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2022 Creekside JUCO Showcase: Quick Hits

September 22, 2022
PBR JUCO Staff



The 2022 Creekside JUCO Showcase featured 18 of the top Junior College programs from the Midwest playing two games apiece in front of a bevy of college coaches and professional scouts. Prep Baseball Report’s JUCO scouting contingent, led by Tad Slowik, was out in full force as well, with Sean Duncan, Andy Urban, Scott Hood, Kevin Moulder and Diego Solares all providing coverage during the loaded one-day event.

Here are notes and videos on the standout players from this year’s Creekside JUCO Showcase.


Allen (KS)

Offensively, Allen county was led by 3B Shaun Gomez Jr and OF Gage Stark. Stark collected a couple of hits and showed off elite, sub-6.5-second speed. Gomez showed off his impressive pop (104 mph exit velo) with a home run in their first game. On the mound, Brett Buchanan and Nic Besecker were both strike throwers in the upper 80s for the Red Devils. 

 

Barton (KS)

+LHP Owen Reynolds: The young left-hander flashed moments of brilliance for Barton, running his fastball up to 90 mph while sitting 86-87. Reynolds also showed the ability to land the changeup and breaking ball for strikes and will be a force when the shape and command of both pitches become more consistent. 

+INF Ricardo Sanchez: Sanchez started his day off by getting into a grove in BP and lining balls from gap to gap with regularity. The right-handed hitter was able to stay back on breaking balls and get the barrel out on the fastball with a compact stroke. With the glove, Sanchez has impressive range to his right and left with quick feet and sure hands. He plays with contagious confidence and energy both offensively and defensively. Collected multiple extra-base hits and RBIs in the doubleheader. 

 

+INF Dryden Howse: Strong, physical 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-handed-hitting corner infielder. Swings with controlled aggression and intent; pummeled an opposite-field double after working a deep count against DMACC. One of the top returning bats for this Barton club that figures to be another middle-of-the-order type producer this upcoming season. 

 

Cloud (KS)

+RHP Brady Stuewe: Stuewe was the first to take the ball for Cloud and didn’t disappoint, dominating in a two-inning stint. His low-90s fastball has strong life through the zone, showing some arm-side run at times, and it pairs perfectly with the firm 83 mph slider.  After striking out eight more batters than innings pitched out of Cloud’s bullpen last spring, Stuewe could make another big jump into a more predominant role.

 

+RHP Brayden Mackey: Mackey entered out of the ‘pen and attacked hitters with an 88-90 mph fastball, showing a very quick arm. Mackey’s big, 73 mph curveball has heavy depth and the potential to become a plus pitch. After transferring this fall, the right-hander will look to provide big innings for Cloud this spring. 

 

+INF Danny Infante:  Infante wasted no time catching everyone’s attention at Creekside with a strong round of BP leading right up into the game, where he showed barrel control by lining one up the middle. Later in the game, Infante worked his way onto the bases and then quickly stole second base before swiping home two batters later. The entire sequence showed the electricity he can bring to the diamond. Defensively, Infante has smooth actions with body control in the middle of the diamond. He’s coming off a strong freshman year that saw him hit .340 with seven homers.

 

Crowder (MO)

+RHP Ethan Voss:  At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Voss has a long-limbed, high-waisted projectable frame. He works from an up-tempo delivery with square shoulders, landing in-line with solid extension to home plate. He works from a long high-three-quarters arm slot with good arm speed. He featured a downhill fastball that sat 87-90 mph along with a 10-to-4 slider with depth at 77-79 mph that created swing and miss. Voss also throws a low-spin, 83-84 mph changeup with fading action that he kept low in the zone. 

 

+RHP Josh Barnhouse: The 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander works from a high slot with a clean arm swing and an athletic delivery. He shows feel for all of his pitches with tilt on his 87-89 mph fastball and 73-75 mph breaking ball. He also showed a changeup with arm-side run that he throws for a strike.  

 

+C Joe Reid: Offensive catcher showed the ability to drive the ball with power the other way during a multi-hit performance. Defensively, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound backstop demonstrated a quick release from behind the plate and did a good job receiving a talented Crowder pitching staff.

 

+LHP Gage Watson: 6-foot-2, 185-pounder featured an 87-89 mph fastball with late tail and some sink. Tight spin on deceptive late-breaking slider and shows feel for a changeup with good arm speed deception with some fade. Athletic to repeat delivery and capable of throwing strikes with all 3 pitches. Has a plan and mixes up pitches to keep hitters off balance.  

 

+OF Houston King: Left-handed hitting leadoff man who gets things going for the Roughriders. Advanced approach at the plate with ability to square the ball up consistently and use all fields. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder can drive the ball in the gaps with some pop. Steals bases and does whatever is necessary to get the offense going. Strong instincts in the outfield and can run them down with a playable throwing arm. Good all-around ability with great intangibles that enhance his tools and bring positive results on offense and defense.

