After hosting the 5th annual Senior Games at UCCS last week, and scouting numerous games so far at the halfway mark of the 2019 spring season, we’re all set to reevaluate and update the class rankings, and we’ll start by taking a closer look today at the top-10 prospects in Colorado’s 2020 class. It’s been since the spring since we last updated the Class of 2020 Rankings. We’re due for an update. With that, let’s look at the revamped top-10 prospects. 

To take a look at the full list Click Here

 

At the top, retaining his No. 1 spot for the 4th consecutive time, is Jack Moss (Cherry Creek High School; Arizona State commit). Recently committing to Arizona State after originally committing to Virginia, The left-handed hitting Moss has emerged as the top hitter in our state. Last spring the 6-foot-4, 190 pound first baseman helped lead Cherry Creek back to the 5A state championship game, and also earned PBR All Colorado honors by .490 with 13 doubles, 3 triples, and drove in 31. Moss recently had tremendous results in Long Beach at the Area Code Games. In five games, he was 8-for-16 with four doubles, a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored. He has a tall, long frame at 6-foot-4, 189 pounds, but stays relatively short and drives the ball to all fields, as his bat stays in the zone. Has a balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Compact, fluid, repeatable swing, creates bat speed, consistent hard contact and gap to gap power; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, moves well left and right. Great presence and footwork in the field and around the bag. 

Jack Moss, 8-10-19

 

For the first time we have a new No. 2 since our first 2020 rankings, and moving up to that spot is one of Colorado's biggest risers RHP Case Williams (Douglas County High School; Santa Clara commit). The big framed, durable Williams at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds is the top pitching prospect in the state. Last spring Williams made the PBR All-Colorado Team as a closer, and on the season went 8-1 with a 1.81 ERA striking out 79 in 50 innings pitched while only allowing 37 hits. . On the summer travel circuti Williams fastball, who usually sits 90-91 consistently through the game, has jumped up into the mid 90's. Williams hides the baseball very well and makes it difficult for opposition hitters to pick up the ball early and recognize the differences in his 90 plus fastball to his 75 mph breaking ball with good command. Recently at the Area Codes Williams fastball was 90-93 with a sharp breaking curveball at 76-77. 

 

Case Williams, 3-10-19

Coming in a No. 3 is uncommitted outfielder Colby Shade of Fort Collins. Shade, who recently de-committed from Virginia, was PBR All-Colorado last spring. The top outfield prospect in Colorado, Shade has his best year to date last spring hitting .533 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, while stealing 27 bases without getting caught. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound right hand hitting outfielder ran a 6.60 60 at the 2018 Colorado Top Prospect Games, and also showcased a strong arm from the outfield at 86 mph.  Simple, balanced set up at the plate.  Slow load to the back side and weight fires through the zone.  Exit velocity was 93 mph from a tee.  Hit several balls hard to the right center gap during the live BP round. In the field he is fundamentally sound and shows excellent anticipation. Still can't forget the play he made in the District Playoffs last spring with 1 out and the winning run at 3rd in the bottom of the 7th inning against Douglas County that preserved the tie in a game that Fort Collins would eventually win in extra innings. 

Colby Shade, 8-18-19

Jumping up to No. 4 is Long Beach State commit  RHP Jacob Thompsen  out of Regis Jesuit HS.  6-foot, 150 pounds. Thompsen helped lead the Jesuits to the 5A state championship last spring. His velo has really jumped over the last year. In game we saw against ThunderRidge last spring, Thompsen had a firm fastball, which lived 88-89 the first inning, and eventually settled in at 86-87. Arm has some wrap-back, slight pause in delivery then is quick through the zone from a high 3/4 arm slot, inline and square to the plate. Curve was thrown for strikes with 11/5 shape. Was a swing and miss pitch at 72-73 mph. Thompsen last spring threw 37 innings striking out 53 while posting a 0.90 ERA. Starts at shortstop when not pitching and hit .340 last spring. 

