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Top Prospect - Quick Hits: Underclass Position Players

September 4, 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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Rylan Evans - IF / Moapa Valley / Uncommitted

Positional Profile: Possibly the biggest riser in the 2022 class following the event, Evans put on a performance at the Nevada Top Prospect event. A small school prospect out of Moapa Valley, he showed advanced feel for the game on both sides of the baseball. An interesting player that we will be keeping a close eye on in the coming years.
Body: 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Athletic build on a frame that provides plenty of room for additional strength and size. Some twitchiness. 
Defense: MIF. Proved himself as one of the top defenders in the 2022 Class after a clean fielding session that showcase smooth actions through the ball as well as laterally during the Pro-Style Workout with feel for the backhand play. Continued that into the game play where he showed range deep into the six hole making a spinning jump throw to first to get the runner out by a half step. 
Arm: RH. 77 mph. Quick, accurate arm with some carry. Gets the ball out quick.  
Hit: Slightly wide, athletic set up. Shoulder high hand toggle load with a high back elbow. Slight weight shift into back side with waist high leg kick with slight bat wrap. Above average hand speed producing power to both gaps. In game swing was more controlled helping him go 2 for 2 with a single and triple to RCF. Aggressive approach at the plate. 
Power: 100 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan. 
Run:  7.16 Laser Timed 60

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Joey Randazzo - C / Bishop Gorman / Uncommitted

Positional Profile: Randazzo has solidified himself among the top backstops in the 2022 Class. He has continued to improve his receiving abilities behind the plate as well as his blocking which he put on display multiple times during the Nevada Top Prospect event. His best tool is still his hit tool where he has now added some power to his arsenal.
Body: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Present strength throughout his frame. Proportionate, athletic build. Still possesses his twitchiness and agility behind the plate.
Defense: C. Improved receiving and blocking came to play. Cut down a runner trying to steal with ease during the game play portion of the event after posting a 2.02 Pop Time during the Pro-Style Workout portion of the event. Has excellent balance behind the plate with a strong base and forearms allowing him to stick the lower pitches well.
Arm: RH. 73 mph. Short, quick arm action. Over-the-top arm slot. Accurate with some carry. Continues to improve arm strength.
Hit: Starts in wide base with hands head high. Uses a simple lower body/hand rhythm for timing. Small pick up and put down stride. Efficient hand path to the ball with above average bat speed (71.9 mph). Excellent barrel awareness that help him square balls up throughout his round to the big part of the yard, carrying it into the game as he doubled in his first at-bat. Present power to the pull side. His top tool. 
Power: 94 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run:  7.12 Laser Timed 60

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Logan Cockrill - C / Centennial / Uncommitted

Positional Profile: An Under the Radar catcher in the 2022 Class that is not Under the Radar anymore. The stocky, strong based backstop was one of the top receivers at the event, moves well for his size and showed off his present power at the dish during the Pro-Style Workout portion of the event.
Body: 5-foot-10, 180 pound. Thick, proportionate build with strong legs. Moves well for his size. Athleticism shine through behind the plate. 
Defense: C. Quality receiver with the ability to handle velocity and stick pitches down in the zone. Excellent balance. Pitchers loved throwing to him. Posted one of top Pop Times of the event at 1.95. 
Arm: RH. 74 mph. Short, quick arm cycle. Pulls down to get additional carry on his throws. 
Hit: Wide based set up with a slight forward lean, hands head high. Pushes off his front side into a low hovering leg kick with his weight inside his back leg. Efficient hand path helped him square balls up to both gaps. Stays behind the ball well. Gets extended though the ball with a high one handed finish with his weight strong and balanced.
Power: 93 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run: 7.07 Laser Timed 60

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Rolen Driscoll - C / Rancho / Uncommitted

Positional Profile: This is a player who won't jump off the stat sheet at you, but ranks among the top of the prospects in attendance in toughness. Produced three extended at bat during the Live Simulated Play, all resulting in hits all over the field. Zero pass balls and threw out a baserunner trying to steal third. A gritty, undersized player that you want in your dugout.
Body: 5-foot-7, 155 pounds. Youthful appearance with physical development on the horizon. Has plenty of room to add strength to his frame. Has athletic ability that he uses well throughout his game.
Defense: C. Posted a 1.99 Pop Time that showcased his quick catch and throw abilities. Still could use some polish on the receiving end and added physical strength should help with his ability to stick pitches especially as the velocity continues to increase. 
Arm: 69 mph. Accurate.
Hit: Wide based set up with weight split between feet. Heavy sink into his back side with an arm bar hand load. Simple pick up and put down stride with flashes of heavy foot strike. Rotational swing but manages to spray the ball to the big part of the yard. High one handed finish. 
Power: 84 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run: 8.65 Laser Timed 60

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Anthony Marnell IV - C / Bishop Gorman / Uncommitted

 

Positional Profile: One of the top receivers in the state, regardless of class, Marnell proved himself as a legit prospect at the Nevada Top Prospect where he posted a sub 2.00 Pop Time and followed it up with a 2 for 3 day at the plate with the switch hitter singling from the right side and doubling from the left side during the Live Simulated Play. Already on the national radar, he has proved time and time again that it is for good reason.
Body: 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. Lean, athletic build and has recently added strength to his frame. Athleticism shines throughout his game. Still has plenty of room to add size and his metrics should parallel his physical development. 
Defense:  Excellent receiver that already has proven his ability to handle velocity. Flexibility allow him to underneath the lower pitch and present it well. Earned the top Pop Time in the 2023 Class at 1.96. 
Arm: RH. 73 mph. Over-the-top arm slot allows him to pull down achieve above average carry on his ball. Routinely delivers it around the tag zone. 
Hit: Switch hitter with a mirrored set up from both sides of the plate. Starts with an athletic base slightly wider than his shoulders. Slow, smooth full body rhythm for timing. Hands start head high into a short hand load with his weight shifting his back side. Small leg kick that gets down on time with a level bat path through the hitting zone. Finishes with a two handed upright follow through. Sprays the ball to all fields with more present power coming from the left side. 
Power: 94 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan
Run: 7.47 Laser Timed 60

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