2023 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hits

6-foot-1 195 pounds, uncommitted 2023 prospect Max Leyva continues to show he’s one of the more skilled and interesting third basemen left on the board in his class. Good build for a corner infield spot, with strength and tools that will play at the next level. Leyva consistently turns in a competitive at bat, with the ability to drive the ball to the gaps, some power potential. He hits from a strong position with some hand speed. Some room to clean up the bat path, lacks some extension through the zone at times. With the build and hand speed of Leyva, a more consistent and adjustable bat path to the inner half could create some real pop to the whole field. His BP rounds were good on Monday, recording a 95 mph max EV, consistent hard contact, and max distance of 335 feet. Leyva went 2-5 in game action on Tuesday, with 2 base hits to the left side. We’ve seen constant improvement from Leyva defensively at 3B. Good rhythm and timing with the feet and soft hands. The arm will play from the left side with still some room to grow (85 mph IF velo). Great uncommitted follow in the 2023 class.

3B Max Leyva (Tucson, ‘23)

6’1 195 lbs, uncommitted ‘23 records a knock to LF at Top Prospect Games. And a look at the IF actions.@MaxLeyva16@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/sgi1dWtdJT

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 28, 2022

5-foot-11 173 pounds, uncommitted 2023 prospect out of 6A State Runner-Up Chandler High. Flores has clean actions across the board with above average defensive ability. He was a standout over the two days at the Top Prospect Games. Took a very mature BP, with line drive/ground ball contact to the middle/oppo part of the field. And took quality at bats day two in the game portion. Max exit velo of 95 mph in BP, and went 2-4 with a 2B and BB in game action. Both hits were to the pull side. Flores has a clean and direct bat path that can use the whole field. The intent to use the middle part of the field in his batting practice was there, and the ability to pull the hands in on the ball on the inner half was shown in game action. Defensively, Flores understands how to read hops. He came and got some balls, he moved the feet well, and he always put himself in the right position to field. Arm strength is average right now (81 mph IF velo), with more in the tank. Flores projects as a 3B/2B at the next level that can hit for average.

Very good showing at the Top Prospect Games from uncommitted 23 Hunter Flores (Chandler).

Stayed to the top half and offside gap in BP (95 EV). Two knocks in game. And played a clean 3B in game/workout (81 IF Velo).@hunter_flores13@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/FAfKwpspSV

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 29, 2022

6-foot-1 195 pounds, uncommitted OF Cooper McKee was the sole 2022 prospect out at the Top Prospect Games. R/R power bat coming off a successful 2022 spring season. McKee showed his offensive upside during the workout portion of the event, posting an event high 103 mph exit velo, and max distance of 335 feet. Simple set up in the box, uses his strength and leverage to drive balls to the middle of the field with a direct bat path. Majority of his work done on this day was to the top half of the baseball. Low and hard consistent contact was created and showed some real power potential. Average speed (7.2) and arm strength (85 mph) for the 2022 with upside. As he continues to grow and add strength to his already strong frame, we anticipate these numbers to climb. McKee projects at a corner outfield spot at the next level with an impressive hit tool.

Uncommitted 2022 OF Cooper McKee (Desert Mountain) showed well at the Top Prospect Games workout.

6’1 195 with strength throughout. Posted an event high 103 EV with a direct bat path and simple set up.@CooperMckee@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/ykd2CRfm50

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 29, 2022

6-foot 195 pounds, uncommitted two-way prospect out of Chaparral showed well at the Top Prospect Games. L/L with a strong and compact build. Penney showed well on both sides of the ball. With some bat speed and ability to control the bat, and ability on the mound, he showed he has some two-way potential as he enters his senior season. Penney posted a 97 mph exit velo with consistent low and hard contact to the middle. And went 1-2 in game action with a hard hit ball the opposite way through the 6-hole on a FB on the outer half, also recorded a BB. On the mound, Penney was very efficient and was filling up the zone. He recorded two first pitch ground outs, struck out 2 batters, and allowed 1 hit in 7 batters faced. Delivers from a higher slot with some effort. FB sat 80-83 mph (2361), downward breaking CB sat 66-68 (1849). Commanded the ball well and got quick outs and bad swings. The ability to drop the CB in for a strike in any count was there in this outing.

Two-way 2023 prospect Landon Penney (Chaparral) sat down 6 of 7 batters faced (2 K) in his outing at Top Prospect Games. Also went 1-2 with a 1B and BB.

Efficient worker on the mound, commanded the zone and showed some SW/M stuff.

