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Top Prospect - Quick Hits: 2021 Position Players

September 2, 2020
Brett Harrison
Nevada Scouting Director

Las Vegas, NV - The Nevada Top Prospect event saw some of the top talent in the state take the field at Las Vegas Ballpark to showcase their abilities in front of the PBR Staff as well as the 2,000+ viewers that tuned in via Live Stream. This group featured prospects ranging from the 2021-2023 classes and were tracked, analyzed and assess by the leading technology in the sport in TrackMan and Blast Motion.

Day 1, the athletes took part in the Pro-Style workout where they ran a Laser Timed 60 Yard Dash, took a TrackMan + Blast analyzed batting practice session, Catcher Velocity/Pop Times, Outfield Evaluation/Velocity and Infield Evaluation/Velocity. Day 2 featured Live Evaluations where pitchers threw controlled live sessions against hitters in a simulation live format. Both days were filled by standout performances and new personal bests that will be highlight over the coming days with Quick Hits, Statistical Leaderboards and Players You Need to Know About.

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SANTINO PANARO - OF / BISHOP GORMAN / UNLV

Panaro came into the Top Prospect event as one of the top players in the 2021 Class and he solidified himself as just that after his performance on both days of the event. Day 1 saw Panaro earn the top Laser Timed 60 with a 6.59 showing off his well above average athleticism. At the plate, he posted of the best round batting practice the event with newly developed physicality coming to play as he earned a 100+ mph Exit Velocity three separate times.  During the Simulated Live Play on Day 2, Panaro first showed off his excellent instincts in the outfield by cutting off a ball in right-centerfield, holding a runner to just a single on what most likely would've been a stand up double. Then, he racked up two hits with one of them be a double off the wall in left-centerfield off of a 90 mph fastball. In recent months, we have seen his power potential turn into present power to the pull side and now has progressed into gap to gap power after his performance at the Top Prospect. 

 

Player Profile

Positional Profile: Instincts and speed should keep him in CF. Well above average athleticism that shines throughout his game. Should stay at the premium position at the next level. Recent strength added to his frame has translated into a power surge at the plate over the past few months. Carries a quiet confidence throughout his game.
Body: 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. Athletic build with present strength. Recent physicality added to his frame. Quick twitch that his uses to amplify each part of his game. 
Defense: Could make an argument for him as the top outfielder in the state. Excellent instincts at a premium position. Uses his speed to make difficult plays look routine. 
Arm: LH. 83 mph. Quick, short arm action. Over the top arm slot. Pulls down to get good carry. Accurate on each of his throws. 
Hit: LHH. Starts in a slightly wide stance with hands head high. Slow sink into his back side load with his hands dripping to just above his shoulder height. Small, simple stride that gets down on time allowing him to consistently find the barrel. Bat stays level through the zone with a shoulder high one handed finish. Uses his legs well in his swing to generate power which has seen significant progress in the past six months. 
Power: 101 Exit Velocity via TrackMan. Gap to gap present power.
Run: 6.59 Laser Timed 60

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Aric Anderson - C / Palo Verde / Uncommitted

Anderson could be the most Under the Radar prospect in the 2021 class. After his performance this weekend, he put himself in the conversation as the top backstop in the state in the 2021 class. Producing one of the top batting practice rounds of the day, he showed his ability to drive the ball to both gaps with authority and finished his round with two no-doubt blasts to right field. Following his impressive hitting session, he earned the top Pop Time of the Top Prospect event with a 1.87 while hovering right around the 1.90 mark on each of his throws. This is a prospect who had a breakout event that helped put his name on the map and could be one of the first uncommitted prospects to come off the board following the event.

 

Player Profile

Positional Profile: Solidified himself as one of the top backstops in Nevada's 2021 Class. Above average receiver with plus catch and throw ability. 
Body: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds. Athletic, proportionate build. Physical athlete with significant present strength that uses his size well throughout his game. 
Defense: C. Balanced set up with above average receiving abilities. Has impressive quickness for his size that helped him achieve an event best 1.87 Pop Time. Quickness paired with his present arm strength put him in the argument as  the top catcher in the 2021 class. 
Arm: RH. 80 mph with carry and accuracy. Ball jumps out of his hand and was around the tag zone on each of his throws
Hit: LHH. Slightly spread set up. Hands start shoulder high. Has a smooth rhythm in his legs used for timing. Sinks into his back side load with small stride that flashes a toe tap. Efficient hand path to the ball helped him produce one of the best round of batting practice at the event. Uses his legs well through his swing to generate power to the pull side. Has some natural lift through the ball with a should high one handed finish.
Power: 91.9 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan. 
Run: 7.25 Laser Timed

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Seth McGrath - IF/RHP / Bishop Manogue / Uncommitted

McGrath had one of the best overall performances at the Top Prospect event. His strong, athletic frame helped him produce an impressive batting practice round that showcased his present power to the pull side and he carried that quality round into the Live Simulation Play where crushed a ball over a high wall in left field at Las Vegas Ballpark. After his blast, he hopped on the mound where he hopped on the mound where he achieved a new personal best max fastball velocity of 87.3 mph paired with a projectable breaking ball that helped him through an efficient inning of work. His performance and increased projectability at the Top Prospect will help him climb in the 2021 PBR Player Rankings.

