SoCal Birds Scout Day: Underclass White

ORANGE, CALIF. - The SoCal Birds Scout Days concluded with the underclassmen on the final day of action. Close to 30 players were split into two teams for a showcase and live at-bats. The showcase featured a standard pro-style workout that included the 60-yard sprint, batting practice and defensive workouts at respective positions. The scout day ended with a highly competitive simulated game. 

Trackman, Blast Motion, radar guns, running sensors and a team of scouts were hard at work powering the event. The underclass Birds posted a Blast Motion team score of 48 plane, 53 connection, and 43 rotation. Average across the board with the connection score grading the highest, showing a team that gets in a good position to hit. 

You can find the SoCal Underclass Birds Stats Leaders here. 

scouting reports

Jack Kleveno, Arlington (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-5, 140-pounds.
Defense: 2.09-2.18 pop times. Sits low, quick actions, looks catchery.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph.   Short arm swing, quick to ear, finish and follow through.
Hit: RHH. Slight open stance with athletic knee bend, hands low and in front, lift toe and go load, bat to ball approach. Blast Motion scores of 29/52/34. Average connection score of 52 highlights the swing; showing alignment, consistency and ability to get in a good position to hit.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Braden Lang, La Serna (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds.
Defense:  Attacked the ball well, average footwork and transfer, worked well laterally.
Arm: RH.   OF - 73 mph. Accurate throws, lines up well with target, crow hop emphasis.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, bend at the waist, step back load. Blast Motion scores of 55/58/34. Average plane and connection scores show the swing stays on plane allowing for more contact and has the proper alignment ability to get in a good position to hit.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Tanner Lo, Brea Olinda (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-7, 160-pounds.
Defense: Quality prep-step, stiff bend at the waist, good forehand feel.
Arm: RH.  INF - 71 mph.  Short arm swing, set his feet to throw, currently lacking arm strength needed for left-side.
Hit: RHH. Low hands, quiet pre-pitch actions, opposite-field hitting ability.  Blast Motion scores of 50/56/59. Average plane, connection, rotation scores across the board show current hitting ability and down the line projection.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Zack Marker, Edison (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds.
Defense:  Stiff and limited laterally, long reach, stayed low.
Arm: RH.  INF - 71 mph. OF - 74 mph. Got the most out of the arm, funky release, long hop throws on target.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open and upright stance, leg lift load, one-hand finish.  Blast Motion scores of 39/34/52. Average rotation score overshadows the below-average plane and connection scores as rotation shows the higher ceiling of the three scores with emphasis on the swing being able to effectively generate bat speed and power efficiency.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

Delbert Minisee, Arlington  (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 5-10, 178-pounds.
Defense:  Slow initial approach, bobbled transfer, stays low.
Arm: RH.  INF - 77 mph. OF - 84 mph. Good throws from the outfield thanks to his willingness to keep throws low with long-hops to the bag. Infield arm shows ability and potential to stay on the left-side.
Hit: RHH. Short and quick hands, power potential, short swing, two-hand finish.  Blast Motion scores of 53/49/38. Average plane and connection scores show the swing stays on plane allowing for more contact and has alignment ability to get in a good position to hit.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Chase Morley, Sunny Hills  (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Worked out of the stretch, point and shoot style mechanics, front leg drive, aligned, long extension.
Arm Action: LH. High 3/4 arm slot, short arm, some speed. K 1-3 6-3 K BB K.
FB: T76, 72-75 mph. Located fastball with run to arm side, struggled locating in, fastball got outs.
SL: 62-64 mph. 9:00 Tilt, 1792 spin rate, slurvey action, tough on LHH.

Nikko Paoletto, Damien (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: C Athletic and physically gifted with solid Blast Motion Scores. Division 1 caliber player sooner than later.
Body: 5-11, 200-pounds.
Defense: Charges the ball well, moved well laterally, glove work needs work.
Arm: RH.  INF - 73 mph. OF - 79 mph. Uses his lower body well to play up his throws, accurate 5/5, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Takes a hack, leg lift load, power potential, three balls hit with exit velo over 90. Blast Motion scores of 54/58/53. Solid across the board showing that his swing shows current ability and projects well.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Andrew Rudd, Arlington (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-4, 205-pounds.
Defense:  Decent around the bag, slow turns, picked well.
Arm: RH.  INF - 72 mph.  Arm much better on the mound, shorter and lower arm slot at first, throwing alignment key.
Hit: RHH. Big presence in the box, even hands, not much wasted movement, short to ball for size. Blast Motion scores of 35/41/31. Average connection score shows his ability to get on plane and in a position to hit.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Projectable pitchers build, slightly below-average extension, clean leg lift.
Arm Action: RH. Average height on pitches, good feel for fastball, accelerates well.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Fastball has a chance, located extremely well to the arm side, two-seam would be a good addition.
CB: 68-70 mph. Feel for curveball, lacking swing and miss, developmental, commanded pitch.
CH: Feel for changeup, good speed differential, plays off fastball well.

Cole Savage, Tahquitz (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds.
Defense: 2.18-2.26 pop times. Good energy, limited laterally, framed well, stays low when blocking.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph.   Good throwing alignment, below-average arm, smoother and shorter arm swing would help.
Hit: LHH. Shoulder width and inline stance, step load, low hands, uppercut, good round of batting practice.  Blast Motion scores of 37/48/39. Average connection score shows his ability to get aligned and in a good position to hit.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

Luke Weston, University (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: 2B/SS Best Underclass infield showing and above-average plane score highlight his current hitting ability.
Body: 5-3, 115-pounds.
Defense:  Lateral quickness, infield skills on display, can stay at short.
Arm: RH.  INF - 68 mph.  Gets rid of the ball quickly, able to make throws from multiple arm angles, more to come.
Hit: RHH. Athletic base, hands front to back, body coil, good round of batting practice.  Blast Motion scores of 66/55/32. Above-average plane score highlights his advanced ability to keep his bat through the zone, swing plane ability and allowing for high contact rates.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity 
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Matt Wurmlinger, Los Alamitos (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. 
Delivery: Broad shoulders, slightly-above average extension, slightly below-average pitch height.
Arm Action: RH. 3/4 arm slot, some side angle to pitches, arm slot works well for run and cut combo.
FB: T82, 76-81 mph. Fastball showed extreme run in the Horizontal Movement analytic. Showing that his fastball is utilized at best to the arm side.
SL: 66-68 mph. Slider countered well to fastball, breaking to glove side, shows some swing and miss potential.