The Invite-Only 2019 Top Prospect Games took place on Wednesday, June 27th at the Kansas City Royals Complex in Surprise. The event featured many of the state's top rising seniors and gave players an opportunity to to be evaluated by a number of colleges coaches and pro scouts in attendance as well as earn consideration for our premier pro scouting event, Super 60 this winter. Today, we start the event analysis with some Quick Hits on a few prospects who stood out. At an event of this caliber we cannot possibly include everyone who performed well and also posted a number of brief notes and videos throughout the day on Twitter. Coverage of the event will continue in the coming weeks with all our our positional breakdowns and every player getting a complete individualized scouting report in their profile.

Complete video, data and pictures are already posted to players' individual profiles. As always contact [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona on Twitter with any questions and/or information.

TOP PROSPECTS EMERGE

-Uncommitted 2019 RHP/OF Nick Wallerstedt has always intrigues with his frame, athleticism and arm strength, but he took his game to a completely different level on the mound. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wallerstedt sat in the low 90's during his inning of work, touching 93 and 94 when he reached back for a little extra. The combination of athleticism, lightning arm speed and protection in the body make him a premium prospect that will vault way up in the state and national rankings when updated. He also featured a 76-78 mph true slider with tilt and depth that looks like a future plus pitch and showed feel for an 80-82 mph change in warmups. While there is still some rawness to his game, having just recently started to focus more on baseball, the sky is the limit and we could be looking at a future high-end draft pick who I could easily see as a 95-97 mph guy at some point. Wallerstedt also remains a true two-way prospect, turning in a 6.7 60-yard dash, 91 mph outfield velo and 94 mph exit velo despite some crudeness in the swing. He could also develop into a high-end defender in center or right field as he's continually shown impressive bat reads and the ability to cover signifiant ground out there.

-2019 RHP German Fajardo may have set a record for quickest commitment after a PBR event, giving his verbal to Arizona less than an hour after leaving the mound. Fajardo is generously listed at 6-foot, 165-pounds, but pounded the zone with 89-90 mph fastballs from a 3/4 arm slot with some effort and real intent. The real standout pitch was a true slider at 78-80 mph with late two-plane break. Fajardo has always been intriguing as an undersized RHP with some few who sat in the mid-80's, but the recent uptick in velocity makes him a no brainer and a likely early contributor for the Wildcats.

-Uncommitted 2019 IF Nathan Baez has remained somewhat under the radar for some time after missing a significant portion of 2017 with injury, but seems to be garnering plenty of interest these days as he always takes impressive BP and has made significant improvements on defense where he now looks likely to stay up the middle. His 87 mph infield velo represented a significant improvement and he's always played faster than his 60-time would indicate. The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect shows significant present strength in his developed upper body and has a chance to become very physical with continued development. 

-BYU commit McKay Barney can really run, often posting times around 4.0 down the line during the spring and he again put his speed on display, turning in the top 60-time of the day with a 6.59. Plus runners in the 60 don't always translate on the bases, but Barney is very adept at using his speed on offense and should be able to be an early college contributor at the top of the order and in LF (where his arm plays best).

-Uncommitted 2019 C Kyle Hasler shows about ss much arm strength as you'll see, posting an impressive 83 mph velo from the crouch and a best pop time of 1.87. Hasler also has a strong swing (93 mph exit velo) and performed well in the middle of Hamilton's lineup this spring. The swing is a bit mechanical with a very early deep hand load and when cleaned up could elevate his prospect status even further.

SIGNIFICANT JUMPS

-Uncommitted 2019 LHP Matthew Rohnert isn't the most physical pitcher in the class, but he comfortably sat 84-87, touching 88 and showed the ability to fill up the strike zone with three pitches. Bohnert has previously looked more like a D2 or juco guy, but the huge velo jump may change that in a hurry.

-Uncommitted 2019 1B Justin Flebbe didn't really stand out on a few short looks this spring, but showed off a really intriguing combination of raw power and bat speed that you wouldn't expect from his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. He has a chance to be a plus defender at first and launched a home run just foul during game action at the event.

 

 

-Uncommitted 2019 Joseph Spivey lists himself as a primary 3B, but the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder will fit much better at 1B/DH moving forward. Either way, there aren't many high school prospects capable of producing a 100 mph exit velocity off a tee and Spivey did just that, making him an intriguing prospect who may fit well at a junior college where he'll have an opportunity to prove it translates facing college pitching.

-Uncommitted 2019 IF/RHP Jacob Alexander has always looked the part and is starting to scratch the surface of what he could be. Listed at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds, Alexander looks even taller and shows the same smooth actions and swing we've seen from him previously. He's also recent;y taken up pitching, touching 85 with a clean arm action and could be very intriguing for a strong juco while he continues to develop physically and potentially reaches his very high ceiling.

-Uncommitted RHP Brandon Childers is coming off an outstanding spring season at Desert Vista and has always shown an ability to sink his fastball and get outs, giving up lots of soft contact. On this day the strong-bodied 6-foot-1, 205-pounder touched 85 which should help elevate his prospect status as we've previously seen him more in the low-80's.

