Ben Connor

@EliChowning busted his rear over the winter… Has really put himself in the best position moving forward for his career

Starting the year off well. First 2 outings of the year combined 8.1 ip, 14k’s, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 1 hit. Also hitting .500 with 3 doubles and a homerun @BlendrofGr8ness @PrepBaseball_SC @diamondprospect @BenConnor9 @DiamondElit3 @PanthersProgram

Went 2-3 tonight with a rbi double and a bunt for a hit.

Highly touted 2026 RHP Parker Reavis getting the nod for Carolina Forest. Right away showing a three pitch mix and a + changeup. FB: 88-90 BB: 78-80 CH: 82 North Florida signee @ForestBaseball #DP2026

The answer is simpler than you would think. In general, bad hitters you pitch away, occasionally show in off or up in to keep honest. Good hitters you have to pitch in. Have to. My last post I showed 2 charts on Beltre and Miggy. Go look at their numbers on FBs in the 9box illustration. To your point, great hitters have all the same general approach and don’t adjust their path or approach according to the pitcher. Several years ago I ran some numbers, from lefties and righties, on pitch location percentages across the league. These numbers are rough and could be slightly different now, but it makes sense from my experience behind the plate. These numbers were for RHHs only. 68% of pitches thrown in a MLB game are located middle of plate to away. So, almost 3/4 pitches thrown to RHH’s are located middle to away. As a catcher, I knew how hard it was for pitchers to locate in. 3/4 results of the pitch call are negative, UNLESS you are pitching in to show for away. Ball, HBP, you yank it back over middle in(no bueno), or you paint it for a strike(bueno). My hitting coordinator my first year in the minor leagues was Mike Lum. Go look him up. He played with Hank Aaron. Anyway, I asked him what Hank’s hitting approach was. He said Hank didn’t care about location of pitch, he just tried to hit the ball hard back up the middle. Stay back on off speed and drive it up the middle. @RealCJ10 same thing. Back spin the ball through the CF wall. I never cared about other team’s reports on me. I looked for a pitch I could hit hard back up the middle. Little late? Drive it oppo, little early, I’d pull it. Stay back on offspeed. Simple, but I always wanted to drive it back up the middle hard.

Kid is a savage!!! @sawyersmithSS8 will continue to be successful due to work ethic and skill set… Kid is a cage rat w/ @BenConnor9 #TrainWithLions #WolvesEatSheep #DE

2026 MIF Sawyer Smith @NMBAthletics @sawyersmithSS8 HHB into LCF for an RBI single to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Good swing path here. @NewberryBSB recruit #PBSCisThere

2-3 tonight with 💣#4. @WestAthletics18 @FDTCbaseball @diamondprospect @PrepBaseball_SC @traeallison888 @BenConnor9

Somebody needs to get this dude @AidenRico7… Definitely Amazing Dude that is an huge impact on & off the field Not to mention the rest of his numbers right now

Good first week of region play going 2-0. 3-3 tonight with 💣#2 and 3. @traeallison888 @BenConnor9 @WestAthletics18 @diamondprospect @PrepBaseball_SC @FDTCbaseball

Thank you @PrepBaseball_SC for the write up! @BlendrofGr8ness @BenConnor9 @PanthersProgram @CoachBA22 @Brendougherty @NMBAthletics @Pthorsen11 @DiamondElit3 @Trev0r8

FA LHP Matt Mikulski 4FB: 90-93 (Avg. 14”IVB/-9”HB) CT: 86-89 (Avg. 7”IVB/0”HB) SK: 91-92 (Avg. 8”IVB/-20HB) CH: 83-84 (Avg. 1”IVB/-17”HB) SW: 76-80 (Avg. 2”IVB/18”HB) * Average: 4’5” Rel. Height Contact for more data & info #TrainWithLions #WolvesEatSheep #DE

FA RHP Elian Almanzar (@elianAlmanzar1) FB: 94-97 (Avg. 18”IVB/1.3”HB) CT: 94 (6”IVB/-1.8”HB) SL: 91 (1.8”IVB/-2”HB) CB: 84 (Avg. -9”IVB/-11”HB) SW: 85 (-1.8”IVB/-14.8”HB) *Last Time in Game: 100-102 mph Contact for more data & info #TrainWithLions #WolvesEatSheep #DE

Luke Costello so far this season: 38 AB .429/.579/1.071 1.650 OPS 🤯 6 HR 6 BB 3 K 94% Z-Con% 12% Chase%

Did it again

Great time playing in the CIT. Tournament MVP 1HR, 2 2B, 1B, 4BB .364 AVG 1.352 OPS @PrepBaseball_SC @diamondprospect @bcc_dolphins @Pthorsen11 @CoachOx18 @CoachBA22 @UNCWBaseball @GamecockBSB @USCSumterBSE @UpstateBSB @UNCGBaseball @FDTCbaseball @FSWBucs @CSU_BucBaseball

Had a great time in the CIT. We went 4-0 and won the Tournament. Had a good weekend at the plate. (HR in videos) @BenConnor9 @PrepBaseball_SC @diamondprospect @Pthorsen11 @PanthersProgram @DiamondElit3

💣 @PG_Scouting @PrepBaseballNC @BlendrofGr8ness @BridgesKyle10 @Clemdawg9 @BenConnor9

Walk-off HR #10 on the year. @ZacCole_ @Add_Braswell20 @BlendrofGr8ness @GulinoBaseball

2028 IF Kaden Lank @kadenlank_2028 @NMBAthletics Launches this pitch over the LF wall for a solo 💣 in the 4th to extend the lead. #PalmettoPower Great hand speed. 2nd hit of the day. #ECIT2026 #PBSCisThere