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Norcal 9 - 2023's on the Horizon

April 29, 2020
Blaine Clemmens
Northern CA Director of Scouting

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - With interest in players who are very early in their HS careers being higher than ever, here are 9 2023 grads we've seen and believe will generate recruiting interest as they evolve and develop.

(Listed alphabetically)


Scouting Report

1/11/20 - Central Valley Preseason ID - A first look, Ayala was one of the more impressive left-handed bats on the day and shows a swing that you can project more power from as he continues to mature. The long and young body still can be shaped and cleaned up as he ages and stays in the weight room, and if done could add to the power-hitting 1B profile. From a low hand and high lift front foot set up, Ayala repeatedly drove balls into the pullside gap showing a quick barrel that works upwards through the zone consistently. He really stung some balls putting them deep into that pull gap and the way the swing works projects better carry at full maturity (86 EV). At 1st, he utilized his glove and feet well around the bag being soft and picking out multiple balls from the dirt as he kept his eyes behind the glove. Improved athleticism will help him on defense and will increase the arm strength, but the building blocks for success are present.


Scouting Report

1/11/20 - Central Valley Preseason ID - A first look player during the event, Beltran made his presence known and showed a physically advanced frame for an incoming freshman. At 6-0 and 190, the frame is strong with width in the shoulder and projects to keep improving as he matures. At the plate Beltran produced some of the best bat speed on the day from a wide, high hand, flared elbows stance. The load is controlled allowing him to find rhythm and getting the hands to explode through the baseball with very good sequencing in the swing; the barrel worked upwards creating easy lift to the pullside especially when he stayed postured (90 EV). Were times where the top hand took over, but with his strength and maturity this will be an asset for him. In the OF Beltran showed good angles to the baseball working in time through it and keeping throws accurate to bases from a full, compact swing; having recently come off shoulder surgery there’s going to be more available in the arm (77 OF). A high follow in the 2023 in the class.


Scouting Report

2/8/20 - PBR Winter Update at Mike Murphy Baseball (Hitting) - Lanky projectable body (6-foot-0, 170), LHH with plenty of offensive upside. Presently displays bat speed and some strength that will obviously increase as he physically matures and develops. Swing has consistent attack angle, showed ability to routinely find the barrel. The 85 mph EV is impressive given that he's at the beginning of his freshman year.



Scouting Report

2/01/20 - PBR Far North Preseason ID

Body: 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Lean, average athletic build
Hit: RHH. Balanced athletic set-up w/slight crouch, slight knee lift prior to short stride, upper body rotational swing w/strong top hand finish, loose swing w/bat speed, pull-side approach
Arm: RH. C - 72 - Glimpses of carry & arm potential, can improve the accuracy
Defense: 2.12-2.19 Pop-times - Calm footwork w/not much explosion out of crouch, narrow wet-up w/knees slightly outside the feet, sits a bit deep w/hunch & fairly angled thighs, showed good receiving hands
Run: 7.65 60-yard

9/20/19 - Fall tournament - Lean athletic body at 5-foot-10 150-pounds, admittedly very limited look (two plate appearances) but it was against a talented senior pitcher with quality stuff and Denton was up to the challenge. Aggressive to fastball strikes, didn't chase close pitches and showed the ability to control his swing vs good high school velocity (86 mph). Drove in a run with a solid single to RF on that 86 mph fastball and the swing was quick and done with balance. Quiet in the box and efficient to the ball. Walked in his second at-bat. Got behind the plate late in the game and arm looked to be quick and his one pop throw between innings was accurate.


Scouting Report

10/13/19 - PBR N CA Top Prospect Game - Medium body type at 5-foot-10 160-pounds, growing young frame showing some strength and space to keep projecting; agility in short bursts especially behind the plate. Defense is advanced for age and showed it with his pitch calling, receiving and blocking skills; throws were consistently accurate and projects to be a very strong arm (75 mph; 2.04-2.12 Pop). Compact barrel gets to contact point out in front of plate showing ability to lift ball to the pullside (83 mph exit velo off tee); more strength coming to lead to more extra base hits. Lined a shot at the SS in game before picking up a 1B to LF. Developing better foot speed is an area for improvement.


