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A's Scout Day: Quick Hits

March 4, 2023
By: Diego Solares
Area Scout, Illinois & Missouri

On Sunday, February 26th, the PBR Missouri staff traveled to Fenton, MO, to host the final event on our winter calendar: the A's Athletics Scout Day. This event featured more than 115 players representing the 2023-to-2027 grad classes from the A's travel program. Attendees participated in a pro-style workout in front of our staff, collecting verified data in the process while also getting unrivaled access to analytics with the help of our tech partners.

To see all of the players that attended this event, click HERE.

Shortly after the event’s conclusion our staff put together several statistical leaderboards to highlight the names that put up numbers and paced their peers. We created those within our ‘Stat Story’, which you can find by clicking HERE.

Today, after compiling our notes and digesting the day as a whole, we’ve put together these ‘Quick Hits’ to shine some light on some of the day’s top performers. Below you’ll learn more about which players really stood out at this year’s A’s Scout Day. 

UPPERCLASS

+ The unquestioned standout from this event was OF/RHP Caden Bogenpohl (Jackson, 2023; Missouri State), who continues to generate MLB Draft buzz after an impactful off-season. Bogenpohl doesn’t lack size by any means - he stands out immediately, boasting an extremely physical 6-foot-5, 230-pounds. He recently jumped up 12 spots in our state’s senior class rankings, now sitting at fifth overall with a debut inside our national rankings coming later this month. We highlighted Bogenpohl in our rankings release a few hours ago, having this to say about Jackson’s two-way star:

“...has significantly increased an already impactful skill-set this winter, and he’s starting to harness the inherent power nestled within his stature. We recently saw him sit 94-95 mph at the A’s Scout day, and he complimented that fastball with a firm low-80s slider that peaked at 2500+ with 16+ inches of horizontal action. Moving away from his obvious arm talent, Bogenpohl also wields Missouri’s loudest left-handed bat, as he ambushed balls on repeat during BP, recording a 108.7 mph max exit velocity in the process. Several of his barrels registered at 104+ mph, and his average batted distance (348 ft.) is higher than most hitters' peak, while his peak in particular (405 ft.) is one of the highest marks we’ve ever seen. Simply put, Bogenpohl does things others can’t do, and his tools on both sides of the ball should draw scouts to the southeastern part of the state regularly throughout the spring.”


+ Another high-profile name in attendance from the state’s senior class: OF Kaden Peer (Christian Brothers College; Missouri commit). Athletic with strength on a 6-foot-2, 178-pound frame, Peer only hit at this event, but his left-handed swing showed to be an asset, repeating quality contact throughout. He averaged 89.3 mph per batted ball with wood, peppering line drives to all gaps effortlessly, while peaking at 99.7 mph with a 368 ft. peak. Peer’s always been an above-average runner and he also owns one of the state’s strongest outfield arms. This uptick in bat strength, with a wood bat nonetheless, only adds to his profile, and Peer continues to look the part of a prospect capable of impacting the Tigers early on in his career should he make it to campus.


+ Two power arms that are top prospects in their respective states, both signed with Mizzou: RHP Ben Smith (Springfield Catholic, 2023) and RHP Josh McDevitt (Effingham, IL, 2023). Smith, who rose up our in-state rankings and now occupies the No. 12 spot, has regularly pumped his fastball at 92-94 mph with advanced raw spin, and a power slider with late break to pair off it. His arm speed is undeniable, and he’s always shown our staff the ability to perform in game. McDevitt is one of the top right-handed arms in the Illinois’ 2023 class with a low-90s fastball, bumping up into the 93-94 mph range at times, spinning a real swing-and-miss breaking ball with sharp spin and bite off his fastball’s plane. These two have impact potential at the next level and could see innings early on in their career for the Tigers.

+ The state’s top-ranked senior backstop, C/INF William Zareh (Webster Groves, 2023; Missouri State) showed even louder tools at this event than we’d seen from him in the past. A strong 6-foot, 185-pound athlete, Zareh’s right-handed power is more than evident, as he barreled baseball after baseball at a 93.5 mph average, peaking at 100.1 mph in BP. His ability to juice the pull-side gap showed, as Zareh’s average batted distance (320 ft.) is a more than advanced mark, as is his peak batted distance (381 ft.). Positionally, Zareh’s arm strength has never been a question - he owns the strongest arm behind the plate in Missouri, topping at 88 mph from the crouch, and was also 93 mph across the infield in this look. Zareh is poised for another strong spring, just a year after slashing .419/.541/.698 for Webster Groves.


