On Sunday February 22, the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout tour rolled through Southeast Ohio with a stop at Sinclair Field House, on the campus of Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

Six players posted sub-seven times in the 60 yard dash, led by 2016 OF Adam Ward (Mason HS – Mason, OH) at 6.85. 2016 OF Ryan Prendergast (Springfield HS – Springfield, OH) and 2015 SS RJ Williams (Central HS – Pickerington, OH) posted 6.87 and 6.89 respectively, followed by 2017 OF/RHP Nate Kaffenbarger (Indian Lake HS – Degraff, OH) at 6.93. A pair of RHP, Alex Jacbos (2017 – Indian Lake HS – Huntsville, OH) and Riley Landrum (2015 – Clearcreek HS – Amanda, OH), posted 6.95 to round out the top runners.

2015 SS/RHP Jared Drayton

Riley Landrum topped at 84 mph on the mound, one of only three guys to reach that number. 2017 RHP Malachi Abbott (McComb HS – McComb, OH) also touched 84 mph, while 2015 SS/RHP Jared Drayton (Richmond HS – Richmond, IN) ran his fastball up to 86 mph to lead the category.

Jared Drayton was also among the leaders in broad jump testing, with a mark of 8’9″. 2017 C Henry Barwick (Butler HS – Dayton, OH) and 2017 OF Hunter Moss (Springboro HS – Springboro, OH) posted 8’8″, followed by 2016 Connor Ayers (Pickerington – Pickerington, OH) at 8’7″ and Malachi Abbott (McComb HS – McComb, OH) at 8’6″.

2017 C Dylan Carpenter

2016 OF Ryan Prendergast (Springfield HS – Springfield, OH) led all players with a 9’0″ broad jump, and also led the raw velocity category with a top bolt of 89 mph. Other top raw velocities were turned in by 2017 C Dylan Carpenter (Little Miami HS – Maineville, OH) and Tyler Reprogle (Indian Lake HS – Huntsville, OH) at 83 mph, followed by 2015 SS RJ Williams (Central HS – Pickerington, OH) at 82 mph.

There is often a direct correlation between bat exit velocity and grip strength, but not always. We had examples of both cases in Dayton.

2016 3B Aaron Fasano (Moeller HS – Mason, OH), a right-handed hitter, stands at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds and registered an exit velocity of 88 mph against a left hand grip strength measure of 115 pounds per square inch (psi). While Fasano was tops in the exit velocity category, he was easily outside the top five in grip strength.

On the other hand, 2015 SS Desmond Helvey (Lebanon HS – Lebanon, OH) led the grip strength category (135 psi with his left hand, 138 psi right-handed), and was only a couple of ticks below Fasano in exit velocity at 86 mph. Helvey — listed at 6-foot and 190 pounds and put together well, but not as physical as Fasano — used strength in his hands and wrists to generate bat exit velocity. He also posted a respectable 7.06 in the 60 yard dash.

Other players to post grip strength measures of at least 130 psi include:
– 132 psi (right hand): Henry Barwick (C – 2017 – Butler HS – Dayton, OH)
– 132 psi (right hand): Alec Iannelli (1B – 2016 – Glen Este HS – Cincinnati, OH)
– 131 psi (right hand): Hunter Moss (OF – 2017 – Springboro HS – Springboro, OH)
– 130 psi (right hand): Ryan Prendergast (OF – 2016 – Springfield HS – Springfield, OH)

The lone catcher to post a sub-two second pop time was 2016 left-handed hitter Ryne Byrne (Archbishop McNicholas HS – Cincinnati, OH) at 1.94. A trio of 2017 grads were about a tenth of a second off the pace. Dylan Carpenter (Little Miami HS – Maineville, OH) was closest to Byrne at 2.02, followed by Tyler Reprogle (Indian Lake HS – Huntsville, OH) at 2.05, and Luke Walker (Springboro HS – Springboro, OH) at 2.06.

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.