+3B Josh Livingston: Strong, solid build at 6 feet, 215 pounds. Left-handed hitter with the ability to make loud contact; sound approach at plate, track pitches well. Squares the ball up to all fields with plus raw power. Solid defender with first-step quickness. Throws are accurate with carry across the infield. Strong defender who has upside offensive ability with the bat.

 

Des Moines Area (IA)

+LHP JC Dermody: Highly projectable 6-foot-3, 154-pound frame; lean levers with wiry strength. Started for DMACC against Barton at 12:30 p.m, threw two quality frames. Present arm speed with deception on the backside, fastball jumped out the hand and worked down in the zone at 84-86 mph. Spun a 73-74 mph curveball with depth off a 1/7 plane and mixed in a 78-79 mph changeup down in the zone that played well off his fastball. An upside left-handed starter with three pitches.  

 

+OF Gage Franck: Strong, athletic 6-foot-1, 187-pound frame. Physical right-handed bat with hand strength and feel for the barrel. Jumped on an inner-half fastball for a loud double down the left field line, flashed impact-type contact throughout the day as well. Projects as a middle-of-the-order type bat for DMACC this upcoming season.

 

Eastern Oklahoma

+SS Bryce Logan: Logan has always been a fun watch on both sides of the ball including at this event, where he showed his quick hands and bat speed from the right side. Logan is one of the better defenders in the juco space in this area, manning the shortstop position with strong range and smooth actions.  He transferred in this summer and will look to provide big production for the Mountaineers.

 

+RHP Brenden Sweeney:  Sweeney jumped onto the scene during the Oklahoma high school spring season and is showing some big potential out of the 6-foot-6 frame. Sweeney’s fastball was an easy 92 mph with a smooth arm action and delivery. He flashed the makings of a quality low-80s breaking ball but mostly relied on his mid-70s changeup that had almost split-like action. With the three-pitch mix and easy arm strength from the large frame, Sweeney projects as a starter at the next level and should be a prospect teams can keep an eye on this spring. 

 

+RHP Matthew Holzhammer: A big-bodied sophomore, Holzhammer works from a lower-3/4 slot, slinging 89-91 fastballs that at times flashed heavy arm-side sink. A short-strider who lands open, Holzhammer paired his sinker with an effective mid-70s slider and was around the zone with everything. Listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. 

 

+RHP Caleb White: A sophomore, White stands at 6-foot-8 and has a wiry-athletic 195-pound frame. There’s a lot to dream on with White, and not just because of his size, but because he touched several 92s, sitting mostly 87-90. The arm is long, loose and athletic, indicating there’s likely plenty more velocity to come once he begins to fill into his frame and consistently syncs up his delivery. When he stayed on top of the baseball, his fastball had arm-side life, but often his ball flattened out, which resulted in several barrels. Secondary offerings were inconsistent around the zone. Slider worked between 72-77 mph and also showed a mid-70s changeup.  

 

+RHP Connor Brady: A 6-foot-3, 205-pound freshman, Brady showed flashes of being a high-level reliever, showcasing two above-average swing/miss offerings. Ran his fastball up to 92 mph, working predominantly at 90 in his outing. Brady is a tough look for hitters, as he is short in the back, hides it well and possesses an ultra-quick arm at foot strike. His curveball also had swing/miss potential, flashing late, sharp downer action at times at 70-73 mph (2100-2200 rpm). Brady works extremely fast, often quick-pitching hitters. Competitive mound presence, throws with aggression and is an athletic mover on the mound (ran a 6.6 in high school). High-follow prospect.

 

Fort Scott (IA)

+INF Blake Wilson: Wilson was in rhythm and on-time in game one for Fort Scott, collecting a few loud barrels, on a sac fly and stand-up double. The right-handed hitter uses a big but controlled and athletic leg kick before launching the barrel on a short and slightly uphill path with some bat speed. 

 

+C Brody Szako: One of the standout hitters of the entire event, Szako delivered an opposite-field bomb and base hit in Fort Scott’s first game. The left-handed hitter uses a simple and short load and stride with very few moving pieces, allowing him to be balanced and on-time on every pitch he sees. Along with the polished swing mechanics, Szako’s approach and plate discipline will allow him to thrive at the next level.

 

Hutchinson (KS)

+UTL Adam Mustow: Only a freshman, Mustow looks the part of a physical upperclassmen at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds with strength throughout. The left-handed hitter showed that he can really handle the bat. He gets his hands extended and barrels a line drive on a pitch executed down and away here, but also showed the ability to turn and burn on the pitch in. A solid athlete that holds his own at multiple positions, Mustow’s bat and versatility will make him a mainstay in Hutchinson’s lineup and high-end follow after juco. 

 

+RHP Ben Dandelet: Dandelet didn’t have his best command but flashed some exciting stuff, with arm action and athleticism on the mound that bode well for his future development. Dandelet featured an 88-90 mph fastball and touched 91; spun a slider that, at times, was as good as any on the day. As he continues to polish his command, Dandelet could be poised to put up impressive numbers this spring.

 

+RHP Kaden Wickersham: Wickersham has made a huge overhaul to his delivery and arm actions since his days at Southmoore HS. The right-hander now employs a much shorter arm action and a cleaner delivery with a fastball that has risen into the low 90s and a downer breaking ball.

