(Note: these notes were to be
posted on Rising Prospects website prior to SoCalHSBaseball.blogspot.com)
The second annual Rising
Prospects showcase took place December 6th & 7th at
San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, California. The showcase is designed to allow
players to perform in front of college coaches in a competitive setting while
also using a combine-like workout to gather hard data.
Over 35 college coaches
attended the event representing Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA,
and JUCO levels. From the Big XII to the Ivy League and everywhere in between,
college coaches had an opportunity to see some of the top uncommitted talent in
one place. Players came from as far as Canada, Washington, and Utah to
participate in the showcase.
Below are some notes (in no
particular order) on players that stood out during the two-day showcase.
Showed a very balanced swing
with fast hands that allow him to connect on balls on the inner half of the
zone. Very good barrel awareness and plate discipline along with strike zone knowledge.
Runs very well; tracks balls well in the outfield and possesses a strong,
accurate arm.
Thick, physical build on this
former football player who has big power potential. Swing is short to the ball.
Leary shows good strike zone awareness and doesn’t waste at-bats. Defensively
was very impressive as he showed good movement in blocking balls and popping
up. Remains quiet on pitches not in the dirt. Showed good arm strength popping
1.91 – 2.03 both between innings and in-game.
Josh Alaniz – 2015 – OF/2B – R/R – 5’11”/165 – Live
Oak HS (Morgan Hill, CA):
Interesting prospect that had
tough luck at the plate but showed good hitting skills. It seemed every ball he
hit was right at somebody, but the ability to get the barrel in the zone is
there. Despite the tough luck he remained true in his approach by not chasing
balls out of the zone. Strong, accurate arm from the OF to go with speed to
track down most balls.
Anthony Agrusa – 2016 – 3B – R/R – 6’0”/185 – Laguna
Hills HS (Laguna Hills, CA)
Line drive hitter that
peppers both gaps. Uses his quick hands allow him to get balls all around the
strike zone. Possesses average speed but is quicker than fast. Gets out of the
batters box in a hurry. Goes hard every play.
Interesting prospect that
seems to do everything well, but nothing exceptionally. Solid defense, arm,
speed, all play at the next level. The hitting tool is a little more
projectable than the other tools. Smooth swing that shows some pop. Stays back
and attacks the inner half of the ball. Gets the arms extended at times which
provides glimpses of power.
Sam Moore – 2016 – C – R/R – 5’10”/185 – Maple
Mountain (Mapleton, UT)
Showed better in-game defense
than during the workout portion of the event. Blocks well and seemingly has
glove in proper position no matter of where ball is going. Good instincts in
dealing with the running game. Understands how to call a game. Popped 2.08 –
2.19 in-game. Possesses a line drive swing that gets a bit long at times. Good
plate coverage and strike zone understanding.
Tyler Hazlett – 2016 – C – R/R – 5’10”/150 – Temple
City HS (Temple City, CA)
Very intriguing prospect that
possesses good tools all-around. At the plate he shows a smooth, balanced
swing. Keeps his weight back and really drives into the ball. Showed very good
plate coverage. Runs well (4.5 to 1B) for a catcher. Has a very good
understanding of the game. Good defensive actions behind the plate while
remaining quiet back there. Good receiver with soft hands. Also pitched, but
his future is behind the plate.
Chris Johnson – 2015 – RHP – R/R – 6’1”/235 – Willow
Glen HS (San Jose, CA)
Not an overpowering pitcher
(topped at 85) but his pitches are difficult to pick out of the hand because he
does a good job of hiding the ball with a pronounced back turn. Keeps his hand
behind the ball and it explodes out of his hand. Understands pitching.
Sequenced his pitches very well mixing a solid curve ball and developing
changeup.
Good pitcher that competes on
every pitch and doesn’t give in to good hitter. Mixes pitches well with a
smooth, repeatable delivery. Mechanics are solid but by no means is he is
finished product. Worked in the 82-84 range wit the fastball.
Long levered pitcher with a
clean, repeatable delivery. The arm speed is average but it works well. While
still growing and filling out, it’s easy to see Whipple adding velocity in the
future. Flashed a tight spinning curveball that worked down in the zone. Good
command of the fastball that showed late movement.
