Underclass Area Code Games: Day 2
August 12, 2019
MLB Youth Academy, Compton, CA - Day Two gave us a deep look at both teams as the Brewers played two games picking up two victories; 10-4 over the White Sox and 9-4 over the Rangers. The A’s had just one game, but like the Brewers picked up the victory in their game 12-3 over the Rangers. Both teams will finish their weekend tomorrow as the A’s have two games closing out the Area Code Games against the Brewers in the finale. Below are highlights from today’s action.
BREWERS:
2021 RHP Luke Jewett (JSerra) - UCLA commit. Jewett started Game 2 for the Brewers cruising through three innings on his way to striking out six, walking one and giving up three hits and a run. The wide shouldered frame has a high waist and length in the lower half projecting well for the next few years as it continues to mature and strengthen. Keeping his hands at the chin away from the body, Jewett shows a strong drift down the hill staying in line with an average front knee and continuing to repeat his delivery. The H-3/4 release comes from a fast arm showing an excellent ability to stay on top of the baseball and drive it down into the bottom half of the zone. Jewett spotted the fastball (89-92 T94) all game moving it to all quadrants changing hitters eye level with the pitch and running it in on hitters, jamming them for easy ground balls. This set up the above average change (75-81) that has late run at the plate being a swing and miss type of pitch with great separation from the FB. Jewett showed a breaking ball in warmups, but was so dominant with the FB/CHG combo that he kept it in his back-pocket during the game. Jewett made a case for being the best Pitcher in the 2021 class during the outing and continues to project more.
2021 RHP Eric Silva (Laguna Beach) - UCLA commit. For as good as Luke Jewett was, Eric Silva did his best to match him as he went two perfect innings, striking out four and flashing a three-pitch mix that will look to challenge for top pitcher in the 2021 class here in California. Silva stays tall on the backside using a slight coil with his hands at his chest before dropping and driving down the hill with controlled effort. From a high-3/4 slot, the loose and whippy arm attacked the lower part of the zone with above-average angle spotting all three pitches in the zone and expanding as needed. FB 90-93 with angle to the glove side and moving the pitch as needed; when going up through the zone, hitters were consistently swinging through the pitch. CHG 82-83 with arm side run late having the ability to bottom the pitch as well; above-average and flashing better. CB 75-81 with 10/5-to-11/6 shape showing late, sharp bend going glove side; the pitch in the second inning looked more like a slider ranging 79-81 with back-foot action to the LHH flashing the sharpest action and looking like a wipeout swing-and-miss pitch.
2021 OF/2B Roc Riggio (Thousand Oaks) - Uncommitted. Riggio continues to show the hit tool is for real playing with non-stop energy as he was on base five more times in two games and stealing five bases while driving in two and scoring five runs. Riggio has shown the ability to stay on pitches, not being afraid of velocity and staying tough on good breaking balls battling and extending at-bats. Riggio regularly jumped in to be a runner and was an absolute terror on the bases taking bags with ease and having first step speed to score on balls bouncing off the catcher. Defensively he’s shown the ability to play both LF and 2B with the arm having enough to make the throws and fair actions with the glove as he started a couple big double plays to help his pitchers out of trouble.
2021 INF Cody Schrier (JSerra) - USC commit. Schrier was on base six times in two games drawing four walks and showing a strong understanding of the zone as he took close pitches and battled off tough ones. When he finds his pitch the longer barrel works on an upward path having the ability to let the top hand take over as he did when he singled through the 6-hole to drive in two runs. Schrier’s defense at shortstop was consistent showing quick reactions and good reads on the baseball. On the finishing end of multiple double plays, Schrier showed strong bag presence flowing through the bag and throwing strikes with his loose arm looking like another solid Southern California middle infielder.
A’s:
2021 OF Tyree Reed (American Canyon) - Uncommitted. Reed is showing this weekend that he might be the best player in California’s 2021 class with two more hits and a third ball that was squared up for a long fly-out deep into RCF. The compact swing stayed more to the pullside on Day Two singling to RF and tripling that way on a ball that showed carry to the line. The power is going to come as he continues to strengthen and mature with the carry on the ball being a strong indicator of the strength currently in the frame. Reed showed off his range again moving easily into RCF/LCF as he tracked down balls.
2021 C Ryan Stafford (Folsom) - Cal Poly commit. Stafford has been the most consistent catcher for the A’s team and his catch-and-throw skills have been on point. In Day Two’s games, Stafford caught two runners and almost had a third one using a quick release and average arm to keep balls right into the tag lane for his middle infielders (2.01 caught stealing, 2.15 caught stealing, 2.18 in-game just missed). Stafford’s blocking and recovery skills have also been strong showing lateral agility and smothering the ball at home plate; had one where he blocked, bounced up and threw a runner out trying to advance at second base. At the plate he squared up two balls picking up a hit to LF and sending the CF back during his last AB. The bat flashed some speed on Day One using a rocker set up to get the bat moving carrying balls into gaps during BP.
2021 1B Max Debiec (O’Dea, WA) - Washington commit. After showing lots of projection on the mound yesterday, Debiec showed the bat has some upside as well finishing 2-for-5 with a hard single and HR to LF. The long frame stays tall allowing the bat to work on a pendulum type of swing lagging in the zone. During BP on Day One he showed easy lift to the pullside and a quick bat that can easily drive the ball over the fence. Debiec ambushed a first pitch FB in his second AB sending it over the LF fence getting out quickly.
