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2023 Top Prospect Games: Preview

May 31, 2021
Brett Thorney
State Scouting Director

PBR Arizona will be kicking off the summer by hosting its annual Top Prospect Games on Tuesday, June 1st. Our Top Prospect Games in an invite only event that has developed into one of the top events in the state for local talent. This year, the event will feature some top 2023 grad prospects, hosted at Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona. The showcase is near full and will feature over 60 prospects from all across the state of Arizona. This  event has become a popular showcase for players going into their summer before their junior year of high school. PBR Arizona also uses this event as a big identifier when selecting player for Team Arizona that goes to compete at the PBR Future Games at the end of July. 

The PBR Future Games is one of Prep Baseball Report's most premier events and is currently the top event in the country for uncommitted prospects. In a typical year with scouts being able to be in attendance, it's a huge draw with state directors picking the top 20 uncommitted prospects in their state to compete in a showcase plus live game format. We are excited to welcome scouts back to event where there were over 300+ in attendance in 2019. We're also excited for the next couple weeks where we will finish building out the rest of Team Arizona. 

Among the 60--plus names headed to Cactus Shadows on Tuesday is RHP Grant Smith (Pinnacle). Smith is currently ranked No. 3 overall in the Arizona- Class of 2023 and his overall ceiling as a prospect is through the roof. Smith is a player that we have been able to see quite a bit from over the last year. His tools along with athleticism & size combination are undeniable which is why he already secured an invite on Team Arizona for the upcoming summer. Smith has the ability to run his FB up to 92mph with movement. He also has some strong ability & power potential at the plate.

Another player that we're excited to see this week is a player from the Tucson area in Andrew Cain (Ironwood Ridge). Cain is one of the top left-handed bats in the class of 2023. He has solid power potential that helped lead him to Washingston State commitment shortly after this event a year ago. To be honest, its been awhile since we have seen Cain in action and we're looking forward to taking a look at the improvements he's made as of late. On paper, he was a key piece to Ironwood Ridge's performance in the 2021 spring season. 

Two-way potential player (LHP/1B), Cole Carlon (Corona Del Sol) will be attending his first ever PBR event on Tuesday. He's a player that we have had a chance to see on several occasions this spring. From our coverage, Carlon is hard to miss as he stands at 6-4/190-pounds with a long-levered frame and potential to add even more physical strength from his young appearance. He was another big contributor as a sophomore on varsity this year for Corona Del Sol where they used him on both sides of the ball. He can run his FB up into the mid 80's as well as provide some juice from the left-side of the plate. We are excited to get a more in depth appearance of Carlon's abilities.

 

There are plenty of other ranked 2023 prospects headed into the event on Tuesday including SS Tyler Action (Verrado) who attended the PBR Future Games in 2020 as a young switch hitter with plenty of projection left. 2023 RHP Bryce McKnight will also be opening our live game action on Tuesday as the starting pitcher for Team #1. McKnight attended an event back in February where he showed some rapid improvements in a year while running his FB up 89ph with 3 quality pitches. Both, Acton & McKnight remain uncommitted and that could change as the summer progresses. There will be plenty of more talented prospects in attendance tomorrow and we're looking forward to see everyone compete.

For a look at the most up-to-date roster attending Sunday’s showcase, click here. 

ITINERARY

  •  8:15 to 8:40 a.m. – Position Players Check-in
    + Stretching
  • 9:00 a.m.- Position Player Workout
    + 60-yard Dash
    + Defensive Evaluations
    + Offensive Evaluations
    + Batting Practice with Trackman & Blast Motion
  • 11:30 a.m.- Gameplay (Pitchers checkin one hour before game)
    + Team 1 vs. Team 2 - 12:30PM
    + Team 3 vs. Team 4 - 3:30PM

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