Post by chinmusic on Jun 27, 2024 5:59:14 GMT -8
BACKGROUND:
They’re a little off the beaten path but Longview, Toutle Lake and LaCenter, Washington are points of interest for the Beaver coaching staff. In 2018, the Beavers recruited LHP Andrew Walling from R.A. Long HS in Longview who underwent UCL surgery in the late summer prior to enrolling at OSU. He red-shirted, then transferred to a JuCo in Oklahoma, then on to Mississippi State. He’s now 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA at Advanced-A Jersey Shores in the Phillies organization. At Toutle Lake, RHP Zach Swanson is the top 2024 prospect in Washington and a Top-75 prep prospect nationally. Zach joins the Beavs this fall. In 2025, RHP Justin Fuller comes to Corvallis after leading his prep and travel teams to impressive records over the past 3 years. Let’s take a look at Justin Fuller and see what he brings to the table.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Fuller attends LaCenter High School (enrollment 550) and competes in the WIAA 1A Trico District. Justin is a 3 year starter for Head Coach Hunter Weiss and has been instrumental in leading the Wildcats to a 56 -15 record in his prep career to date. Justin is 5’11” and weighs 178 and has pitched, played SS and CF during his 3 year varsity experience. Scouting reports stress his athleticism and speed, Agile and very athletic, he’s a “burner”. As a Junior at national events, he recorded 60 yard dash times of 6.60, 6.62 and 6.71. Has stolen 46 bases in 49 attempts. Has “twitchy hands and a quick bat” – a contact hitter (career K rate is 6.4%) with loud tools in an athletic frame. Has recorded outfield velo of 92 mph. His pitching metrics are FB 87-88, touching 89 mph with 2.2473 rpm spin. Tight CB at 2,196 rpm, and CH at 78 mph and 2,014 rpm. Has good control and pounds the zone. I believe he will get a long look on the mound but probably comes in as a position player, so I focused on his hitting stats. A summary of his 3 prep seasons:
STATS:
2024: LaCenter HS finished the season with a 17-7 record. They won the 1A Trico District title with an 11-1 record, then defeated Freeman 6-0 and lost to Adam Haight (again!) and Cedar Park Christian 4-2 in the WIAA state playoffs. Junior Justin Fuller slashed .411/ .515/ .500 with 1,015 OPS..
2023: The Wildcats completed the year with a scorching hot season at 23-1. They won the Trico District with a perfect 14-0 record, had a 23 game winning streak. defeated Lynden Christian HS 9-7, then suffered their only loss of the season to Adam Haight (OSU ’24) and Cedar Park Christian 6-5 in the WIAA state playoffs. Sophomore Justin Fuller slashed .352/ .449/ .605 with 1,054 OPS
2022: LaCenter ended the season with a 16-7 record and finished 2nd in the Trico District race. In the WIAA state playoffs, they lost their opening round game to Royal HS, 7-6. Freshman Justin Fuller slashed .364/ .562/ .365 with 927 OPS.
With his Senior season ahead of him in 2024-25, Fuller has already been selected to the Coaches All Tri-Co District Team twice and was named to the First Team WIAA 1A All State team as a Junior in 2024.
SUMMER TRAVEL TEAM:
Justin Fuller has played Age-Group Summer Baseball for 4 years with the Elite Baum Bats NW Travel Team. Baum NW teammates include Class of 2025 Beaver classmates, Sam Barlow’s River Hamilton and Wilsonville’s Mark Wiepert. Baum NW competes at the Pacific Northwest, Western Region (Arizona and California) and National level in tournament play. Earlier this month, Baum NW won the Western 17u MLK Tournament in Mesa, AZ and the 2024 17u Ultimate Baseball championship in Irvine, CA. Fuller and Company play good baseball. I If you want a player comparison, I think you probably could look at Talt and Reeder.
