Los Angeles Identifier Notes
June 1, 2018
The inaugural Los Angeles Identifier showcase took place on Wednesday, May 30 at East Los Angeles College and it hosted a deep roster of talented players, some known, some that made a name for themselves.
There were 39 players split into two teams and the players ran the 60, did some defensive throws, and hit a round of batting practice before participating in a nine inning game. Below are some notes from the workout.
Top 60 Times
| Name | School | Time |
| Charles Windom III | Centennial (Compton) | 6.69 |
| Aryonis Harrison | Muir | 6.69 |
| Jackson Benattar | Crespi | 6.81 |
| Damone Hale | John Glenn | 6.82 |
| Alex Sepulveda | Crespi | 6.85 |
Top Pop Times
| Name | School | Time |
| Cole Andavolgyi | North Torrance | 2.00 |
| Nick Bacura | Mira Costa | 2.01 |
| Delshaun Lanier | North Torrance | 2.13 |
| Sam Wilson | Rolling Hills Prep | 2.10 |
| Anthony Firestone | Santa Barbara | 2.14 |
There were several performances that caught our attention on the evening, many of them coming from players we weren't familiar with. Below we will take a look at the players that we felt stood out on the night. These players are listed in no particular order.
| |
Jordan Brown SS / Serra , CA / 2019The first thing you recognize when you see Brown in his hyper-athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound wiry strong frame. Brown projects as an athletic infielder that provides position flexibility and will contribute with the bat. Brown clocked a 7.0 60 time. Brown has some present power to gaps and his lean frame would indicate that more power will come with continued development. Brown shows an aggressive approach at the plate that makes his swing get a little long at times. He did make adjustments when falling behind. |
| |
Miles Jenkins SS / 2B / North Torrance, CA / 2020Jenkins caught my attention the second the event began. After sunning a 7.09 60 yard dash, Jenkins showed a very loose, quiet approach at the plate during batting practice that resulted in hard line drives all over the field. Jenkins shows barrel awareness and control along with pitch selectivity that plays in-game. Jenkins was clocked 4.55 on a turn and 8.28 to second base on a standup triple to left center field. Jenkins showed above average arm strength with online throws that flashed some carry during the defensive portion of the event. |
| |
Nick Bacura C / 3B / Mira Costa, CA / 2021Bacura is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound, physical, broad shouldered catcher that projects in a big way both behind the plate and with the bat. An average runner (7.50) in the 60, Bacura is quicker than he is fast and was timed a 4.57 with turn around first base. A solid upright setup at the plate allows Bacura to whip the bat through the hitting zone and keep it on path. Current power to the gaps could easily develop into over-the-fence power. A balanced setup with quiet actions behind the plate, Bacura's throwing motion can get a little long but there's arm strength there. |
| |
Cole Andavolgyi C / 1B / North Torrance, CA / 2019Andavolgyi from North Torrance High School stands 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with a frame that will improve with continued maturation and development. It's not soft, but it will easily add strength and mass. Andvaolgyi uses wide based setup with a left leg lift trigger allowing him to clear his broad chest to get and keep his bat on the optimal path. Behind the plate Andavolgyi is a quiet receiver with soft hands and athletic motions. Arm gets a little long on the throws, but there's present arm strength. |
| |
Jashia Morrissey SS / RHP / Venice, CA / 2019One of the most intriguing prospects at the event was Jashia Morrissey, a switch hitting shortstop with pop from the left side who happens to also show an advanced two-pitch mix with feel for a third. A 7.12 60 time can be deceiving as he shows a very quick first step with soft hands and very easy actions at shortstop. Very nimble footwork that would indicate his ability to stay at the position in the future. His throws were strong and online. Morrissey pounded hitters in with his fastball at 85-86, before unleashing a humpy curveball at 73-74 that resulted in weak contact showing a good understanding of pitching. Morrissey shows current gap-to-gap power with a consistent and balanced approach. Seems more comfortable from the left side. |
| |
Jonathan Vaughns SS / RHP / St. John Bosco, CA / 2020Vaughns is a guy that we've seen quite a bit this year but it seems every time we see him on the mound he simply gets better and looks more and more like a future professional pitcher. This isn't to discount his ability at shortstop or at the plate, at which they're both above average. But when you see his long, strong, loose & whippy arm, you can't help but project that element of his skill set. |
| |