Dylan Johnson – 2017 – OF – L/L – 5’9”/150 – Palo
Verde HS (Blythe, CA)
Explosive bat with very good
bat speed that resulted in lots of line drives during BP and in-game at-bats.
Defensively, he positions himself very well in order to maximize throw with a
strong (85MPH LF-3B), accurate arm. Average runner (4.60 to 1B) but understands
base running.
Big, physical build. Flashes
big power potential with a line drive swing that he keeps in the hitting zone
for a long time. Relentless defender with an above average, accurate arm from
third base. Good understanding of the strike zone and doesn’t waste at-bats.
Emilio Rosas – 2018 – SS – S/R – 6’0”/155 – Mater Dei
HS (Santa Ana, CA)
Silky smooth defender with
very good footwork and body control that compliment his quick hands and strong
arm. Makes all the throws on the bag. Lacking a bit of present strength, Rosas
has a very good understanding of hitting and is very selective while covering
the entire plate. Above average runner.
Tony Bullard – 2018 – SS/RHP – R/R – 6’3”/170 – JW
North HS (Riverside, CA)
Had one of the best BP rounds
of any player in attendance regularly driving the ball to the opposite field
gap. Carried that over into in-game at-bats where he barreled everything up.
Swing tends to get a little long at times and he did chase some pitches showing
his aggressiveness. Smooth defender with very good actions at SS where he has a
chance to play at the next level, but his future is likely on the mound where
he uses a very clean, repeatable delivery. He commands the strike zone from
black-to-black and up-and-down with a fastball that touched 87 and a tight
spinning curveball. He uses his long levers to his advantage and the ball
explodes out of his hands.
Maxwell Foxcroft – 2018 – OF/2B – L/R – 5’8”/145 –
Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, CA)
Flashes incredible bat speed
that allows him to get barrel on balls in on the hands. Despite his diminutive
size he’s built solidly. Line drive hitter that possesses plus speed (4.08 to
1B); is a very aggressive base runner. Uses his speed to cover a lot of ground
in the outfield, but his future in at 2B where he showed very good defensive
actions and is an “all out” type player.
Robert Gonzalez – 2017 – OF – R/L – 5’9”/160 –
Redlands East Valley – (Redlands, CA)
A good defender that shows
good body control and awareness of where ball is going, Gonzalez gets good
jumps on balls off the bat and always seems to be in proper position upon
arriving. Uses a strong, accurate arm to keep runners at bay. Gap-to-gap hitter
that should only get better with added strength.
Michael Sandoval – 2017 – SS – L/R – 6’0”/175 –
Roosevelt HS (Corona, CA)
Exceptional defensive
shortstop that runs, throws, and hits at a high level. Very good footwork and
body control along with a strong arm allows him to make all the throws. Fast
hands and advanced pitch recognition allows him to get to balls anywhere on the
plate. Gets the barrel in the hitting zone that results in line drives all over
the field. Flashes some power potential, but will likely hit for a high average
in his career instead of big power numbers.
An advanced defender that
possesses a strong arm that compliment his natural instincts very well. Seems
to always be in proper position to make plays. Max effort defender with very
quick hands and transfers. Shows very good bat speed that should translate to
more power with added strength. Consistently uses the middle half of the field
when hitting.
Marcos Castanon – 2017 – SS – R/R – 5’10”/165 – Carter
HS (Rialto, CA)
Combines a very good
understanding of the game with natural instincts and above average athleticism
at the shortstop position. Knows where to be on every ball in play and
possesses a very strong arm across the diamond. Smooth defender that flashes speed
when necessary. A good hitter that does not waste at-bats.
Zack Sherwood – 2017 – 1B – R/R – 6’3”/195 – Saddleback
Valley HS (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Unquestionably the biggest
bat of the event. Sherwood consistently drove balls to the warning track and
beyond. Using a smooth right handed swing, the big first baseman got the barrel
to, and through, the ball all weekend. Drove balls to all fields using a short
stride and leg kick to trigger what referred to as a “violent” swing. Showed
very good strike zone awareness and, because of his size and length, was able
to cover the entire plate. Shows good footwork around the bag at first base.
Very athletic catcher who
possesses a strong, accurate arm to control the running game, consistently
popping in the 1.99 – 2.08 range both between innings and in-game. Blocks balls
in the dirt well and is quick out of his crouch to make plays. He is an athlete
playing catcher who happens to be a good catcher. At the plate he shows some
power potential in his short-to-the-ball swing that consistently finds the
barrel.
