On Sunday, April 12 the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour rolled through southeastern Tennessee, with a stop at the McCallie School in Chattanooga. The Blue Tornados were TSSAA Division II-AA State Champions in 2014, and boast an AstroTurf infield along with a 6,600 square foot covered hitting pavilion.

Normally runners are on display at a synthetic surface ballpark, but on this day velocity was a bigger part of the story — as a pair of 2015 right-handers topped at 85 mph with their fastballs.

2015 RHP Phil Spargo

Zack Wilcox (Walker Valley HS – Cleveland, TN) is listed at 6-foot and 160 pounds, and used a quick arm to generate an 83-85 mph fastball. He spun an upper 60s breaking ball with some depth, and showed some feel for a low-to-mid 70s change.

Phil Spargo (Copper Basin HS – Copperhill, TN) worked between 82 and 85 mph with his fastball and featured a sharp low 70s breaking ball with tight 11-to-5 action. He also showed a slightly flatter breaking ball, along with a 69-71 mph change.

2017 OF/RHP Walker Sasser (Harrison HS – Kennesaw, GA) posted 6.81 in the 60 yard dash, easily the best of the day. He has a chance to hit too, mainly thanks to quick hands and a good feel for the barrel. The ball got off his bat at 82 mph, and he showed athletic actions in the outfield to round out a solid overall set of tools.

2016 SS Jordan Artime

The only other sub-seven run time was turned in by 2016 SS Jordan Artime (Morristown West – Chattanooga, TN) at 6.96. In September 2014 he posted 6.89, and then in December 2014 he ran 6.90 — giving him a solid history of sub-seven run times in the recent past.

Though he was the youngest catcher in attendance, 2018 C Nathaniel Tate (Coffee County Central HS – Manchester, TN) posted the only sub-two second pop time at 1.98. He also turned in the highest raw velocity, with a mark of 86 mph. He has some ability to work with at the plate, but his arm strength and catch-throw skills are clearly his strength now.

2017 C Jason Avers (Walton HS – Marietta, GA) showed advanced receiving and blocking skills, but was unable to throw due to a tender arm. He sat well and moved with subtle and quiet actions to receive, and showed the body control and athleticism required to range laterally for balls in the dirt. A right-handed hitter, he hit from a balance approach and made a coordinated move with quick hands to the zone and some bat speed through contact.

Ross Chandler

Other top pop times were turned in by 2015 C Yokito Pinder (Riverside Military Academy – Gainesville, GA) at 2.04, 2016 C Dylan Childress (Flowery Branch HS – Braselton, GA) at 2.06, and 2015 C Brian Oliver Jr. (Walker Valley HS – Cleveland, TN) at 2.12. Oliver showed right-handed raw power, along with above-average receiving and blocking skills.

2017 RHP/3B Chandler Ross (Guntersville HS – Guntersville, AL) posted the highest bat exit velocity at 84 mph. He showed soft, sure hands defensively along with an accurate arm — giving him skills to build on both offensively and defensively.

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.