Bat Exit Velocity Leaders

After taking both games of a doubleheader from CCBC-Catonsville on Valentine’s Day, the Seminole State Raiders were off Sunday February 15. That left Jack Pantelias Field, on the Sanford/Lake Mary campus, available for our early spring Orlando area stop on the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout tour.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, 2017 right-handed hitting 1B Bryce Hutchinson (Spruce Creek HS – Port Orange, FL) led all players with an impressive bat exit velocity of 99 mph. Size was a common trait among the four players that posted marks above 90 mph, as each stood at least six feet tall and weighed at least 190 pounds: Phillip Felician (6’2″/210), Patrick (P.J.) Robinson (6’1″/190), Jacob Southern (6’0″/195).

Six players posted sub-seven 60 yard dashes, led by 2015 3B Dewin Bautista (Florida Air Academy – Melbourne, FL) at 6.78. Close on his heels were 2015 OF Dionis Toribio Jimenez (Florida Air Academy – Melbourne, FL) at 6.84 and 2015 RHP/OF Evan Lumbert (Boone HS – Orlando,FL) at 6.88. Viera High School teammates Patrick (P.J.) Robinson (2015 – OF – Melbourne, FL) and Darren Rodney (2016 – OF – Melbourne, FL) rounded out the top runners, with 6.90 and 6.91 respectively.

Two pitchers, one left-hander and one right-hander, showed high-level combinations of of stuff and arm action.

2015 LHP/OF Matt Hodges

2015 LHP Matt Hodges (Tampa Prep – Tampa, FL), working only from the stretch, topped at 87 and threw his two-seamer at 83 mph. His motion was decidedly simple, while his arm worked loose and easy. He spun an upper 60’s breaking ball, and showed some feel for a mid 70s changeup.

We first saw Hodges pitch in the summer of 2013 at the Team One West Showcase, where he topped at 80 mph. About six months later, at the January 2014 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, he nudged his top end fastball up a couple of miles per hour to 82. We didn’t see him again for over a year, until this event in February 2015 – where his top bolt of 87 marked a seven mph improvement in about eighteen months. Hodges has some two-way potential, offering a solid set of tools as a L/L OF in addition to his abilities on the mound.

2015 RHP/OF Evan Lumbert

2015 RHP Evan Lumbert (see above) topped at 86 with his two-seam fastball, and touched 84 from the stretch. His breaking ball had 11-5 shape with late break at 76-78 mph, and he threw a slider in the same velocity range with slightly flatter action.

Lumbert has real two-way potential, and posted impressive results in nearly all of our athletic tests. He ran 6.88 in the 60 yard dash, and missed the top broad jump mark by just an inch at 8’11”. His grip strength measures were among the best as well, at 126.4 psi left-handed and 125.4 psi right handed. He applied his grip strength well for bat exit velocity, posting a mark of 85 mph in that category.

Top broad jump performers:

9’0″ – Darren Rodney (OF – 2016 – Viera HS – Melbourne, FL)
8’11” – Evan Lumbert (RHP/OF – 2015 – Boone HS – Orlando, FL)
8’10” – Troy Singh (OF/RHP – 2017 – Lecanto HS – Beverly Hills, FL)
8’9″ – Matt Morgan (C – 2017 – Lake Highland Prep – Windermere, FL)
8’8″ – Devon Connors (C/3B – 2017 – Steinbrenner HS – Lutz, FL)

2016 3B Pablo Cedeno

Top grip strength performers (psi = pounds per square inch):

155.0 psi (L) / 146.8 (R) – Pablo Cedeno (3B – 2016 – Lyman HS – Longwood, FL)
147.0 psi (R) / 144.8 (L) – Devon Connors (C/3B – 2017 – Steinbrenner HS – Lutz, FL)
144.2 psi (R) / 140.6 (L) – Cody Mercer (C – 2017 – Bolles School – Jacksonville, FL)
138.6 (L) / 106.4 (R) – Roberto Enriquez (OF – 2015 – Florida Air Academy – Melbourne, FL)
136.2 (L) / 112/2 (R) – Phillip Felician (1B – 2016 – Forest HS – Ocala, FL)

In addition to 90+mph bat exit velocities (see chart above), two catchers also posted pop times below 2.0.

Through a release highlighted by quick feet and an ability to carry his throws though the bag, 2017 C Jacob Southern (Apopka HS – Mount Dora, FL) posted workout times between 1.88 and 2.04. A right-handed hitter standing at 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds, he he offered indications of hitting ability in addition to the previously mentioned raw power indicating 92 mph bat exit velocity.

2017 C/OF Miguel Perez (Olympia HS – Orlando, FL) featured a quick exchange to post release times between 1.97 and 2.09. He posted a 7.10 60 yard dash, and showed a good first step in the outfield. Also a right-handed hitter, his hands were quick to hit and he did a good job of spraying the ball all over the field.

With a low time of 1.95, 2015 C Tucker Smith (Leesburg HS – Fruitland Park, FL) was the only other catcher to post a sub-two second release time. 2015 C Allen Cripe (Eastridge HS – Clermont, FL) finished right on the number, with a low time of 2.00.

The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour is rolling through all 50 states. Tryouts are held for players ages 12-14 and 14-18. Don’t miss your opportunity to Be Discovered.

Find an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout near you and register online or call (800) 641-4487.