 

+INF Blake Bradford: Wiry-athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound switch-hitter, Bradford has quick, loose hands in the box and runs the bases well. Overall twitchy athlete; freshman from Ohio.

 

+RHP Brady Beverman: Ignore the 80-84 fastball velocity, because Beverman could rip off 100 percent sliders out of the pen and get hitters out (which he pretty much did). Beverman dropped multiple wipeout sliders between 76-79 mph (2500+ rpm) that had wicked late sweeping bite. Also mixed in 73-74 changeup with arm-side fade (1400 rpm). Slider plays at the next level. 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame.

+LHP Justin Smith: Sturdy 6-foot, 200-pound frame with strong lower half. A sophomore, Smith makes for an uncomfortable at-bat, as he was firing 89-91 mph fastballs seemingly from his earhole. Fastball has darting arm-side life. Also mixed in an effective mid-70s slider and 84-85 changeup. Feel for three pitches, around the zone with everything, nothing sits still.

 

Iowa Central

+RHP Jackson Kendall: The 6-foot-5, freshman right-hander looks the part physically on the mound. Working from a deceptive three-quarters slot, Jackson mixes an 86-89 mph fastball with a splitter and slider to induce lots of swing and miss.

 

+RHP Easton Johnson: A Creighton transfer, Johnson impressed with his physical frame and feel for three pitches. The 6-foot-4 sophomore worked downhill with his fastball, sitting 86-90 mph, and showed advanced feel for his curveball and changeup, using both as putaway pitches in the outing.  

 

+RHP/INF Evan Borst: It was a quick look at the sophomore right-hander on the mound, but Borst didn’t disappoint. The fastball worked quickly on hitters at 90-92 mph and he showed the makings of a swing and miss slider. The two-pitch combo should make him a perfect fit out of the Iowa Central bullpen. Borst is mainly known for his work at the plate, where, last spring, he hit .337 with four homers and 21 stolen bases. An intriguing two-way prospect for schools at the next level to keep an eye on.

 

Jefferson (MO)

+RHP Kannon Nesslage: Strong, athletic pitcher's body at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds. Former college quarterback with upside. Impressive arm speed gives 87-90 mph fastball late life. Good spin on sharp downer curve at 76-77 mph with late biting action. Split-change at 80-81 mph has some tumble to it. 

 

+RHP Joe Dasho: 6-foot-1, 205-pound sophomore had an impressive two innings of work, showing an 85-87 mph fastball with above-average spin rates (up to 2435). The separator for Dasho was his ability to command his swing and miss breaking ball at 75-78 with sharp late break, striking out three batters. 

 

+OF Jack Matousek: The sophomore outfielder showed off the strong rotational swing from the left side to hit a clear no-doubter to right field that left the yard in a hurry. Matousek has a rhythmic swing and when the lower half and hands are working in unison he displays true power, showing some serious strength at contact. Matousek will look to expand his role in the offense in 2023, providing some thump in the middle of the order. 

 

+LHP Dalen Stewart:  Stewart wasted no time in his outing, making a big impression by striking out the side in his first inning of work. The left-hander uses his 88-90 mph fastball to both sides of the plate effectively and showed the ability to mix in a changeup to right-handed hitters. His separator pitch is a slurvy, mid-70 breaking ball that he can work either away from left-handed hitters or back door for strikes.   

 

+INF Colby Ott: The sophomore infielder jumped all over a pitch for a homer, showing some physicality from the right side. Ott’s quick toe-tap stride allowed him to stay in the lower half and use his uphill bat path to help with matching plane. Barrel moves quickly through the zone with strong whip. Poised for a big spring.

 

 

Johnson County (KS)

+RHP Cole Koonce: Quick-armed righty has deception in delivery and hides the ball. 89-91 mph fastball gets on hitters quickly and has late tailing action. Tight spin on sharp deceptive slider with late action. Repeats delivery and throws strikes with both pitches.  

 

+RHP Will Fricker: The 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty was 89-93 mph with plus late tail. Fastball has plus action on both sides of the plate. 79-81 mph slider has late hard diving action; feel for changeup. Athletic delivery; throws strikes.  

 

+CF Rhett Hendricks: Strong, live athletic build at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. Very good approach at plate with short, quick compact stroke. Drives the ball to all fields with power. Good instincts in the outfield; can close on balls. Strong, accurate throwing arm. Athlete with good intangibles who will produce on both sides of the ball. 

 

+1B Ryan Callahan: Physically strong (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) left-handed bat with balanced and solid overall approach at the plate. Kansas transfer hit a home run to right field and showed advanced barrel control throughout. Able to track pitches and keep hands inside the ball, driving it to all fields with easy plus power. Very good around the bag defensively and can pick it. 

 

+RHP Gabe Nutter: At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Nutter has a strong, solid build with a quick arm that produces an 89-91 mph heater with late life. Tight spin on sharp late slider at 79-81. Good pitchability; aggressive and pounds the strike zone.