Isaac Esqueda – 2017 – LHP – 6’0”/175 – Bishop Amat HS
(La Puente, CA)
Came in highly regarded by
many of the local college coaches and he did nothing to discredit the praise. A
legitimate strike thrower who has the off speed pitches (curve ball, changeup)
to keep hitters off balance. Pounds the zone from black-to-black and varies
pitch sequence every time through the lineup.
Brandon Deiter – 2017 – RHP/SS – 6’0”/155 – South
Hills HS (West Covina, CA)
A very intriguing prospect
because of the advanced nature of his delivery that is clean and repeatable.
Deiter hides that ball well with a high leg kick and full shoulder rotation.
His arm is long and straight in the back before whipping through the pitching
zone to generate good arm speed. Also mixes his pitches very well. Was told by
several coaches that he’s also a legitimate Division 1 shortstop prospect
although he only pitched at the showcase.
Isaiah Davis – 2016 – OF/RHP – 6’1”/170 – Carter HS
(Rialto, CA)
Incredibly athletic player
who can play any of the outfield positions. Also pitches and showed plenty of
potential on the mound.A 6.68 runner in
the 60, Davis uses his speed to cover a lot of ground in the outfield where he
possesses a strong arm and the savvy to position himself to make plays. On the
mound he presently is more of a thrower than a pitcher but was up to 87 with
his fastball and 79 with the slider while showing off his incredible arm speed.
At the plate is where he opened eyes all weekend. Barreled everything up and
more times than not, drove the ball solidly to the gaps. On one play he hit a
dribble past the shortstop that he extended to a standup double flashing his
noticeable speed.
Solid defensive middle
infielder that uses his lateral quickness and body control to get himself into
position to make plays which compliments his arm strength. Gets the barrel in
the zone and keeps it there. Should add strength with more physical growth.
Flashes speed (4.36 to 1B) on the base paths.
Physical, aggressive hitter
that doesn’t waste at-bats and shows very good strike zone awareness along with
plate coverage. Speed fits the outfield corners but projects better at third
base after a very good infield workout.
Mattson has shown incredible
improvement since the summer and he displayed it on Saturday during his two
innings on the mound. Showing late run on his fastball and good depth on his
curveball, Mattson worked quickly and quietly in his outing. With a good frame
that will add bulk, the right-handed pitcher will be one to follow in the
future.
Colton Hector – 2016 – RHP/1B – 6’4”/205 – JSerra HS
(San Juan Capistrano, CA)
From a pure physical
standpoint, not many players could match what Hector brought to the table.
Showed pretty good footwork around the bag at first base along with a good arm
during the workout portion of the event. At the plate, it appears he is a minor
tweak away from being a dangerous hitter. As is, he was consistent in his
approach and squared up his fair share of balls. On the mound is where he
caught the eyes of most coaches. His fastball showed a lot of life and late run
which complimented his tight, late breaking curveball. An intriguing prospect
to follow the next two years.
Korey Lee – 2016 – C/RHP – 6’0”/170 – Vista HS (Vista,
CA)
Arguably the top catcher at
the event, Lee solidified his reputation as one of the top 2016 catchers in
Southern California. Very nimble footwork behind the plate and shows soft hands
when receiving to go with a strong, accurate arm that pops 1.96 – 2.08 both in
between innings and in game. A line drive hitter with impressive bat speed, Lee
projects to add some power to his swing with some minor adjustments. Decent
runner (4.65 to 1B).
A very impressive outing that
featured an 86-88mph fastball and a 77-78mph slurve that kept hitters off
balance. The slurve had the sweeping action of a slider and the depth of a
curveball. Showing off-the-charts command of both pitches, Agramont had college
coaches taking notes. Mixed pitches well and never repeated pitches on
consecutive deliveries. Showed a lot of athleticism in running the 60-yard dash
in 6.7 seconds.
Top combine numbers for 2015 Class
Home to First
4.19 – Patrick Mann – Villa
Park HS (Villa Park, CA)
4.36 – John Zanze – Canyon HS (Anaheim Hills, CA)
4.41 – Jacob Johnson –
Arlington HS (Riverside, CA)