+ Another Missouri State signee that really impressed on Sunday: INF Maloy Heaghney (Eureka, 2023). Heaghney effortlessly produced quality contact off the barrel, swinging a rhythmic right-handed barrel throughout, averaging 94.7 mph per batted ball with a 100.7 mph peak. Heaghney’s short-to-long swing helped him stay on the barrel (91%), and his furthest batted ball traveled 372 ft., which was amongst the event’s leaders. Heaghney’s athleticism showed throughout his workout, running a 6.71 60, and firing a 91 mph bullet across the infield on his firmest mark. A riser in our recent rankings update, Heaghney’s another in-state product headed to Missouri State, and he’s one that could contribute early on in his collegiate career.


+ 3B Braden Hemmer (Columbia Hickman, 2023; Jefferson JC) swung one of Sunday’s most physical right-handed bats, something we’ve become accustomed to from the 6-foot, 190-pound senior. Hemmer generated some of the hardest contact on average at this event, squaring balls up with authority to the pull-side consistently at an average of 95.5 mph, peaking at 99.9 mph. His furthest ball traveled 345 feet, and his 90% hard-hit rate also finished near the top of our event leaderboard, further reiterating his ability to impact the baseball. Hemmer also ran a 7.02 60 and his hardest bullet across the infield topped at 93 mph.


+ RHP Will Moore (Ladue Horton Watkins, 2023; Purdue) started our day off as the first arm to take the rubber, sitting 90-91 mph with his fastball throughout. At 6-foot-3, 207-pounds, Moore also showed a changeup with arm-side run at 82-83 mph, and he spun a 72-74 mph curveball with high arch and shape. A PBR Future Games alum, Moore is one of the top senior arms to know in the St. Louis area.

+ RHP Bowen Brantingham (John Burroughs, 2023; Air Force) certainly made a positive impression to our scouts in his PBR debut on Sunday, vaulting inside the top-50 on our state’s rankings after an excellent ‘pen. An extremely physical 6-foot-5, 220-pound athlete that really looks the part, Brantingham pounded the zone with an 89-91 mph fastball, and he consistently landed his secondaries for strikes, too. His best secondary in this look was a 78-79 mph slider, averaging nearly 2400 RPM on the pitch. He showed a firm cutter at 83-84 mph with slight glove-side action, and he generated 18+ inches of run on his 82-84 mph changeup. Brantingham’s performed for John Burroughs in the past, and he enters his senior season with plenty of positive momentum from this look.


+ RHP Peter Underwood (Christian Brothers College, 2023; Jefferson JC) rose up our rankings in this most recent update after a productive winter, pitching in the upper-80s, peaking at 90 mph. He’s polished with feel for both his secondaries, and should be an impact arm on the mound for a CBC squad that’ll compete for a state championship this spring.

+ Another name that really came away as a standout performer from this event: RHP Tristan Hunter (Forsyth, 2024). At 6-foot-2, 178-pounds with lean strength and physical projection left, Hunter’s moves down the mound well and doesn’t exert much effort as a result, holding 91-93 mph throughout his ‘pen with hard horizontal action at times. He threw a changeup with ‘out-pitch’ potential at 77-81 mph, killing spin and lift with 17+ inches of run on average. Still fully developing his slider, Hunter flashed advanced raw spin on it, reaching nearly 2500 RPM with almost 15 inches of horizontal at 77-80 mph. Hunter left this event with an arrow-up, and he’s a premier uncommitted junior arm in Missouri.


