He has a pull-side approach with some power potential. On the mound, Hurd side steps into a high leg kick, working level and on line to his target. Compact arm action from a high ¾ slot, and his arm speed is quick for his age. Fastball sat 69-73 mph working downhill with a slight, occasional run. Showed some early feel for a tight curveball with 11/5 shape, 64-65 mph.

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-foot-7, 135-pounds.
Defense: Steady hands, clean exchange leads to quick release of baseball, showed some range to his front and back hand.
Arm: RH. INF - 64 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, short stride with leg kick.  Quick hands, level path to the baseball, simple swing.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Starts in middle of rubber, side step initiates delivery, level shoulders, worked in line with target, open landing.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, accelerates his arm quickly through a high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T72, 70-71 mph. Has downward run to it.
CB: 63-65 mph. 11/5 shape, flashed late tight action.
CH: 60-63 mph. Circle change, thrown near fastball speed, has fade to it, good feel for pitch.