San Diego Open Scouting Reports: Infielders (Part 1)

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At The Yard Podcast

SAN DIEGO, CA. - The first annual San Diego Open showcased the type of energy, talent and positive vibes that make San Diego one of the best baseball cities in the world. With the state of California granting full return to youth sports you could see an extra burst of energy from the Open participants with the looming high school season just around the corner. Open showcases are unique in that there are always players that participate that have yet to be seen and make their mark. Everyone came out a winner at the Open with camaraderie, leadership, and satisfaction seen throughout the day. 

Mizuno Baseball set up shop in the left-field batting cages showcasing their 2021 line of gloves and bats, with Fernando Tatis Jr, Andrelton Simmons and Mike Soroka model gloves receiving the most interest. Technology once again dominated the event with TrackMan, Blast Motion, Twitter, Instagram, video production, live stream and scout eyes working non-stop to showcase each player. 

Scouting reports continue to be an integral part of PBR - CA events. Hit, Power, Arm, Defense, Speed being the focal points of the reports. Please note Blast Motion scores are graded on a 20-80 scale. Today we take a look at infielders. 

CLICK HERE FOR SORTABLE PLAYER TRACKMAN AND BLAST MOTION DATA

infielders

Gavin Browne, Riverside Poly (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds. Long, physically mature build with room to continue to fill out.
Defense: Plays with excellent body control although feet can be a little choppy at times. Plays with feet underneath him. 3B profile.
Arm: RH.  INF - 83 mph. Accurate throws across the diamond with strength from a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open, wide upright setup with small leg lift trigger. Setup allows for hip clearance and a consistent barrel path through to extension. Catches the ball with the barrel out front consistently.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas Cook, Maranatha (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 183-pounds. Baseball build with room for more, showing improvement from previous showings.
Defense: Good first step, low center of gravity and head down approach, eliminate glove tap to speed up process, limited laterally.
Arm: RH.  INF - 73 mph. Arm is limited, able to make accurate throws from second base, velocity increase needed to play on the left side at the next level.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open and upright stance, loads into base with 23.80 hand speed, showing line drive and pull ability. Blast Motion scores of 66-47-64 show two plus grades that give him a high contact ability and rotationally able to make later decisions on pitches enabling more power efficiency.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

Jack Gallison, Dana Hills (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 6-3, 165-pounds. Long, lean, build with room for growth. Noticeable strength in lower half.
Defense: Long strider to the ball; plays with feet underneath him while funnelling balls out front. Showed fair lateral movement.
Arm: LH.  INF - 75 mph. Throws from an over-the-top slot; arm strength is limited at present time. Throws were accurate to the bag.
Hit: LHH. Starts deep on the back leg using a pronounce leg lift trigger. Starts with hands high; clears hips well while driving knob to the ball. Maintains barrel plane through to extension.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity. 
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. 

Aaron Garcia, Olympian (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 5-11, 230-pounds. Large, sturdy frame that has slimmed up since our last viewing allowing for more athletic movements.
Defense: 1.97-2.04 pop times. C - Wide base with quick, clean exchanges on throwdowns. Footwork is much improved. 1B - Footwork improvements are very noticeable as he plays light on his feet with very good instincts.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 80 mph. C - Short, whippy arm action with improved quickness in the release. 1B - strong, accurate throws across the diamond.
Hit: RHH. Starts slightly open before rocking onto back leg and exploding through contact. Active hands; quick to the ball with power behind it.  Slight uphill path creates backspin. Pull side approach.
Power: 100 mph exit velocity. Power continues to develop and show more consistently.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Ian Halverson, Mission Vista (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Strong, physical build with pronounced strength throughout the frame.
Defense: Funnels balls out front with ease; first step quickness paired with plus instincts equal an above average middle infielder.
Arm: RH.  INF - 85 mph.   Throws from a low 3/4 slot with accuracy to the bag; Can make all throws from any angle with enough strength to get fast runners.
Hit: RHH. Neutral, upright setup with high hands; slight leg lift trigger; Compact stroke allowing him to stay connected; Stays balanced throughout swing through to extension. Slightly uphill path creates backspin on the ball.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity. Well above average power and predictable power with an 80 rotational acceleration score per Blast Motion.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Hampton, Loyola (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 175-pounds. Stocky, physically strong build.
Defense: Funnels everything out front; backhand is true; hands are soft with clean exchanges.
Arm: RH.  INF - 75 mph. High 3/4 release point; throws flash carry across the diamond with accuracy to the bag.
Hit: RHH. Neutral, upright setup; significant back leg load with hands at shoulder. Consistent barrel path with a slight uphill angle; catches the ball out front on the barrel consistently.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Bradley Jio, Scripps Ranch (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-8, 135-pounds. Proportional build, undersized, strength development key.
Defense: Quality infield showing, smooth transfers, laterally sound, utility infield projection. 
Arm: RH.  INF - 73 mph.   Arm lacks velo but has quick release ability and able to make throws from different arm angles.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed stance, wide base, rock-back leg kick , one-hand finish. Sprayed linedrives to all fields.  Blast Motion scores of 55-47-59 show a swing with no glaring holes giving him present hitting capability, next level ability and room for development.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.5 runner in the 60. 