-Uncommitted 2019 LHP/OF/1B Danny Marshall showed the ability to get outs all spring at Queen Creek, working mostly in the high-70's and low-80's with a breaking ball in the zone. Marshall is a very solid athlete (6.95 60-yard dash) and really defends 1B and RF, but is starting to look more like a college pitcher as he touched 85 mph on this day and could be a nightmare for LHH out of the bullpen in college.

UNDER THE RADAR NO MORE

-Uncommitted 2019 OF Noah Thompson was a complete unknown coming in to the event, but that didn't last long as he was one of only a couple prospects to leave the yard during BP at the Royals Complex. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect could develop into a very physical presence and already possess standout raw power. Looking to lift and pull, Thompson has a significant uphill bat path and bigger swing, but showed an ability to be on time in game action. He's relatively new to the game and the upside appears significant.

-Uncommitted 2019 OF/RHP Seth Nager has been under the radar after undergoing Tommy John, but really stood out with his swing, athleticism and projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame. Anger posted a 6.83 60-yard dash and despite not being cleared to throw at max effort yet, was reportedly into the mid-80's as a sophomore prior to injury. If the arm comes back at full strength this fall we could be looking at a potentially high-end prospect.

-Uncommitted 2019's Paul Sachen (6.60), Cody Hedalen (6.63), Bailey Scroggin (6.63) and Dylan Cuenca (6.66) all posted the type of run times that should earn themselves an opportunity at the next level.

-Uncommitted 2019 LHP Tanner Isaacs ran his fastball up to 84 mph with very thin 6-foot-2, 155-pound frame. Isaacs' arm works well and will be an intriguing follow as his body continues to mature and add strength/mass.

-Uncommitted 2019 RHP Jonathan Weiss showed he can pitch at the next level, sitting 84-86 with his fastball and mixing in a short 12-6 curveball with tight rotation that he was able to throw both in and below the zone.

-Uncommitted 2019 C Tyler Cotto was a late addition to the roster and didn't catch in game action, but it's clear he can really throw. Cotto posted an event best 1.86 pop time with quick feet and on-line carry and appears to be a DI defender at the position.

-Uncommitted 2019 RHP/IF Dallan Curthoys showed some intriguing tools in our first live look. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound prospect appears to have a higher ceiling on the mound as he's not a great runner at present, but also took a solid BP and moved comfortably on the infield. Curthoys  touched 85 mph with his fastball, 

ADDITIONAL STANDOUTS

-Uncommitted 2019 C Anthony Sortino turned in a big offensive spring at Horizon and he was able to find the barrel with authority during both of his live AB's. Sortino shows present strength in his listed 5-foot-11, 208-pound frame and threw better than I've seen from him previously, posting a best pop time of 1.95 with a quick transfer and solid footwork.

-Uncommitted 6-foot-5, 225-pound RHP Will Armbruester goes to high school in Washington, but played his summer ball in Arizona and brings an imposing physical presence. He sat 85-86 on this day and with a slight uptick in arm speed could become and even higher level prospect on the bump.

-Uncommitted 2019 RHP's Adam Parra and Tyler Magin have been on the PBR radar since last fall and are two of the better available arms in the state. Both ran their fastballs up to 88 and continue to look like Division I prospects.

-Uncommitted 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mason Kokodynski brings a legitimate physical presence and drove the ball with authority to all fields during his round of BP, also posting a 93 mph exit velo. Kokodynski currently spends most of his time in the outfield, but projects best to 1B at the next level.

-Uncommitted 2019 catchers Trey Newman, Dylan Skov and Ethan Snodgrass don't possess elite physical tools, but have all performed at a very high level in high school and have consistently shown the ability to handle a pitching staff and find the barrel in game action.

-Every time I see uncommitted 2019 3B/RHP Holden Breeze I like him more. Breeze has a knack for finding the barrel in live game action, doesn't ever seem to make errors and has improved physically across the board, posting a 7.18 60, 84 mph infield velo and 91 mph exit velo while running his fastball up to 85 mph on the bump. His 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame doesn't stand out, but the production becomes hard to ignore the more you see him play.

-Uncommitted Kenneth Jimenez was the only 2020 prospect at the event and appears to have found his best position behind the plate. Jimenez has surprising juice (90 mph exit velo) in his 5-foot-7, 170-pound frame and turned in a best pop time of 2.01 with 78 mph velo from the crouch. Jimenez also ran significantly better than we've seen previously with a 7.07 60-yard dash.

-Uncommitted 2019 IF Ty Mead isn't flashy but made plays from every infield spot during game action and improved his testing numbers across the board with a 7.04 60-yard dash, 84 mph infield velo and 90 mph exit velo.

-Uncommitted 2019 OF Peyton McGregor may be the best physical specimen in the 2019 class with a strong, athletic 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame. McGregor shows elite flashes during BP and also showed at least a 50 arm from the outfield. If the elite student (Ivy level) is able to put it all together in game action at some point soon he could vault way up the rankings.