Scouting Report

1/11/20 - PBR Central Valley Preseason ID - Mandal is a two-sport athlete having shown his athleticism on the football field as an up and coming top QB in the area, and on the baseball field shows a bright future as well. Physical and long, the frame projects well with length through the torso and rolled shoulders. At the plate he shifts the weight over the back hip on the front foot lift having the hands slow load back before having the full body come through and driving the ball; can really get the hips through contact. The barrel works upwards with leverage and showed the strength in his frame as he hit balls deep to the pullside before finishing with the last ball out over the LF fence (86 EV). On defense he showed good timing and rhythm getting the ball out of the glove quickly and online to the bag. There’s athleticism available moving laterally and with the current physicality and shape looks like a power hitting 3B in the very near future (74 MPH). A 2023 that will be a high follow.


Scouting Report

2/01/20 - PBR Far North Preseason ID

Body: 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Compact athletic build w/some upper body strength
Hit: RHH. Tall athletic set-up, creates lots of rhythm, long stride w/hips traveling forward, aggressive swing w/some loft & hints of future power, arm bar creates some length, good bat speed, lots barrel in BP round which was better than what EV station showed
Power: 84 mph EV off tee
Arm: RH. C - 71 - Fairly loose/quick arm, throws high or carried to bag, should gain more velo
Defense: 2.19-2.24 Pop-times - High set-up for C/T & receive, narrow knees, fairly light & athletic feet, gains ground w/feet on pops which slows down the pop time a bit
Run: 7.47 60-yard



Scouting Report

2/01/20 - PBR Far North Preseason ID

Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Athletically proportioned frame with wide shoulders
Delivery: RHP - Aggressively works to create power in the delivery, very slightly open stride w/early clearing of front hip, creates rhythm, pulls front shoulder & swims lead arm which creates follow through toward 1B line, creates power off the rubber w/strong back knee mechanics
Arm Action: Compact backside arm action, clean out of the glove, keeps fingers on top of the ball well, creates good arm speed, overhand slot
FB: 78-80 - Flashed hard late run when hand got to best release points, lost a few up in zone
SL: 63-64 - Fairly late break w/hints of two-plane action and occasional depth
CHG: 66-67 - Thrown w/feel & aggressive release, big late fade, will be a high quality pitch

Hit: RHH. Slight open & tall set-up, high knee lift toward short controlled stride, quick hands, works w/intent to stay inside ball, good hip rotation, handsy swing gets to a high finish
Power: 83 mph EV off tee
Arm: RH - 86 OF - Clean, strong, quick arm produces throws w/plenty of carry, more velo ahead
Defense: Full body use to get off powerful throws, aggressive to and throw the ball creating good athleticism and momentum, can work to eliminate an extra step to get the throws off
Run: 7.41 60-yard

1/25/20 - NorCal Preseason All-State: Riley was one of the youngest players at the event and showed advanced tools for his young age looking like a 2023 that could impact a high school team this season. The young frame is shaped well now with plenty of space to add to it. At the dish he’s got a slightly opened stance using direct hands to get to the baseball; it’s a compact swing with short high finish producing line drives through the middle (84 EV). Defensively he showed good direction through the baseball helping to keep momentum and allowing his compact arm to get out front and keep throws on the bags (86 OF MPH). That arm strength translated to the mound where he works with a compact arm swing to an over-the-top release showing promising mechanics and lower half direction. FB 79-81 MPH pounding the down and away location; there’s going to be more velocity very quickly. SLD 71-72 showing small cutting action and flashes of depth; projectable. CHG 69-70 with split like bottom to the arm side.


Scouting Report

2/1/20 - PBR Far North Preseason ID - One of the more talented freshman players we've come across, Ryan looks poised to be one of the more heavily recruited 2023 OF in Northern CA. He's a lean and athletically proportioned 5-foot-8, 145-pounds and even at that modest size, there is explosiveness in all that he does. The 60 time was impressive and a foreshadowing of his hand speed that was on display in the BP round. Frankly the video doesn't do his hand speed justice. He can develop better lower body control in the swing but the hit talent is a plus attribute. Short to it, aggressive through it, with a flat, slashing type stroke. Stayed in the middle quite well. Defensively he will eventually develop a plus throwing arm and has the speed to cover the OF well, maybe not with plus range, but certainly with above average range.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Of course given the social distance precautions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, future event dates/locations could change. If there are changes we will alert all registered players and make adjustments to our calendar.
 
SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Norcal Underclass Games (INVITE-ONLY) CA 06/06 Islanders Field - Lathrop
Northern California ProCase (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/13 Folsom Lake College or Islanders Field
SoCal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/13 Hart Park
SoCal ProCase (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/14 Hart Park
California State Games CA 07/25 Southern California


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