Addison Klepsch, Poway (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-9, 148-pounds. Proportional athletic build, lacks elite body athleticism, room for more, early signs for 5 tool potential.
Defense: Infield feel, glove out in front/head down approach, good first step, lacking elite side-to-side quickness needed for shortstop at top tier D1 at this time.
Arm: RH.  INF - 84 mph. OF - 85 mph. Plus-arm, long arm swing, outfield and infield arm strength helps his throwing tool projection. 5/5 on outfield throws and 6/6 on infield throws.
Hit: RHH. Looks hitterish, consistent swing, advanced, short to ball, one hand finish. Blast Motion scores of 53-63-59 grade out very well for a 2024 hitter. Showing plus ability to get in a consistently good position to hit. Growth and development should help his average plane and rotation scores grade out higher down the line.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity. 
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Eric Logsdon, Apple Valley (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 125-pounds. Athletic infield build, undersized with potential for more, footwork works.
Defense: Quick first step, showed very well to his left, good hands. Shortstop projection at the next level.
Arm: LH.  INF - 74 mph. Quick release, smooth transfer, arm works at shortstop and second base.
Hit: LHH. Smooth setup, toe tap, compact load, pretty finish, flys open at times. Blast Motion scores of 48-48-43 show a hitter with no glaring holes with hitting ability that works at the high school level and has a chance for quality next level ability. Hand speed and rotation will be key to his projection.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity. 
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

Nikko Paoletto, Damien (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-11, 200-pounds. Physical, athletic build; Strength throughout the frame.
Defense: Funnels balls out front showing clean exchanges and a quick release.
Arm: RH.  INF - 80 mph. OF - 85 mph. Arm strength is present with accuracy to the bag; Clean exchanges with fast release; No wasted movements.
Hit: RHH. Neutral, upright setup with hands above shoulders. Leg lift trigger with consistent stride.  Maintains barrel on plane through to extension. Can shift weight too soon and hit off front leg. Showed plus bat speed and power.
Power: 100 mph exit velocity. Power is very real; Hit 5 HR's in BP.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

Anthony Perritano, Cathedral Catholic (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Projectable size and strength with ideal pro build potential.
Defense: Looks the part, quick release gives him positional flexibility, CF/3B projection at the next level thanks to size and arm strength.
Arm: RH.  INF - 86 mph. Plus arm strength for class and age, separating him from many players in his class, experimenting with pitching could be worth a shot.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open wide stance with relaxed hands and shoulders that explode into a viscous swing and finish.  Blast Motion scores of 36-46-36 show needed swing plane and rotation improvement but show that his ability to get aligned is at a high level. Despite two below average scores, the power and hitting ability was present with a batting practice home run at (344 ft), 72.13 bat speed and 21.33 hand speed averages.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60. 

Diego Serrano, EM/Method Charter (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-0, 220-pounds. Sturdy build with present lower half strength.
Defense: Showed some feel around the bag, limited to first base, able to pick and block.
Arm: RH.  INF - 63 mph. Short arm swing and angle limit his velocity ability, increase needed at next level.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, relaxed hands and shoulders, back of box setup, two-hand finish. Blast Motion scores of 65-60-60 all grade out above average showing that his swing stays in the zone, is in a good position to hit and contains rotational dynamic power with efficiency.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity. 
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60. 

Daniel Serrato, Valley Center (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/2B
Body: 6-2, 165-pounds. Proportional frame with projectability throughout, high waisted with long limbs.
Defense: Arm lacking next level left side ability but has the size and skill for potential needed velocity increase.
Arm: LH.  INF - 72 mph.   Showed infield feel, well coached, some stiffness, repeatable actions.
Hit: LHH. Stands tall and firm in the box, slight leg lift into plant rotation, one hand level finish. Blast Motion scores of 40-61-42 show needed swing plane improvement, above-average ability to get in a good position to hit and average rotational ability.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.94 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Skjonsby, Long Beach Poly (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Tall and lanky, high waisted, room for strength.
Defense:  Showed fair footwork and lateral movement. Funnels balls out front with good hip bend staying behind the ball.
Arm: LH.  INF - 79 mph.   Releases from a high 3/4 slot and at times short armed throws. When he let it go throws flashed carry across the diamond.
Hit: LHH. Stands tall with weight on back leg before load; Leg lift trigger; Gets foot down on time consistently. Keeps hands inside pulling barrel through the zone; Maintains barrel plane through to extension.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity.  Showed some power during BP with multiple HR's to the gaps.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.