8/24/2013 10:10:48 PM
Black #76 1B Kobe Atkins (2016, Arabia Mountain HS, Stone Mountain, GA) has a big shift into contact but keeps balanced well and doesn't drag his hands with him. His shift and strong 6-1/200 build combine to produce big bat speed and power from the right side.
Columbia Blue #26 C Tucker Pate (2016, Karns HS, Knoxville, TN) is another very strong sophomore with a 6-0/200 build and very impressive strength from the right side of the plate. He can get long at times but has present bat speed and is loose and tension free in his swing.
Dark Green #5 C James Williams (2016, Harrison HS, Kennesaw, GA) is not a big catcher at 5-11/165 but he has quick hands and a good swing with good shift through contact and lots of projection as he gets older and stronger.
Dark Greeen #10 SS Tyler Mowry (2015, McIntosh HS, Peachtree City, GA) is going to have to add strength to his 5-9/155 build to show power but he's a very polished right hander who will likely hit for a very high average in high school over the next two years with just the swing and strength he has right now.
Gold #4 C Manny Chavarria (2015, Lee County HS, Smithville, GA) was a late add-on to the event roster but stood out with the bat, showing a loose swing with quick hands and loose extension out front that resulted in consistent pull line drive contact.
Gold #7 OF Michael Strait (2015, South Forsyth HS, Cumming, GA) has a bit of spin in his approach but it works for him due to his strength and barrel control. He consistently drove the ball hard and the ball jumped off his bat hard.
Gold #15 C Jack McPherson (2015, Mountain Brook (AL) HS) looks bigger and taller than his listed 5-10/175 size and hit the ball like it too. He squared up everything from the left side, showing both his hit tool and some lift in his swing, with good loose extension out front.
Gold #17 C Reilly Johnson (2015, Winter Haven HS, Lake Wales, FL) isn't big at 5-9/150 but he hits with confidence and aggressiveness from the right side. He has very quick hands and uses them well.
Gold #28 OF Greg Pickett (2015, Legend HS, Aurora, CO) put on one of the three most impressive BP displays of the 300+ hitters today. He's a 6-4/210 left handed hitter who made the ball park look very small, lofting balls into the top of the trees beyond the scoreboard in RCF in what we call "Jason Heyward" territory at East Cobb. He looks to hit the ball high and far and did it easily and consistently.
(note: I asked PG Scouting Director Greg Sabers if he stacked the Gold team roster with hitters and he said absolutely not, he had no idea. But the Gold team had the best collective group of hitters among the 22. -- DR)
Kelly Green #11 SS Cory Watt (2015, A.C. Reynolds HS, Asheville, NC) is a projectable 5-11/160 right handed hitter with a loose swing and the ability to drive the ball squarely to all parts of the field with a well balanced swing and some bat speed.
Kelly Green #8 OF Harrison Sloan (2017, Greater Atlanta Christian HS, Norcross, GA) is a freshman and is 5-7/125 and not strong enough to really drive the ball yet. But I wanted to mention because he has absolutely top shelf hitting mechanics and should keep doing exactly what he's doing now; it's just a matter of getting bigger and stronger.
Kelly Green #52 RHP Will Pierce (2016, St. Aloysius HS, Vicksburg, MS) deserves to be mentioned in the highlights for his bat speed and strength and the way the ball jumped off the barrel. He also deserves to be mentioned because he's listed as a pitcher only but was in the top 15-20% of all the hitters in BP and we wonder why he isn't at least listed as a secondary position player.