HOUSTON, Texas – It was the second of two Area Code Baseball tryouts this week for the Texas Rangers. Smaller than the tryout up in Weatherford, the talent was just as strong, and the pitching may have been stronger. It seems that every year it is the arms of the Lone Star State that stand out.
Like the first tryout there were two cuts made throughout the day, the first involving position players and the second involving the pitchers. After the second cut, players were summoned back to Baseball USA for the simulated game, that traditionally ends the tryouts in Texas.
There were a total of 14 righties that made the cut and two south paws. Every right handed pitcher touched 90 and the two lefties were around 89, which made the game that much more competitive. The only problem, and it was a good problem, was that the coaching staff has some tough choices when it comes to the team, especially the pitching staff.
Tyler Green out of Brazoswood (Texas) High School entered the tryout as a pitcher and second baseman. It was on the mound where he shined, as he was up to 95 on the gun and competed all throughout the game. He showed a good curveball and good feel for his change.
Another player who stood out was John Simms of College Park (The Woodlands, Texas) High School. The 6-foot-3, 190 pound righty was between 89-92 on the gun, with a heavy sinking fastball. He also showed a hard slurve pitch, too.
For pitcher Trevor Teykl out of Kempner (Texas) High School it was a great improvement from a year ago. Last year, when the 6-foot-7, 215 pound righty attended the tryout he was around 83-86, but this year was much different. He added more power behind his fastball and was 88-92 on the gun, during the game.
A couple of position players stood out as well. Kendrick Perkins, a 6-foot-3 outfielder from La Porte (Texas) High School was a good looking hitter at the plate. He also posted a sub-seven 60 yard time with a 6.86.
Dex Kjerstad (2010) out of Canyon Randall (Amarillo, Texas) had a good day as well. He showed well offensively and defensively and posted 60-yard time of 6.66, one of the fastest times at the tryout.
Here are the top 60-yard times:
Keenan Cook | 2B | 2010 | College Park | 6.89
Ryan Kadala | 2B | 2011 | Alvin | 6.94
Brandon Mims | SS | 2010 | Newman Smith | 6.90
Spencer Davis | SS | 2010 | The Woodlands | 6.99
Drew Webber | SS | 2010 | Episcopal | 6.99
Trey Masek | OF | 2010 | Giddings | 6.89
Lukas Forsythe | OF | 2010 | Espicopal | 6.85
John Williamson | OF | 2011 | Lamar | 6.83
Kendrick Perkins | OF | 2010 | La Porte | 6.86
Andrew Blum | OF | 2010 | Plano West | 6.95
Sean Washington | OF | 2010 | Bellaire | 6.66
Dex Kjerstad | OF | 2010 | Canyon Randall | 6.66
Chuck Keeton | OF | 2011 | Cy Creek | 6.74
Carrington Byndom | OF | 2010 | Lufkin | 6.59
Jonathan Henderson | OF | 2011 | Leander | 6.77
The Rangers roster will be announced shortly on ESPNRISE,.com and areacodebaseball.com.
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