SoCal Underclass ID Camp II - Quick Hits (Sunday)

October 15, 2020
Les Lukach
State Scouting Director

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IRVINE, CALIF. - The SoCal Underclass ID events took place at Great Park in Irvine on 10/10 and 10/11. Close to 100 players attended during the two-day camps composed of mostly uncommitted 2023-2024 players. Today we will look at early standouts from the Saturday sessions of the camp. This is not a top prospects list, simply some early standouts after my preliminary review of notes.

Players were put through a traditional pro-style workout utilizing TrackMan in the live BP session for exit velocity metrics, as well as estimated distance and launch angle. Blast Motion was also used during BP, measuring bat speed, rotational acceleration, attack angle, and on-plane efficiency. TrackMan was also used for pitchers during their main mound 'pen session, tracking velocity, spin rate, as well as all the other more advanced data points.

We recently rolled out the Stats Leaders for this event and will roll out position breakdowns in the coming weeks along with various leaderboards from data provided by our data partners.

Until then we’ll take a look at some early standouts from the Sunday Session at the SoCal Underclass ID Camp.

(Click through to individual players profiles for full stats and video when available)

EARLY STANDOUTS

Bryce Humphry C / 1B / Santa Margarita Catholic , CA / 2023

A long and strong 6-foot-1 180-pounds, Humphry has a solid foundation for the rigors of catching. He’s athletic with excellent footwork and ability to bounce quickly. Arm strength (73 mph) with accurate throws (1.99-2.10) to the bag. One miss to the second base side and down. Framed very well during the bullpen session showing strong fundamentals.. Uses strength well at the plate where he flashes bat (72 mph) and hand (23 mph) and a consistent level barrel path through to extension. Showed the ability to use all fields while favoring the LCF gap with a max exit velo of 98 mph.

Carter Chi SS / OF / Cerritos , CA / 2024

Only a freshman Chi showed several tools worthy of noting in this edition of Quick Hits. While no tool is above average as you’d expect with most freshmen, there’s a lot to like in his projection. BP started with some anticipated nerves, but he settled in quickly and showed fast hands (22 mph) and a whippy barrel through the zone. Swing and follow through are athletic and fluid like Chi is on defense both in the outfield and on the dirt. Takes good routes to the ball while gathering out front. Feet really work in unison with the rest of the body. Hands are soft and exchanges clean. Arm strength on the infield (77 mph) and outfield (75 mph) are on a good pace as his frame continues to develop.

Tyler Stull 2B / SS / Chino Hills, CA / 2023

My first time seeing Stull in a while and the physical gains he’s made are beginning to show themselves on the field. Ran a 7.21 laser-timed 60 before pounding balls gap-to-gap from a simple setup. Lower and upper half work in unison with each other while his upper body strength provides the power (93 mph max EV). On the infield Stull showed athletic actions giving a glimpse of what might become. Projects as a power hitting second baseman on the next level who can play SS now and may grow into that position long term. His feet work well enough and the arm (70 mph) continues to show development while maintaining its accuracy.

Brodie Purcell 1B / RHP / Jserra, CA / 2023

Athletic first baseman that can hit and have some juice are always fun to watch. While the juice may still be developing for Purcell, you can’t deny the other two. Started his round a bit pull happy before showing a more consistent gap-to-gap approach with line drives with a max distance of 334-feet and 84 mph average exit velo. There’s bat (67 mph) there for a sophomore and at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, Purcell is nowhere near done growing. Moved very well around the bag at first with the entire body working well as one giving hints of the type of player he may be in another 5 months when the season starts.

Kevin Takeuchi SS / 3B / Rancho Bernardo, CA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 61 / POS: 18

We’ve seen KT now more than a handful of times in the last year and he continues to show the type of consistency you want on both sides of the ball. Registered only two fly balls during BP both of which went over 300-feet while averaging over 240-feet on line drives. Power and consistency finding the barrel continue to flash more frequently. Defensively his actions were as sound as anyone in the event. Plays from the ground up maintaining his base regardless of action required. Showed ample range to both sides with accurate throws to the bag. Playing in a program that churns out college players, Takeuchi’s time should come in short order.

Jaden Onaca RHP / SS / Oaks Christian, CA / 2023

Onaca was one of those players who did enough things well to pique your interest before doing something at the end of the day that left you wanting more. He showed strength at the plate in the form of line drives when his timing was on. Uses fast hands to get and maintain his barrel on plane. Showed fair footwork and range for a third baseman with enough arm (76 mph) and accuracy to make throws from all angles. It was on the mound where Onaca jumped out by landing sliders and changeups for strikes. Changeup flashes late diving action with avg. spin of 1849 rpm putting it in the top 10% for high school pitchers at 75-77 mph. His slider is equally violent in the other direction with its sweeping movement and late diving action. It has average spin presently carrying major potential. Fastball worked 80-83 mph with late running action into righties. You get the sense that Onaca is just beginning to understand pitching making him a must follow prospect moving forward.

Zachary Small RHP / SS / Oceanside, CA / 2024

Only a freshman, Small plays like a player much older than his class would indicate. He’s strong at the dish (83 mph max EV) and makes consistent contact with the barrel showing a good understanding of hitting and a stick-to-edness with his middle-right approach. Quicker than fast, Small showed fair range to both sides with accurate throws almost making it look easy on the dirt. He moves effortlessly from side-to-side flashing a very good first step and instincts. On the mound he worked 80-82 with a running fastball that he commanded for strikes from both the windup and stretch. Same goes for his curveball at 65-66. The ability to land both pitches for strikes now along with everything else he does right make Small a definite 2024 name to know headed into spring.

Dominic Smaldino 3B / OF / JSerra, CA / 2023

Not the first time I’ve seen Smalldino and we’re always prone to the recency bias, but he is a guy that is definitely going to command the interest of college coaches moving forward. He’s an athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pounds who showed he’s capable of playing in the outfield or at third base. His footwork and body control for a guy his size is impressive. Plays light on his feet, another testament to his athleticism. He’s powerful too, in all facets of his game. With an almost dead center approach, his spray chart nearly resembles a straight line of plots. Registered only one pop-up with after getting in his groove. Smalldino will be a fun player to follow because with another 15-20 pounds by the time he graduates and you could have a very special hitter.

Brandon Luu LHP / 1B / Northwood, CA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 171 / POS: 26

The recent Arizona State commit showed during an impressive finish to his round of BP where he flashed legitimate gap power to RCF with a couple balls off the fence. It’s a simple, powerful stroke from the left side fully incorporating the lower half to generate power. Hands are fast (26 mph) through the zone generating high bat (77 mph) speed and consistent barrel contact. He showed good actions at first base where the hands were soft and throws (78 mph) were accurate. It’s on the bump that Luu really projects with a high spin (2151 rpm max) fastball and a changeup/slider combo that flashes signs of major upside pitches with the slider having plus pitch potential. He showed command of all pitches, with fastball, slider command being the best. It’s easy to envision Luu continuing to develop as his body continues to physically mature and develop into its 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame.