FULLERTON, CALIF. - The second annual SoCal Uncommitted Senior Games took place at Amerige Park home of the Hope International Royals. Over 50 players descended on the downtown Fullerton ballpark to participate in the event that was live streamed to over 100 coaches across the country with many Division II and Division III coaches in attendance since restrictions on their recruiting were lifted on September 1st. 

the team

pitchers

Brandon Delgado, Martin Luther King (CA), 2021 

Positional Profile: RHP 
Body: 6-1, 193-pounds. Taller and proportional frame. The body is filling out. 
Delivery: Balanced delivery throughout. Stays online with home. Drops into the back leg and drives off hard. At times inconsistent with front side leaking early and at times with falling off to the 1B side. Overall clean mechanics. 
Arm Action: RH. Quick and loose arm circle that comes out of the H 3/4 slot. Above average arm speed. 
FB: T87, 84-86 mph. Located well and didn't leave anything middle. 
SL: 75-76 mph. Decent spin with top at 2400 rpm. Minimal vertical break. Swing and miss pitch. 
CH: 79-80 mph. Same arm speed as FB. Got hitters out in front.

After seeing Delgado in a start in the spring and seeing the improvements he’d made from previous viewings there was little doubt that he was on his way to a college opportunity. Fast forward to the SoCal Uncommitted Senior Games and we saw even further improvements and gains. Working primarily 86-88 mph with the fastball, Delgado touched 89 mph a few times showing the type of command desired in a starter. He worked the pitch to all quadrants of the zone with an average IVB of 21.8” flashing rise through the zone with average spin rate of 1990 rpm. The slider was equally as good at 75-76 mph (T79 mph) flashing late depth with some bite. Showed the ability to start the pitch in and down the middle of the plate and run it out of the zone inducing swing-and-miss results. Flashed improved feel for the changeup at 79-80 mph with average spin of 1924 rpm. Both results put him in the top 10% for high school pitchers. Faced six hitters: 1B, K, FC, K, K (looking), F3. --LL

Messimo Vega, Hart (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. 

Delivery: Worked out of both wind up and stretch. Classic hand over head delivery with a weight gather at peak leg lift. Rides back hip down the mound and blocks on the front side well.
Arm Action: RH. Arm is long out of the glove but is up and around 90 degrees at the foot plant.
FB: T86, 83-85 mph. Showed above average ride that plays up in the zone.
SL:  76-78 mph. Showed varying breaks with one acting more as a cutter. Best one was thrown with an estimated 10:30 spin direction.
CH: 80 mph. Similar movement profile to Fastball. Average speed separation of 5 MPH.

With a true three-pitch mix, Vega was dominant in his outing inducing four fly-ball outs to go with a routine 4-3 groundout. Fastball worked 84-86 mph with max spin of 2414rpm and max IVB of 24.2”, both of which are top 10% for high school pitchers. His slider’s IVB of 2.5” also puts him in the top 10% for high school pitchers while showing average spin rates. His changeup is the perfect compliment for the two aforementioned pitches as he was able to command it for strikes and keep hitters off balance with the pitch that comes from the same tunnel as the fastball before fading and dropping away from righties. It’s a controlled delivery that he’s able to repeat. The arm is quick with clean mechanics. --LL

Edwin Groff, Campbell Hall (CA), 2021

Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds.  

Delivery: Worked exclusively out of the stretch. Keeps back foot/leg plugged into the ground which allows him to store energy. Gets over his front leg exceptionally well.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm action, long on the back swing but gets it up on time. Spirals out nicely and no visible limitations on the deceleration.
FB: T88, 86-87 mph. 1:30 spin direction leads to almost equal ride and run with both coming out to near MLB average.
SL: 74-76 mph. Movement profiles well off of FB movement. Shape varied with harder ones being thrown with less depth.

My first viewing of Groff was an impressive one. The righty from Campbell Hall HS showed very, very well for himself in his inning of work. Working 86-87 FB and touching 88 several times, Groff’s fastball had a max IVB of 23.4” showing life up in the zone and making it difficult for hitters to pick up and time the pitch. His average spin rate of 2159 rpm puts him in the top 12% of all high school pitchers collected by Trackman. Meanwhile his slider spin (2565 rpm) max velocity (80 mph) put him in the top 10% of all high school pitchers. Allowed only one hit to go with an F3 and three strikeouts - two of them looking.--LL

Andrew Stanley, Pacifica (CA), 2021 
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-4, 180-pounds. Long and lengthy build. High waisted.
Delivery: Throws out of the stretch and sets up on 1B side of the rubber. High leg lift but doesn't tuck. Sinks into the back leg and rides down the mound. Pushes off rubber way before release. Delays upper body. Steps slightly into RH hitters.
Arm Action: RH. Whippy arm action out of the low 3/4 slot. Arm circle in the back with a slight scalp load. Arm accelerates late in the delivery.
FB: T86, 84-85 mph. Flashed late life. About equal horizontal/vertical break.
SL: 73-74 mph. 2100-2300 spin. Deceptive pitch as it got him some looking Ks in game action.
CH: 71-76 mph. Late fading action. Effective against RH hitters.

At 6-foot-4, 180-pounds Stanley immediately catches your attention upon first sight. When he hops on the bump you are immediately drawn into the potential he flashes. Fastball worked 83-85 mph and touched 86 mph several times throughout his outing showing slightly above average spin (2334 rpm) and IVB (15”). Showed the ability to work the pitch around all quadrants of the zone while backing it up with a slider that was unhittable at 73-76 mph touching 77 mph several times. Stanley also flashed feel for a changeup with late, diving action into righties. You get the impression that Stanley is just getting started in his development and potential. Bounced back from a base hit by striking out the last three hitters he faced - two of them looking on sliders. --LL

CATCHER

Khadim Diaw, Notre Dame  (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds. Tall and proportional frame with present athleticism and strength.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall and slightly open. Low hanging hands with an upright bat.  Mild leg kick trigger. A smooth stroke that gets in the zone early. An uphill swing path that is extended through at finish. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity. Present wall ball power. Blast metrics show a high power ceiling with 74 mph average bat speed and an average of 15.4 gs of rotational acceleration.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action and is quick to release. Throws flashed life and carry. Most accurate thrower for a catcher at the showcase.
Defense: 1.94-2.03 pop times. Clean and quick glove exchanges. Good blocking on BIDs. Receiving and framing skills are there, especially on low pitches.
Run: 7.29 runner in the 60.

I saw Diaw in January in an MLK event and thought this kid definitely looks the part of a Division I catcher. After the transfer sitout period and the cancellation of the spring season cost him his junior season, Diaw is now playing catchup a bit. Despite the loss of the season, Diaw showed why he is a no doubt collegiate level player. Couple his talents with his 4.06 GPA and Diaw should have plenty of opportunities to play at the next level. Big and strong with a frame that can easily add more mass/strength, Diaw showed off his ability to pound balls to all fields with 73.9 mph bat speed and 24 mph peak hand speed. His rotational acceleration of 15.4g combined with those other factors gives an indication of his present and future potential power at the plate. Behind the dish he was equally impressive with 78 mph velocity and pops in the 1.94-2.03 range with accuracy to the bag. Hit a missile in-game for a single before instinctively taking second on a bobble. Shows the ability to adjust late and get the barrel on pitches. --LL

FIRST BASE

Sean Gaea, St. May's (CA), 2021 
Positional Profile: 1B/OF 
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Long and lengthy build with a medium frame.  
Hit: LHH. Stands upright, slightly closed, with a low hand set up. Mild leg lift trigger. Starts load early. Has a slight barrel tip. Compact swing with good barrel control. Lifts bat through the zone for a more uphill plane. Middle-pullside approach. 
Power: 91 mph exit velocity. Present pullside power. Sat around 70-74 mph in bat speed and averaged 23.4 gs of rotational acceleration which are both above average. 
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Short and wristy arm action that is quick to release out of the low 3/4 slot. Mostly accurate to the bag. 
Defense: Smooth and fluid footwork. Light on his feet. Clean glove exchanges. 
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60. 

SECOND BASE

Victor Pico, Hart  (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B/OF
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Proportional frame with room to fill out.
Defense:  Showed well during defensive workout, moved around fielding balls quickly with relative ease.
Arm: RH.  INF - 77 mph. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action that gets up and out on time. Comes out clean.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open start with low hanging hands. Small leg kick and hand hitch helps store energy to be released during the swing.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity. Power potential is there when the body is sequenced right.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60.

Our second viewing of Pico in a couple of months confirmed what we saw the first time, Pico is a player deserving of an opportunity to play collegiately. Working in both the outfield (81 mph velo) and infield (77 mph), Pico shows the type of desirable versatility college coaches, particularly in the D2, D3 level seek. With an 89 mph exit velo and an average rotational acceleration score of 29.9g (Blast Motion) there’s power in the compact yet strong frame. Reached base on an error in his first at-bat that he extended by taking an extra bag, all a result of his hustle out of the box. --LL