+ A pair of high-end southpaws in the 2024 class impressed yet again at this event: LHP/OF Casen Murphy (Park Hills Central) and LHP Carter Cox (Fort Zumwalt South). Murphy’s a legitimate two-way prospect, pitching in the upper-80s with his fastball and spinning it at 2500+ RPM on average. He flashed raw spin on a 75-78 mph curveball, approaching the 2500 RPM mark, and he also turned over an 81-82 mph changeup that averaged 17+ inches of run on average. Murphy was one of this event’s top left-handed bats too, swinging a loose, easy, and fluid barrel through the zone, peaking at 101 mph with a 352 ft. max batted distance. Cox has always been a pitchability arm, and his stuff ticked up this winter, improving his impact on the mound as a result. He was up to 88 on Sunday, sitting 85-87 mph, averaging 19 inches of vertical break, per TrackMan. Cox landed all of his breaking balls in the zone at 71-74 mph at 2300+ RPM, and his changeup flashed arm-side fade at 77-80 mph, too.


+ We’d heard some positive reports on C Dominic Anselmo (Marquette, 2024) throughout the off-season, and the 6-foot-1, 195-pound uncommitted backstop did nothing but confirm those in this look. Anselmo’s advanced raw power proved early, as he easily squared balls up with authority, averaging 93.1 mph per barrel while peaking at 100.9 mph. His furthest ball backspun 367 ft. to the pull-side in BP, and his ability to regularly drive the baseball (278 ft.) is worth noting, too. His tools translated to the other aspects of his workout, as Anselmo ran a 6.71 60 and reached an 85 mph high from the crouch, popping consistently in the 1.86-to-1.91 range. He checks several boxes from a prospect standpoint and is one of the top uncommitted junior catchers in Missouri.


+ RHP/INF Seungmin Song (Parkway Central, 2024) was a two-way winner from last weekend’s event. A strong, sturdy 6-foot, 200-pound athlete, Song’s day started with an impressive round of BP, as he consistently squared up line drives to all fields, though favoring the pull-side. He was all over the barrel (80%), averaging 92.9 mph per swing with a 99.8 mph peak. Positionally, Song ran a 7.14 60 and showed advanced arm strength across the infield, firing a 91 mph high. His arm talent translated to the mound, where Song primarily sat in the upper-80s with his fastball, touching 90 mph once. He spun two breaking balls with similar action and velocity bands, each of them spinning over 2400 RPM at peak. Song’s 80-82 mph changeup rounded out his arsenal, and it’s a pitch he threw at fastball arm speed and slot, killing spin with 13+ inches of horizontal action on average. Song should play a big role for the Colts this upcoming season as they attempt to return to the 5A state playoffs.


+ C/INF Connor Mendell (Fort Zumwalt South, 2024) had an all-around impressive workout at this event. A 6-foot, 175-pound athlete with projection, Mendell showed advanced bat strength at the plate from a short, simple, and direct right-handed swing. His peak exit velocity (97.3 mph) and furthest batted balls (339 ft.) are both indicators of that, though his ability to repeat both marks (89.4 mph and 274 ft.) on average are equally impressive. Mendell also ran a 6.70 60 and was up to 83 mph from the crouch, popping at 1.88-to-1.97.


+ C/1B Jackson Edwards (Nixa) swings one of the more physical right-handed bats in the state’s 2024 class that we’ve seen to date. With plenty of strength inside a 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame, Edwards generated easy bat speed from his natural physicality, squaring balls up with authority throughout his round. His 97 mph average exit velocity was amongst this event’s top marks, and his 103.7 mph best finished second on our event leaderboard. Aside from hitting the ball hard, Edwards also hit it far, averaging 302 ft. per batted ball, topping at an impressive 396 ft. Edwards figures to be a staple within Nixa’s lineup this spring after a productive sophomore campaign where he batted .350 with five home runs.


+ MIF Cole Kreisel (Warrensburg, 2024) is an uncommitted left-handed hitter to know from this event. Kreisel worked on top of the baseball during his round with loud contact to pair, averaging 92 mph per batted ball with a 95.4 mph peak. Kreisel also ran a 6.89 60 and was 85 mph across the infield.


+ INF Jaiden Glency (Jackson, 2024) was another uncommitted up-the-middle athlete to follow from last Sunday, displaying loud tools in all areas of his workout. He ran one of the event’s fastest 60 times (6.77) and worked on the barrel (75%) throughout BP, squaring his hardest ball up at 93.9 mph with an 89.1 mph average mark. Glency’s hardest throw across the infield registered at 86 mph and he hopped on the mound afterwards, bumping an 87 mph max. Jackson’s going to be a talented bunch this spring, and Glency will look to make an impact as a potential key newcomer this spring.

