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NorCal Preseason All-State Corner Infielders

February 6, 2020
Ryan Ozella
NorCal Area Scout

Lathrop, CA: The annual NorCal Preseason All-State was our latest stop on the road to the California State Games setting up shop at Islanders Field on a cool and foggy day. The weather didn’t stop us from getting to see a large group of talented players at this premier early season showcase with those players ready to show their fall/winter development as their high school seasons are just a few weeks away. This invite only event roster saw just over 70 players in attendance. 

Players were put through a customary pro-style workout that included a laser-time 60-yard sprint, a round of batting practice, defensive workouts at respective positions, and concluded with bullpen sessions for pitchers. We purposely did not include games because we didn’t want to put pitchers who aren’t ready to face live hitters in that situation.

A large majority of the players have been on our radar from previous Springs, Summers and Falls or previous PBR events. A few were attending their first ever PBR California event giving us a first look at these players in a showcase setting. No matter how many times we may have seen players, this was another great showing with many players leaving a lasting impression and quickly getting added to the spring follow list. 

With so many players at the event we've begun rolling out positional breakdowns. We showcased our Quick Hits, Stats Leaders, Catchers, Middle Infielders and today we focus on the Corner Infielders (3B/1B) from the event.

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CORNER INFIELDERS


Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-0, 180 long and lanky frame with some strength across chest. High hands, opened stance using high front foot; good spacing with longer stride allowing hands to move through the zone with barrel speed occuring on turn. Gets on plane early and ability to showcase bat speed as he finishes high above the back shoulder; balls jumped through the middle and gaps with good strength off the barrel (88 EV). Footwork was fair at 3rd with some rhythm into the baseball; tended to play with head high leading to pushier actions of the glove. When he worked in time with the baseball and stayed low the throws were firm across the diamond with better carry than velocity showed (77 INF). Frame has some projection and the bat speed plays.

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-1, 205 sturdy build with present strength in the upper half and shoulders. Narrower stance with hands at back shoulder and high back elbow; utilizes soft foot lift with hands working back in slight load. The direct hands keep a firmer barrel path and showed quickness through the zone; tendency to pop up out of posture leading to longer barrel path. Stayed inside and behind the ball well working the LCF/LF with liners on upward barrel path (90 EV). Athleticism in the hips with light feet and ability to get low keeping a flat back and glove out front; glove worked well independently and able to open the hips for plays to both glove and arm side. Also showed the ability to move well at first picking balls out of the dirt and using athleticism to pop hips to clear for good throws to the bags. Arm is compact and high release showing strong accuracy and firm throws; played better than velocity and more available in the arm (77 INF). Skills to play either corner and some projection in the bat.

Scouting Report

PBR Norcal Preseason All-State: 6-1, 185 stout build with thicker lower half and space for young weight to shape. Barrel rhythm with hands at back shoulder in wider base; leans back in load with hands lifting before quick fire to baseball. Quick turns allow barrel to have speed out of turn behind him working barrel upwards through the zone with control; created easy lift to the gaps and there may be more power present with maturity (86 EV). Moved well around and off the bat at 1st playing with better athleticism and good footwork attacking the baseball; loose arm is able to adjust to different throws keeping it on the bags (73 INF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 190 squared shoulders and firm build with some present strength. Flared elbows in a balanced stance with bat flat on back shoulder; leans into load with hands working back on soft stride. Hands stay tight to the body through turns allowing him to keep a level bat through the zone; can continue to improve ability to lock in front shoulder to keep barrel path in the zone longer. Strength plays in the bat when he goes to pull gap and stays in the middle of the field (93 EV). Shows fair footwork at 3rd with wider rounding of the baseball and higher hips; flashed some ability to open up and make plays on the move. Arm was compact with high release; led to throws sailing on him and can work on moving through the baseball with lower actions (72 INF).

Scouting Report

PBR Norcal Preseason All-State: 6-1, 150 long and wiry frame with space throughout to keep adding strength to the frame. High hands/high back elbow with slight crouch starting hands above back shoulder; hands pulls back as body shifts backwards on higher front foot. Load creates some stretch as the hips start the swing allowing hands to stay connected to the body; when on time was able to show quicker turns and more lift through the zone (77 EV). Able to read the hops staying behind the ball and showing some ability to open the hips when going to glove side; higher hips and glove. Arm is loose and showed quick hand speed from the lower slot with more available when he hopped on the mound (72 INF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-3, 190 high waist squared shoulder frame with some current strength. Tall stance with flared elbows keeping hands lower in stance; big hand load with high front foot showing some ability to hold in the back hip. Hits behind the front side with direct hands having the barrel make contact out front sticking to the pullside with high hand finish. Showed ability to move off of 1st and around the position with compact arm using quick wrist flick to get throws to the bags; stayed tall at the bag with ability to use his glove in the dirt.

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-2, 200 has done a good job of improving the wide shouldered frame and adding strength to it; moving better after major knee issue from football two seasons ago. Balanced stance, slightly opened with hands starting at back shoulder and relaxed elbows; loads into back foot having hands lift a bit before toe-tap stride showing good spacing and launch position. Ability to whip barrel upwards through the zone with hips starting the swing and using the lower half well to drive through contact; drove balls into the middle of the field and carried gaps well (92 EV). Used the bag well at first adjusting his feet to throws and staying below the baseball with the glove when picking balls out of the dirt; flashes the ability to get off the bag to make plays with high elbow throws to the bags (76 INF). Swing has the power needed for position and still time to continue to shape frame for more projection.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Winter Update Series powered by Mike Murphy Baseball CA 02/08 MMB - Walnut Creek
SoCal Underclass Games ID - Los Angeles CA 02/09 O'Malley Family Field
Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports CA 02/10 EM Sports - Rancho Cucamonga
Norcal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/06 Islanders Field - Lathrop
SoCal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/13 Hart Park
SoCal ProCase CA 06/14 Hart Park
2020 PBR Future Games (California Invite) CA 07/29 LakePoint Sports

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