By Blake Hibler
Director of Scouting, PBR Indiana 

On Saturday, Feb. 23, PBR Indiana hosted its annual Preseason All-State Showcase at Lawrence North High School.  The event consisted of 127 of the top prospects from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes from across Indiana.  Going into the event we had a good knowledge of many of the top players in the 2014 and 2015 classes, but we had yet to find any 2016s that stood out as high-end prospects. 

This quickly changed after Saturday’s Preseason All-State event.

Below are the top performing freshman from the 2013 Preseason All State Showcase.  

1. TJ Collett, C/1B, Terre Haute North, 2016

6-foot, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher out of Terre Haute North HS.  Collett solidified himself as the top hitter in the 2016 class, and possesses tools that could possibly rank him as a top hitter in any of the current classes.  While hitting from the left side, he displayed loose hands and quick bat speed with plenty of juice.  Collett left the event with the highest exit velo recorded at 96 mph.  His primary position is behind the plate, where he showed advanced actions and the ability to receive the ball well during the bullpen sessions.  His best pop time was a 2.0.  As a freshman, there is still development that needs to take place, but there is no denying he possesses the tools necessary to be a high-level national prospect.

2. Janzen Bloom, RHP, Seymour, 2016

Bloom is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound RHP/3B who has an advanced body with a wide base.  His fastball was consistently 85 mph and showcased to be a true right-handed power pitcher with a heavy fastball.  For a freshman he showed the ability to spin the breaking ball well. With continued development and maturity, Bloom has a chance to be a high-end power pitcher in the coming years.  He is a definite follow in the 2016 class and it will be exciting to see where his velocity will end up as he moves through the high school ranks.  At the event we only saw Bloom pitch, however, we’ve had many reports that he handles the bat really well too.  He projects to hit in the middle of Seymour’s lineup this spring.

3. Michael McAvene, RHP/OF, Roncalli, 2016

 6-foot-2, 160 pound RHP from Roncalli HS, is an extremely projectable prospect. He is currently tall and skinny (6-foot-2, 160-ponds) and has not physically matured, but his arm really works.   At the event, he was 81-84 mph with his fastball from a ¾ arm slot. He possesses an easy arm action, the type of arm action you don’t have to dream much to project a big velocity jump in the coming years. He has a shot at finding his way into Roncalli’s rotation as early as this spring if he can show the ability to throw strikes and get outs.

4. Brady Bain, C, Mooresville, 2016

5-foot-6, 130-pound catcher from Mooresville HS may be small in stature, but nothing he does on the baseball field is small. Bain shows exceptional athleticism for a freshman. His feet are ultra-quick behind the plate, leading him to a 1.95 pop time with accurate throws on the bag. The freshman also showed his athleticism behind the plate receiving the baseball. He moves well in the squat and handles velocity well. He shows an overall advanced feel for the position as a freshman. Also ran a 6.8.

5. Reid Schaller, RHP, Lebanon, 2016

6-foot-2, 165 pound RHP from Lebanon HS.  His arm is quick and has some arm strength at 81-84 mph.  Schaller is still developing how to pitch. The tools and makeup are there for him to be special on the mound. Works in a deliberate pace with a high leg kick. He lands stiff on the front side. Fastball is 81-84 with a long, loose arm action. Breaking ball works down with early break. Change-up shows arm side run. Both off speed pitches are a work in progress. 

6. Brice McDaniel, LHP/1B, Columbus North, 2016

6-foot-1, 205 pound LHP/1B from Columbus North HS has an excellent frame for a freshman. He is athletic for his size and hits from the left side. The swing is compact. On the mound,  he touched 81 mph with his fastball. Mechanically he needs refined, but the arm works.  His delivery; hands are high and he lands open. He is advanced for his age and a high follow. 

7. Seth Tollison, RHP, Danville, 2016

5-foot-11, 200 pound RHP from Danville HS. He showcased good arm strength on the mound at 79-82 mph with his fastball. Tollison works out of the stretch and shows a high front side with a little bit of a head snap during delivery. Arm works well out in front and throws a heavy ball. Showcased a good slurve type breaking ball with late action.  

8. Logan Ames, RHP, Terre Haute South, 2016

6-foot-4, 165 pound RHP is long and loose at 80-81 mph with his fastball. He uses a slight coil in his delivery with good rhythm. Ames gets good arm side run on his fastball and change-up. Breaking ball shapes as 10/4 with gradual break. Possesses late life on his fastball and expects a velocity jump soon. Ames is a high follow in the 2016 class. 

9. Kalib Clark, C, Plainfield, 2016

5-foot-8, 148 pound catcher from Plainfield HS. Displays good arm strength for a freshman at 75 mph and was 2.05-2.26 with his pop times. Clark has a pause in his release causing him to be long in his exchange. At the plate Clark displays advanced actions for his age. Shows good approach, balance, with fast hands. Barrels the ball consistently with projectable power.

10. Duncan Hewitt, C, Lawrence North, 2016

6-foot-1, 180 pound C/3B from Lawrence North HS.  Shows good footwork behind the plate for a freshman and is 74 mph from the crouch.  He’s consistently 2.10-2.19 with his pop times, but will improve as his mechanics behind the plate improve.  At the plate, Hewitt is a switch hitter whose dominant side is from the right side. He hits from a tall stance with a small trigger. Shows balance, good swing plane, and plus bat speed for a 2016. 

11. Mark Mazure, C, Crown Point, 2016

6-foot-1, 180 pound C/RHP from Crown Point HS.  Behind the plate displayed quick feet for a freshman and was 73 mph from the crouch. The footwork still needs to be refined, but there is some athleticism there. At the event his best pop time was a 2.04  At the plate, he again shows athleticism with quick hands. He dives towards the ball currently. On the mound he topped out at 80 mph with his fastball. His delivery is deliberate and he lands open. Mazure currently projects more as a positional player.

12. Jonathan McGee, 1B/LHP, Hamilton Southeastern, 2016

6-foot, 175 pound left handed hitting 1B from Hamilton Southeastern HS.  He shows projectable power from the left side with some pop. McGee changes eye levels in his stance, but when he squares up the baseball it really jumps.