Player Profile

Positional Profile: Present size and strength keeps him the corner infield position. Fits the prototypical corner infield body type with arm strength and power that should allow him to stay at 3B at the next level.
Body: 6-foot-0, 187 pounds. Present strength throughout his frame with broad shoulders and a solid lower half that he uses well throughout his game. A gym rat that could see even more strength added to his frame as he heads into his senior year.
Defense: Shows promising actions in the field that are still being polished. Has shown improvement defensively since February with smoother actions thorough the ball. Positions himself well with quality glove presentation.
Arm: RH. 84 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Accurate with some carry. 
Hit: Slightly wide, athletic set up. Minimal pre pitch movement with a compact stride. Uses a quick negative hand push load into a slight uppercut swing to help elevate the ball. One of the few prospects to leave the yard during the live simulated play. High hand finish with a slight back bend to emphasize the lift on the ball. 
Power: 87.3 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run: 7.61 Laser Time

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Jared Stevenson - IF/RHP / McQueen / Uncommitted

Stevenson has come into his own over the past few months with physical development leading to improvements in each part of his game as he improved his 60 Time, Fastball Velocity and Positional Velocities at the Top Prospect event. The drastic improvements make him an interesting follow as he developed quickly into a prospect that could hold down multiple positions at the next level as well as the potential to hop on the mound if needed. His bat has also seen significant improvement as his hand speed has progressed which allowed him to find the barrel consistently throughout his batting practice session and drive the ball to the big part of the yard. 

 

PLayer Profile

Positional Profile: Physical maturity has seen him add the speed tool to his game that will allow him to be competent at any position on the field. His actions in the OF are currently more polished than his IF actions. His versatility helps add value to him as a prospect who can be added to any line up as a middle to top of the order bat with the ability to play any position on the field.
Body: 6-foot-0, 165 pounds. Lean, athletic build with some twitchiness. Has room to add strength and size. Has seen progress throughout his game because of his physical development over the past few months and could continue seeing that progress as he adds more strength to his frame.
Defense: Primary IF, but could end up making the transition to the OF at the next level. Shows projectable action at SS. Tends to field the ball slightly deep, but get the ball out quickly. Could hold down any infield position. Showed natural comfort in the outfield. Comes through the ball with fluidity and confidence. 
Arm: IF - 83 mph. OF - 86 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Accurate with above average carry on his ball. 
Hit: Wide based set up. Small hand rhythm in his pre pitch. Slow, compact load into his back side. Simple stride with flashes of a small hanging leg kick. Uses excellent hand speed to drive the ball to all fields with some present power to the pull side. Has some natural lift through his swing. Has a high two-handed finish staying balanced in his legs throughout.
Power: 85.5 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run: 6.83 Laser Time

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Dominik Tavares - IF / Basic Academy / Uncommitted

Tavares fits into the category where he won't jump off the page at your stat wise, but it is difficult to find a part of his game you don't like. His gritty mentality shines through in every part of his game, whether it's in the field, at the plate or on the base paths. In each of his at bats during the Simulated Live Play, he had extended at bats resulting in a two for three day. He is a top of the lineup guy that will that will be able to hang at the shortstop position at the next level, but could eventually transition to second because of his foot speed and size, but good luck telling him that. Keep an eye out for Tavares as a guy who could be an impact player at the next level at a premium position and tough out at the plate.

Player Profile 

Positional Profile: MIF. Scrappy style of play with some twitchiness. Gamer with above average instincts in the field, at the plate and on the base paths. Can hold down the shortstop position, but could see him making the move to second at the next level with his foot speed and arm strength. Never an easy out at the plate. Had multiple extended at-bats during Live Simulated play with two hits against some of the top arms in the state.
Body: 5-foot-9, 165 pounds. Compact, proportionate frame. Athletic build. Some twitchiness. Has room to add strength. 
Defense: SS/2B. Ranges well to both the forehand and backhand side. Clean actions with fluidity through the fielding process. Excellent glove presentation. Quick exchange through mid section. Gets the ball out quickly.
Arm: RH. 83 mph. Short, quick arm action. High 3/4 with some carry. Accurate across the diamond. Has the ability to change arm angle to stay smooth through the play. 
Hit: Starts with a slightly spread/upright stance. Uses pre pitch hand rhythm for timing. Small load into his back side with a medium high leg kick. Gets down on time allowing him to spray ball to all field. Level bat path through the zone. Finishes balanced 
Power: 88.3 mph via TrackMan
Run: 7.34 Laser Timed 60. 

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