NASHVILLE, TN — The  Knoxville Rising Stars was held at Grace Christian Academy on Saturday, April 4th that featured some of the top talent in the 2030-2031 classes. Players went through a pro-style workout with TrackMan and VALD Performance tech, while pitchers threw in a bulllpen setting and were able to get data and metrics on our TrackMan unit.

Some prospects built on past showings, while others made strong first impressions.

We begin our post-event coverage with a look at some of the top performers from the event, with more breakdowns and full scouting reports coming soon.

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QUICK HITS ✍️

Finnley Holmes (McMinn County, 2030) is an athletic middle infielder that showed well out the plate creating good lift off his backside and keeping everything to the middle of the field. Finnley showed advanced actions in the infield portion with good feet and a strong arm. He should have the ability to stay in the middle of the field long term. In the 60, Finnley ran a 7.07 which should tick down well under 7 as he enters high school. 

Brooks Lyttle (Grace Christian, 2030) showed up big on Saturday showcasing super twitchy actions at the plate as a left handed bat barreling multiple balls to the pull side. In the infield, Brooks shows actions beyond his years with great timing and a strong arm already up to 87 MPH. In the 60, Brooks ran a 6.75 which is a blazing time for an 8th grader. Brooks will be one of the top players in the 2030 class for Tennessee. 

Matthew Massey (Farragut, 2030) has an imposing frame standing at 6’3 170 lbs with more room to grow as he gets into high school. At the plate, Matthew creates good lift and uses the whole field well. On the mound, Matthew’s ceiling has no limits with a fastball that was up to 79 MPH and good offspeed to go with it. Matthew uses his length well with repeatable actions and pitches that will get on hitters quick because of the reach. 

Preston Morris (Baylor, 2030) comes in with quite the pedigree with two older brothers that play at a high level at Baylor with one already committed to play at Alabama. Preston looks to be on that same track with twitchy actions at the plate and a balanced approach keeping everything to the middle of the field. On defense, Preston looks to have options as both an infielder and outfielder showing the ability to play both with a good baseball IQ.

Luke Easley  (Loudan, 2031) The 7th grader had a standout day in multiple facets and matched up well against his peers and kids a year older. There’s a lot to like about Easley’s profile at this stage, especially when you factor in the combination of left-handed feel to hit and early physical strength. The 2031 infielder showed one of the more intriguing offensive looks in the group, posting a 78.8 mph bat speed with a peak exit velocity of 90 mph, pointing to real impact potential for his age. At the plate, Easley works from the left side with traits that suggest natural barrel feel and developing power. The data supports a hitter who can create lift and carry (278 ft max distance) while still maintaining enough control of the barrel to square balls up consistently. As he continues to refine timing and sequencing, there’s clear upside for him to grow into a gap-to-gap power bat with future over-the-fence juice.

Camden Holt (Brentwood Academy, 2030): There’s a well-rounded, athletic profile to Holt that stands out immediately, especially when you pair his offensive metrics with two-way ability on the mound. The 2030 prospect shows a blend of bat speed, strength, and versatility that makes him an intriguing follow moving forward. At the plate, Holt produced a 91 mph max exit velocity with a 74 mph average EV, pointing to real present impact for his age. The batted ball profile is balanced (27% GB / 27% LD / 40% FB) with a 40% sweet spot rate, suggesting a hitter who already understands how to create lift and drive the baseball. With a 299 ft max distance, there’s clear evidence of emerging power, especially as he continues to add strength to a 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame.

Hayden Free (Oak Ridge, 2030): There’s a physical, strength-driven profile to Free that stands out right away, and it shows up on both sides of the ball. At 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, the 2030 prospect already brings a compact, powerful build that translates into present impact and a well-rounded skill set. Offensively, Free produced a 74.4 mph average exit velocity with an 89 mph max EV, pointing to consistent barrel strength and the ability to impact the baseball. His batted ball profile (25% GB / 25% LD / 42% FB with a 50% sweet spot rate) suggests a hitter who naturally creates lift and solid contact quality. With a 274 ft max distance, there’s already gap-to-gap power with flashes of more, especially as he continues refining his approach and timing. Mechanically, the data supports a hitter who works with intent and leverage. The elevated fly ball rate paired with a strong sweet spot percentage indicates a swing that can produce carry when squared, and with continued development, there’s upside for that power to become a more consistent game tool.