 

Jacob Thompsen, 4-10-19

Coming in at No. 5 is another Regis Jesuit RHP Chase Allen (Regis Jesuit High School; Michigan commit). Standing in at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Allen dominated 3A competition in 2017 for Colorado Academy going 8-0 with a 0.62 ERA. In 45 innings pitched Allen struck out 81 batters giving up 23 hits. Transferring to Regis Jesuit this year, Allen joined a loaded pitching staff at Regis in 2018 helping them win the 5A state championship, but had had to sit out half of the season, Allen has a strong, durable frame. Hiding the ball well, Allen has a strong durable frame and comes from a high 3/4 arm slot, and throws a fastball that lives between 88-91 mph. Good extension to the plate with command. Last spring Allen pitched 19 innings striking out 23 and carried a 2.90 ERA. 

Moving up to No. 6 is Northwestern commit Ethan O'Donnell out of Regis Jesuit. Bats left, throws right. 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Hitting clean-up for Regis, O'Donnel is a 5 tool player who projects as a solid D-1 prospect. The left-handed swing plays, and has power to both gaps. Slow pick up and put down striding on line, hands move back and elbow slots, bat gets on plane early, and finishes with uphill tilt.  Lower half finishes completely with aggression and maintains balance in the swing. Feet were active and aggressive on approach playing behind the ball in the OF with nice glove presentation to catch. Aggressive baserunner.  Another top ten player for the Raiders, O'Donnell last spring ran a 6.85 laser timed 60 at the Preseason All-State while also showing bat with with a 94 mph exit velocity, and an 88 mph arm from the OF. Last spring O'Donnell hit .388 while also scoring 34 runs from the 2-hole helping Regis Jesuit win the 5A state championship. 

Ethan O'Donnell, 4-10-19

Our No.7 has been a main-stay in our 2020 rankings uncommitted catcher Declan Wiesner out of Valor Christian High School. An athletic catcher at 6-foot, 190 pounds, Wiesner has advanced bat speed offensively, which was evident at the Future Games with a 94 mph exit velo. Wiesner, does a good job controlling the game behind the dish. Wiesner has soft hands receiving behind the plate with good ability to block from both sides. Also demonstrates the ability to be a good field general. Arm velo down to 2B is 80 mph. Also impressed with a 6.98 60 time for a catcher at the Future Games. Currently.  It's a matter of not if but when Wiesner chooses from multiple options to go D-1 

 

Declan Wiesner, 8-2-18

Rounding out the top ten is No. 8 and new to the top ten is LHP and Air Force commit Jimmy Hebenstreit, No. 9 LHP Brady LeJeune-Deacutis (ThunderRidge High School; Texas Tech commit), and back in the top 10 catcher and recent Kansas commit Tony Castonguay.

 

LHP Hebenstreit at 6'2, 185 pounds has a fastball that sits in the upper 80's with a projectable frame. Hebenstreit will look to anchor the staff of a good Heritage team looking to return to the 5A Final 8. Tall and athletic on the mound.  From balance he drives hard to the plate, landing in-line with long extension out front.  Arm is fast and from an over the top slot.  

At No. 9 LeJeune-Deacutis is a projectable LHP standing in at 6'5 but only 170 pounds. On the mound, delivery repeats, tall and fall type, loads lift to back side, coiled at top, lands square and stays on line and balanced. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, 85-87 mph, with ability to command. Curveball has 1/7 shape, and bite with spin and shape, 73-74 mph. Changeup fades to arm side. 

Castonguay out of Grandview just came off a successful Area Codes in Long Beach hitting .400 during the tournament. Castonguay is an athletic, 5-foot-11, 180-pound switch hitting C/3B who we have had run a 7.21 60.  Slightly open on the right side with an aggressive swing an weight transfer.  Swing path is slightly uphill with good extension at contact.  Exit velocity was 87 mph from the right side.  The left side swing is catching up to the right.  Slightly open with a big leg kick on the pitch.  Strong lower half with a an uphill swing path.  Ball shows good carry to the gaps.  Defensively, he shows solid fundamentals at 3^rd base.  Quick feet square him up to the bag and he has a quick glove to hand transfer.  Arm was 84 mph across the diamond.  Behind the plate he shows good athletic actions while blocking balls and throwing down.  Arm is short and accurate and he had a showcase best 1.85 pop-time.