FB 80-83
CB 66-68@LandonPenney@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/VbahGzq7RA

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 29, 2022

6-foot-3 210 pounds, uncommitted right hander Wyatt Halvorson has a large build and a promising arm. Halvorson has an easy delivery from a higher slot with a FB that stays on plane. FB sat 84-86 mph with a max IVB of 18.5. SL was 74-75 mph (2274) and was commanded well with some late break. CH was 79-80 mph. He was living on the outer half with the FB to all hitters, and using the SL effectively. In his 10 batters faced, Halvorson allowed just 1 hit, walked 2, and struck out 5 (4 consecutive). Halvorson was dominant in his first set of 5 hitters, got a weak gb to 2B and struck out the next 4. Expect Halvorson to play a big role on Chaparral’s pitching staff in the 2023 season. This is a big bodied right hander with an easy arm and some projection. We will be following Halvorson closes over the next year.

RHP Wyatt Halvorson (Chaparral, ‘23)

6’3 210 lbs, easy delivery from high slot. SL showed some promise. 10 batters/ 5 K/ 1 H/ 2 BB.

FB 84-85
SL 74-75@whalvorson2023@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/miWuNaO5Oy

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 28, 2022

5-foot-11 135 pounds, uncommitted left-hander out of Chaparral had a fantastic outing at the Top Prospect Games. Smaller build with room for added size and strength. Chippindall was very efficient and effective in his outing on Tuesday. He showed that he trusts his breaking ball, and it’s a pitch that he likes to get ahead with, and put hitters away with. He threw the breaking ball in all counts and was landing it for strikes. FB was 78-80 mph (2072), CB 64-66 mph with advanced feel and spin (2548), CH 71 mph. If size and strength can be added, Chippindall will be a left hander with a good FB and an out pitch in the breaking ball. In his 10 hitters of work, he was able to set down 4 hitters on strikes, while only allowing 1 hit and 1 walk. Chippindall showed he is a left hander we can dream on with a possible plus CB.

LHP Aydin Chippindall (Chaparral, ‘23)

5’11 135 lbs. Good outing for uncommitted ‘23 at Top Prospect Games. Showed great feel for spin. 10 batters/ 5 K/ 1 H/ 1 BB.

FB 78-80
CB 65-66@AydinChip@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/zc2QmqWyod

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 28, 2022

6-foot 185 pounds, the uncommitted 2023 RHP out of Sunnyslope continues to turn in quality outings on the mound. Trevor Collins faced 10 hitters on Tuesday, struck out 3, walked 2, and allowed no hits through his outing. Collins relies on his FB, but he goes right at hitters, he commands it, and the ball has some action to it (15.6 HM). The right hander posted the events high FB velo at 87 mph (2225). The SL sat 76-78 mph (2073), and CH sat 78-79 mph (15 HM). The CH was not used much but showed some promise. Collins recorded one of his strike outs with a right on right changeup thrown with great arm speed and movement. He delivers from a ¾ slot, and with added consistency to the delivery, Collins could be an impact arm for Sunnyslope in the 2023 season. 

RHP Trevor Collins (Sunnyslope, ‘23)

Uncommitted ’23 posted event high FB velo at 87 mph with some sink. Pitching to contact, inducing gb’s and weak contact. 11 batters/ 4 K/ 1 H/ 2 BB.

FB 84-87
SL 75-78@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/HMMw7PsLNp

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 28, 2022

6-foot 182 pounds, possibly the most impressive outing on the mound at the Top Prospect Games was 2023 LHP Nathan Hoffman. Large build with an easy delivery and a 3 pitch mix. Hoffman pounded the zone, was aggressive with all his pitches, and hit his spots. Hoffman faced 10 hitters, struck out 3, and only allowed 1 base runner via base hit. After that one base runner reached base, Hoffman was able to induce a 5-4-3 GBDP. FB sat 82-85 (2217) with some arm side action. The FB showed to be his best pitch on this day. Stayed majority on the outer half to all hitters, threw with some intent down in the zone, and had very limited misses. The breaking ball showed some promise with downward break, slight inconsistencies with the release point. CB sat 69-73 (2210). CH sat 75-78, commanded well and also showed some promise with this pitch, thrown well to RHH. If Hoffman can learn to command the FB to the inner half and continue to develop his secondary options, this can be another great left hander on the Basha pitching staff. Very excited about Hoffman’s outing on Tuesday.

LHP Nate Hoffman (Basha, ‘23)

6’ 182 lbs, great outing at Top Prospect Games. Commanded the ball well. Threw the FB with intent. 10 batters/ 5 K/ 1 H/ 0 BB.

FB 83-85
CB 70-73@nate_hoffman20@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/6jZsRo8QMi

— PBR Arizona (@PBRArizona) June 28, 2022