THIRD BASE

Tommy Italia, St. Francis (CA), 2021 
Positional Profile: SS/3B 
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Large frame with present strength and athleticism.
Hit: LHH. Sets up with a wide base and is slightly open. Active hands. Small leg raise trigger. Hands get good separation with front leg. Smooth stroke that has some barrel lift for an uphill path. Used the whole field in BP. 
Power: 94 mph exit velocity. Present gap to gap power. Rotational acceleration average of 17.1 gs shows more power potential with bat speed gains. 
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 81 mph. Arm played well at both spots. Throws flashed life and were accurate at both spots. Was quick to release in the INF. 
Defense: Moved well in both the INF and OF. Played through the ball in the outfield and took good angles. Looked sharp in the INF. Had clean quick feet and got to good positions to field the GBs. Smooth glove exchanges on GBs. 
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

SHORT STOP

Kainoa Williams, Westview (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-0, 168-pounds. Sturdy frame, some present size, still has room to fill.
Defense:  Relaxed, light on feet, moves well laterally. Clean transfers and glovework.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Shorter arm action, had a feel for varying slots. Clean elbow spiral.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open stance with a wide base. Leg kick trigger with a level barrel path through the zone.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity. Gap-to-gap currently. Drove the ball well to all fields throughout his round of BP.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60.

LEFT FIELD

Kian Nicoletti, Orange Lutheran (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Proportional, sturdy base with some present strength visible.
Defense:  Smooth actions in the outfield, fielded balls in rhythm and had clean transfers.
Arm: RH.  OF - 83 mph. Throws were accurate and online.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open start, quick leg lift and hand hitch. Hands begin low and slot into position. Bat stays through the zone for a long time.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity. Showed some pull side power with the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
Run: 7.3 runner in the 60.

CENTER FIELD

Cameron MacDonald, Brentwood School (CA), 2021 
Positional Profile: OF/3B 
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Medium well-proportioned build. Present strength in upper body.
Hit: RHH. Basic stance with legs slightly bent and lined up straight.  Starts movements early. Mild leg lift trigger. Rocks into the back hip. A longer but smooth swing that is on an upward path. Good feel for barrel. Middle of the field approach. 
Power: 98 mph exit velocity. Gap to gap power and can run into one. Power to all fields as he put one off the right-field wall in BP. Tied for highest bat speed average at the event at 73.9 mph which is well above average for level. 
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Quick compact arm with good arm speed. Throws flashed life and carry. Mostly accurate throws. 
Defense: Took good angles and worked through the ball to set up strong throws. 
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

RIGHT FIELD 

Jackson Gifford, Harbor (CA), 2021 

Positional Profile: 3B/OF 
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds. Strong athletic build with present strength
Hit: RHH. Slightly open with bat rested on his shoulder at stance.  Smaller leg raise trigger. Compact handsy stroke that is direct to the ball. Turns tight as hands stay connected to the body throughout the swing. Flat swing path. 
Power: 99 mph exit velocity. Present wall ball power. Coils well. Bat speed average of 72.1 mph and Rotational Acceleration average of 18.2 g's are above average for his level and show a high power ceiling. Homerun in BP. 
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 77 mph. Short and compact arm action from both INF/OF. Higher release. Accurate throws from both positions and flashed some carry. 
Defense: Athletic movements at both positions. Comes through the ball well in the OF using momentum. Clean exchanges. 
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

UTILITY

David Lee, San Juan Hills (CA), 2021

Positional Profile: RHP/2B
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Wiry, athletic, with plenty of room to fill out 

Delivery: Hand over head wind up with a slight pause before leg lift. Uses gravity to get into his lower half and ride the back hip down the mound
Arm Action: RH. Short, clean, spirals out nicely. High slot, transfers energy from the lower half extremely well.
FB: T86, 84-85 mph. High slot creates an above average ride that will play at the top of the zone.
SL: 72-73 mph. Very good shape for a slider with above average horizontal sweep
CH: 78-79 mph. Movement profiled similar to the FB with solid speed difference of 7 MPH.

It’s hard to think of another player that left as lasting an impression on our team of scouts as Lee. With a 4.40 GPA and an ACT score of 31, Lee is certain to have ample opportunity to continue his playing days beyond high school based on what he did at the event. Showed athletic actions on defense during the showcase portion and in-game where he seemingly was one step ahead of the action. Instinctive player on the dirt, but it was on the mound where he really stood out. With a deliberate delivery that sees him take his hands/glove above his head before riffling down the mound with a fast arm, Lee pounded the zone with a fastball/curveball/changeup mix of pitches that resulted in three strikeouts, a 3-1 putout and an F5 in his clean inning of work. Touching 86, he lived comfortably 84-85 mph with the fastball, but it was his slider that was unhittable and left us wanting more. His 2616 rpm spin rate on the slider puts him in the top 25% of collegiate pitchers. --LL