+ Two uncommitted right-handed arms that intrigued on the mound: RHP Mitchell Seavey (Parkway West, 2024) and RHP Hayden Strenfel (Kickpoo, 2024). Seavey’s polish for his three-pitch mix stood out, as the 5-foot-11, 155-pound junior has feel for his entire arsenal. His fastball sat 83-84 mph with more to come, and he consistently ripped off a 73-74 mph breaking ball with tight, late dive at 2400+ RPM. Seavey also killed spin on a changeup, throwing it with fastball intent and arm speed at 77-79 mph. Strenfel stood out the second he walked into the facility, standing at 6-foot-8, 190-pounds. He averaged 6.5 feet of extension on his fastball at 84-85 mph with both rise (20.7 IVB) and run (17.7 HM) at peak. Strenfel’s changeup also flashed hard horizontal action (18.9 HM) at 78-79 mph, and he also threw a mid-70s curveball.

+ A pair of brothers that looked the part at the Missouri State Preseason ID and also impressed at this event: RHP Cole Schoen (Springfield Catholic, 2024) and RHP Jack Schoen (Springfield Catholic, 2024). Cole came away as a name-to-know arm on the mound, sitting at an easy 86-88 mph with his fastball and living in the zone from a high arm angle. He comfortably spun two breaking balls, a softer, more gradual curveball with higher shape, and a firm, tighter slider that worked more horizontally through the zone. Jack swung it well, working flat to contact and on top of the baseball while averaging 88.9 mph per batted ball, topping at 93.1 mph. He also hopped on the mound and sat in the low-80s, bumping 84 on his hardest bullet, with three secondaries to pair, including a changeup that he threw for strikes.


+ CIF Ketch Mills (Hillsboro, IL, 2024) is a name we’d heard about in the past, and the 6-foot-4, 215-pound uncommitted junior showed well in his PBR debut. A switch-hitter, Mills looked more natural from the right side, repeating pull-side line drives from a handsy operation. Though longer from the left, Mills stayed level through the zone and on the barrel at times, reaching a peak exit velocity of 92.9 mph.

+ INF Zach Walters (Seckman, 2024) has noticeable tools attached to a strong, well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame. Walters keeps his barrel in the zone on a level plane, working up the middle while flashing juice off the barrel at times. His hardest batted ball registered at 96.5 mph and traveled 322 feet, and he also ran a 6.85 60 with an 88 mph high from the outfield.

UNDERCLASS

+ Two sophomores from Nixa came away as high follow athletes from Sunday’s event: OF Parker Mann (2025) and INF Caeden Cloud (2025). Mann stands at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds with wiry strength, and he ran the fastest 60-yard dash off any underclassmen in attendance at 6.63. He regularly produced above-average contact in BP from a loose, highly athletic right-handed swing, averaging 87.6 mph per barrel, peaking at 96.4 mph on his firmest swing. His furthest ball traveled 379 ft., a mark that’s well advanced for his age, and he averaged 274 ft., which is also a noteworthy metric. Cloud also really runs, dashing to a 6.76 time in his workout, and he was 88 mph across the infield, which led all underclassmen at this event. Cloud produced easy juice at the plate, squaring balls up at 89 mph on average, and reaching a 96.8 mph high on his loudest barrel without much effort to his swing. Both of these two are high follow names in Missouri’s 2025 class and they’ll look to positively impact a Nixa squad that won 32 games last spring.


+ OF/RHP John Hilpert (Belleville West, IL, 2025) has loud tools within a strong, compact 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. Hilpert looked the part on both sides of the ball, starting his day with a loud round of BP, including a 97.5 mph max exit velocity and 364 ft. peak batted distance. Hilpert’s arm played true from the outfield, pumping an 89 mph high, which led all underclassmen that attended. Hilpert’s fastball sat 83-84 mph on the mound, touching 85 mph, and he spun a 71-73 mph slider that averaged 2633 RPM, peaking at 2710 RPM.


+ RHP Ethan Lenahan (Marquette, 2025) is an upside arm with physical projection, listed at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Lenahan’s fastball came out of his hand clean and easy, sitting 84-85 mph in his ‘pen with 19 inches of vertical break on average, and over 90% spin efficiency on average. He flashed lateral spin on a 70-71 mph slider from his fastball’s arm slot, and he also threw a firm 78-80 mph changeup with arm-side run.


+ RHP Colin Kelley (Nixa, 2025) showed well at the Missouri State Preseason ID in late January, and the 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore threw well at this event, too. His fastball sat at 82-83 mph, topping at 84 mph, and he threw a shorter wrinkle curveball with above-average horizontal action at 67-69 mph. Kelley rounded his arsenal out with a 75-77 mph changeup, burying it beneath the zone and creating over 18 inches of horizontal action at max.

+ RHP/OF Evan Mager (Webster Groves, 2025) has noticeable physicality inside a 6-foot, 175-pound frame, and showed that throughout his workout last weekend. Offensively, Mager repeated hard contact from the right side, barreling balls up at an average mark of 88.6 mph. Mager’s metrics at peak certainly standout for his age - his hardest ball jumped off at 98.2 mph and traveled 351 ft. per TrackMan. He jumped on the mound afterwards and sat 82-83 mph with his fastball, complementing it with a low-70s slider and 74-76 mph changeup.

+ MIF Josiah Sems (Marquette, 2025) can really pick it, flashing soft hands, athletic feet, and plenty of comfort for himself on the infield. His arm played true, carrying at 85 mph across the infield on his hardest mark. A switch-hitter offensively, Sems’ swing is more natural from the left side, producing steady line drive contact to the opposite field during BP.

+ From Kentucky, INF/RHP Sebastian Dazey (Christian County, 2026) turned in a strong two-way showing throughout Sunday’s workout. Dazey’s right-handed swing is athletic, and he steadily produced line drives from a loose all-around operation. That moxy translated to the infield, where his easy actions are advanced for his age, and his arm works from multiple slots on the move. Taking the mound later on, Dazey’s aptitude to spin two breaking balls stands out for his age and his arm really works with more velocity to come down the road.

+ RHP Zak Meador (North St. Francois County, 2026) has advanced stuff at the moment with plenty more to come down the road. Meador worked down the mound easily, repeating a clean delivery consistently while staying in sync to release. His fastball came out clean from a loose arm, sitting 82-84, and there’s plenty of reason to believe he’ll throw harder sooner rather than later. Though still completely developing feel for his secondaries, Meador spun a tight slider at 69-72 mph, and he limited both spin and lift on a 73-76 mph changeup in his ‘pen.


+ Three 2026 graduates that all ran their fastballs at 81 mph or higher, with athleticism and physical upside to pair: RHP Preston McCracken (Republic), RHP Henry Vedder (St. Francis Borgia), and UTL Carden Underwood (Kickapoo).


+ 3B/RHP Luke Baer (Ozark, 2026) is a physical right-handed bat that also threw well on the mound. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound freshman stayed short to contact, barreling line drives up the middle with consistency and recording a peak exit velocity of 88.2 mph. He was 84 mph across the infield and sat in the low-80s with his fastball, running his hardest bullet up to 84 mph as well.


+ C Anson Zaiser (Washington, IL, 2026) has quickly cemented himself this winter as a name-to-know freshman from the central part of Illinois. Built physically at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, Zaiser impressed our Illinois’ scouts at the Peoria Preseason ID on February 20th, and he turned heads in BP at this event, too. Zaiser generates aggressive bat speed from the right side, consistently elevating the baseball to the pull-side. His 91.8 mph max exit velocity was the highest of any 2026 grad, and his 318 ft. peak nearly finished towards the top of his class leaderboard, too. Defensively, Zaiser flashed advanced arm strength for his age from behind the plate (75 mph) and popped a 2.04 on his quickest bullet to second base.


+ We’re still becoming familiar with the state’s 2027 class, but one name that really looks the part of a premier prospect this early on in the cycle: LHP Chase Stieferman (Capital City, 2027). The 5-foot-10, 165-pound southpaw put together a highly polished ‘pen, pounding the strike zone with all three of his pitches. Stieferman’s fastball played in the low-80s, topping at an easy 83 mph with more to come down the road. Stieferman spun a 69-70 mph curveball with depth for strikes, and his changeup is advanced, limiting spin with natural fade at 73-74 mph. Given his present polish, advanced arsenal, and pitchability, Stieferman checks plenty of boxes of a high-end prospect in his class.

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