Mahki Backstrom 1B / LHP / Serra, CA / 2019Backstrom is an imposing 6-foot-4, 220-pound giant that moves with the dexterity and nimbleness of a person much smaller. Backstrom's frame could easily maintain the addition of 15 pounds which is something to get excited about when you watch him hit. Easy power comes from his left handed bat as Backstrom hit three balls out and was pounding the gaps with the rest of his hits. Shows nimble footwork around the bag at first and scooped and fielded every ball that was low. We are told he also pitches but he didn't throw at this event. |
| |
Jackson Benattar OF / Crespi Carmelite , CA / 2021Benattar opened eyes right out of the gate with his 6.81 60 yard run and continued that impression throughout the night. A rangy 5-foot-10, 160-pounder, Benattar shows good feel for playing the outfield. A slightly above average arm produced online throws throughout the defensive workout portion. Clocked him at 4.43 home-to-first. At the plate he uses an armsy swing that results in solid contact into the gaps. Presently his hands lead the swing. Took good in-game at-bats where he worked counts and drove balls into the gaps. |
| |
Kelvin Bender LHP / JSerra, CA / 2019Bender hit a round of batting practice but it's clear that his future is on the mound. The lefty works quick with some movement in this process, but the results work. His delivery is repeatable and pretty clean although he falls off to third base side. Fastball bores down on hitters as Bender generates very good plane on his fastball at 86-87. His curveball is sharp with late break as it enters the hitting zone at 74-76 with way more in there on Bender. Listed at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds which seems pretty accurate.
|
| |
Alex Sepulveda OF / 3B / Crespi Carmelite , CA / 2019Sepulveda came out of the gates hot at this event running a 6.85 60 to open the showcase up. He continued that through batting practice where he peppered the gaps with line drives and taking one to the track from an upright, at times armsy, stance and swing. Sepulveda carried that right into the outfield portion of the workout where he showed an above average with present strength and online throws with carry. Saving the best for last, Sepulveda took a fastball on the inner half out for a solo home run in the game. Sepulveda cemented himself as one on of the top 5 players at the event in my opinion. |
| |
Damone Hale SS / OF / John Glenn, CA / 2019Hale is a guy I saw during the season playing for Glenn and was excited to see again because I'd get to see him at shortstop - he played CF for Glenn when I saw them. One of the top uncommitted 2019's in the state, Hale is a potential toolshed. He runs - 6.82 60, he throws - he has a well above average arm from the outfield and shortstop - and he hits showing present power to all fields along with over-the-fence power. Hale did not play in the game. |
| |
Sean Ogrin 2B / SS / Valencia, CA / 2020Ogrin is a grinding player shows well at shortstop but projects as a second baseman at the next level. Ogrin shows flashes of pop in the bat which may foretell of power gains in the future, but for now he's a gap-to-gap on line drives guy who can occasionally run into one. His defensive actions are smooth and consistent and he shows enough arm from the left side. At the plate he flashes hand speed with good barrel control on a level path. His back shoulder dips a bit at times. |
| |
Delshaun Lanier C / North Torrance, CA / 2022Only an eight grader Lanier opened eyes with his ability to handle himself in the moment. At 5-foot-9, 145-pounds he was much smaller than most catchers at the event but the rising freshman more than handled his own, in fact, he was one of the best defensive catchers there. We clocked his pop time at 2.13 during the defensive portion of the workout but his arm plays way up in game due to his athleticism behind the plate. Lanier moves well and receives with quiet hands. His transitions are clean and his ability to shift his body and getting into throwing position is excellent. Needs to add strength for his soft bloopers to turn into liners, but he shows good feel for the barrel through the hitting zone. Ran a 7.4 60 yards. |
| |
Dave Mieliwocki RHP / 3B / Burbank, CA / 2019Despite being listed as a right handed pitcher only Mieliwocki showed favorably at third base during the defensive workout. At a listed 6-foot-1, 190-pound, Mieliwocki looks every bit the part of a solid third baseman with smooth actions, good footwork and more than enough arm. The left-handed hitting Mieliwocki has a power swing at the plate. Weight remains back in his uphill barrel path. Showed present gap-to-gap power at the plate. On the mound is where he really projects. The ball comes out very easily and the arm actions are clean and repeatable. Meiliwocki creates nice plane on his pitches through his drop and drive motion. A short arm path from a 3/4 slot and the use of his strong lower half results in a downhill fastball at 84-86 that he bores in on hitters causing it to play up and result in weak contact. His curveball shows nice shape with depth as it enters the hitting zone at 69-71. Another guy who is a sure fire Top 5 guy at the event. |
RELATED CONTENT: