The Invite-Only 2020 Games took place on Tuesday, June 5th at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Arizona State Sun Devils. The event featured many of the state's top sophomores and gave players an opportunity to earn an invitation to play for Team Arizona in our premier national event, the PBR Future Games in August. 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 brief notes and videos throughout the day on Twitter. 

Complete video, data and pictures will be posted soon to players' individual profiles with scouting reports to follow in the coming weeks. As always contact [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona on Twitter with any questions and/or information.

Committed Prospects Cement Their Status

-Arizona State Commit 3B/RHP Colten Keith came into the event as the top-rated player in Arizona and did nothing to change that. His 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame continues to mature and add strength which has allowed his tools to steadily improve since we first discovered him last winter. Keith turned in a 6.69 60-yard dash, 87 mph exit velo, 87 mph infield velo and 90 mph outfield velo, all tops at the event except for on the infield where he was bested by 2 mph. Despite a very high leg-lick, he shows a natural ability to be on time with the baseball and make loud contact to all fields, even driving the ball hard to LF some during his round of BP. Keith was also the best we've seen him on the mound, repeatedly touching 90 mph during his inning of work with a short, quick arm action. His breaking ball has developing into more of a true curveball at 72-76 mph with sharp 11-5 break and we also saw a soft 72 mph changeup in warmups. As a pro prospect Keith is likely a 3B/RF with elite bat speed who could hit in the middle of any lineup as a potential high draft pick, but if he makes it to school there's no question he's a legitimate two-way option.

-Arizona commit 3B/1B Jacob Berry showed without question the most present strength of any prospect in attendance and has done an impressive job improving himself athletically in recent months, putting up a 7.39 60-yard dash. Berry likely ends up at first base in college/pro ball, but it's now not out of the question that he could stick at 3rd after showing increased mobility and putting up a very solid 86 mph velocity across the diamond. Berry is a true switch-hitter and will be able to drive the ball out of any park from both sides, posting an impressing 94 mph exit velocity left-handed and nearly matching it at 84 mph from the right side. He uses a very simple swing with virtually no stride, snapping the barrel vertically into the slot and shows about average present raw power generated mostly with physical strength. Despite the level of physical maturity I could easily see Berry adding another 20-plus pounds to his 6-foot, 190-pound frame and showing above average to plus raw down the line. There's no question he can be an impact bat in the PAC-12 and could even turn himself into a pro prospect in two years if the home run power really starts to show up in games.

Long Shines

-Already highly-rated by PBR, 3B/OF/RHP Trevor Long stood out as easily the top uncommitted prospect in attendance. a true two-way player, it would be a tough call at present as to where he fits best down the road. His 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame is starting to develop and add strength, which combined with the athleticism (6.99 60-yard dash) may make the ceiling higher at 3B or RF. He showed the best right-handed swing of any player at the event, with a balanced, athletic setup, loose wrists and easy bat speed out front with some power to the pull side. Despite having the tools to play up the middle, Long's actions profile best at 3B where he shows easy carry on his 89 mph throws across the diamond. He also played some outfield doing game action and is a natural mover who should show an above average to plus arm out there if he can't stick on the infield long term. On the mound, he showed 86-88 mph velocity on the fastball, working downhill from a high 3/4 arm slot with big arm speed. Long threw two distinct breaking balls, with the tilted 76-79 mph standing out as a potential future out pitch with tight rotation and sharp, late break. He also mixed in a slower curveball in the lower-70's that also showed tight rotation and more 12-6 shape, but less consistency than the slider. There's no question Long has established himself as one of the top 2020 prospects in the state and a high-DI prospect.

Other Standouts

-IF Ryan Ellis spent most of his time behind the plate during the high-school season, but profiles much better to 2B, with his 5-foot-6, 130-pound frame and 7.00 60-yard dash. Ellis' does a great job keeping his barrel in the zone and shows an advanced, easy rhythm from the left side with the ability to make hard contact to all fields (86 mph exit velocity).

-SS Travis Warinner continues to show high-end defensive actions and could be an immediate contributor at the position. Despite not possessing elite speed (7.22 60-yard dash), Warinner shows the type of instincts that will allow him to stick at the position with plenty of arm (84 mph infield velo).

-IF/RHP Drew Bond is a true two-way player in high school, but appeared to be a considerably better prospect as a position player on this day. Bond shows impressive feel for the game and enough arm to defend any of the three infield positions and an advanced approach in the box, working hard to stay inside the baseball and making loud contact to the middle of the field.

-SS Isaiah Adams is a ways off physically, but shows the type of infield actions and athleticism (6.98 60-yard dash) that should make him an intriguing prospect for schools down the road.

-RHP/IF Daniel Davila missed the entire spring due to AIA transfer rules, but showed very little rust on the mound where he sat 85-87 mph with a compact delivery and feel to spin a tight low-70's slurve. He has previously shown very well as a two-way prospect also.

-OF Noah Nithman has always been able to run and hit, but showed the best 60 time we've seen from him (6.76) and stood out defensively in game action, making multiple plays to take away extra bases in CF.

-IF Griffen Chewing has made major strides with his game, adding significant strength to his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame. Chewing posted a very solid 88 mph exit velocity and scan definitely defend third and possibly second base at the next level.

-C Christian Rodriguez showed impressive arm strength from behind the plate (77 mph) in our first extended look at him. His left handed swing also has a chance as he shows a solid rhythm and juts needs to add signifiant strength to his 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame.

-C Tanner Spallina is a no-doubt DI prospect as a defender, posting a best pop time of 1.95 with 75 mph velocity from the crouch. In addition to his throwing ability, Spalling also excels as a receiver and blocks well. The offense is a little further away, but he shows enough strength (88 mph exit velocity) to be a contributor on both sides of the ball.

-IF Jack Nehls was solid across the board, with plenty of room to add strength/mass to his 6-foot, 160-pound frame. Neels is an athletic mover on defense, showing soft hands and easy action, likely translating to second or third base at the next level. A 7.09 runner, Nehls should also be a factor on offense as he shows loose wrists and should hit for more power as his body matures.

-RHP Zach Rogers continues to increase his fastball veto a tick or two every time we see him. On this day he pounded the zone with a sinking fastball, up to 86 mph from a low 3/4 arm slot with limited effort. Rogers projects to continue adding veto and should be very tough on right-handed hitters coming out of the pen.

-LHP/OF Drew Woody has really started to make progress physically and mechanically, turning in a 7.09 60-yard dash and 86 mph exit velo, in addition to flattening out his bat path to keep his barrel in the zone longer, Woody also ran his fastball up yo 80 mph on the mound with a clean arm action.

-3B/OF Michael Diaz couldn't run the 60 due to a minor football injury, but brings a physical presence and generates some bat speed from the left side. Diaz is the type of athlete that should be able to make rapid progress as he continues to spend more time on baseball.

-IF Efrain Manzo stood out during BP, driving the baseball with authority to the pull side and showing a combination of strength and bat speed that could produce real power. His 94 mph exit velocity was second-best at the entire event. His future defensively is less clear, however the bat could play enough to play first base if necessary.

-C Landon Wallace showed an interesting combination of tools and physical projection that make him an interesting follow moving forward. While the body doesn't instantly indicate catcher, he turned in a very solid 1.97 pop time with 75 mph velo from the crouch and posted an 88 mph exit velocity at 6-foot-2 155-pounds.

-IF/RHP Will Maxey is also starting to develop physically, posting a 6.99 60-yard dash, 82 mph infield velo and 84 mph exit velo with plenty more to come in his 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame.

-IF/RHP Seth Chick has been a well known prospect and continues to intrigue on both sides with his 83 mph fastball and 90 mph exit velocity. At this point he appears to be farther along as a hitter with some real raw power and a defensive future at an infield corner.

-3B Ryland Zaborowski has made a recent jump and may have been the best physical specimen at the entire event, positing a 7.16 60-yard dash at 6-foot-6, 205-pounds with room on his frame to become and absolute monster at some point. He moves well at 3B, with impressive actions for an infielder of his size and plenty of arm (85 mph) to generate carry across the diamond. Zaborowski shows easy power in the box, generating natural loft when making contact out front and turning in an impressive 92 mph exit velocity.

 

 

-1B Tyler Stone has shown he can hit on a consistent basis and this was no different as he produced probably the hardest hit ball of the day in game action with a stand-up triple deep to RCF.

-RHP/OF Joel Rubin has some crudeness to his game, but possesses an intriguing set of tools, with a 7.19 60-yard dash, 88 mph outfield velo and 88 mph exit velo. Rubin sprayed the ball some on this day, running his fastball up to 86 mph, but has previously reached the upper-80's.

-RHP Kai Taylor previously spent lots of time behind the plate, but is now more focused on pitching where his ceiling is the highest. Taylor touched 85 mph with his fastball and showed feel for two secondary offerings with a clean arm action and fast, loose hips that should generate even more velo as he matures.