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Boras Classic North: The Five

April 25, 2022
Blaine Clemmens
Northern California Director

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Though not the ONLY good players I saw among the non-seniors, these five players surely stood out among the 2023 and 2024 grads, in the games that I was able to take in. One of them remains uncommitted and has been a two time standout at Future Games.

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THE PLAYERS

Charlie Bates SS/2B / Palo Alto, CA / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 49 / POS: 13 OverallRank: 298 / POS: 63

6-foot-1, 160-lbs; L/R; Stanford commit; Hitting in the 3rd spot in the order as a sophomore for one of the top teams in Northern California certainly speaks volumes about Bates. He passes the eye test as well, with a smooth easy stroke that plays to all fields, with budding extra base hit power. He's playing 2B but will move to SS as a junior and also has the chops, with lateral agility and arm strength, to stand out on the defensive side as well.

Ryan Featherston RHP / 3B / Stockdale, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 43 / POS: 14 OverallRank: 258 / POS: 65

6-foot-0, 210-lbs; R/R; Oregon commit; Certainly has presence when on the mound, with a physical body and aggressive approach. This was my first live look at Featherston and what I saw was two-way talent that will evolve on campus in Eugene. The fastball velocity wasn't overwhelming in this look (up to 88 mph when I was back and forth between the two games that were going on), though he's flashed higher velocity for other PBR scouts. In any case, it was the nasty slider (77-79 mph) with late two-plane break and wipeout action that as of particular note.

Brady Reynolds OF / C / Liberty, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 54 / POS: 8

6-foot-1, 205-lbs; L/R; Stanford commit; A physically imposing LHH, I previously saw Reynolds in September 2021, playing for the Red Sox scout team over a weekend in Fresno, swinging a wood bat all weekend, and doing so quite well. He's got ability to drive the ball the opposite way for knocks and can get through the gap, and on the pull side he's got plus raw power potential and present power that plays in games, as seen in the video when he homered off one of Northern CA's top senior RHPs.

Nolan Stevens OF / LHP / Franklin, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 13 / POS: 3

6-foot-3, 210-lbs; L/L; Mississippi State commit; The top ranked player in Northern California, when all is said and done he will certainly be in the discussion as one of the top high school players for the 2023 draft. Saw him both on the mound and at the plate at Boras North and both ways he was facing elite competition, pitching vs Palo Alto (and 2022 prospect Henry Bolte), and hitting vs Stockdale's 2022 prospect RHP Austin Charles. Stevens has not only high level two-way ability, but he seems to THRIVE in direct competition with other elite talents. The FB was up to 91, sitting in the high 80s deep into the game, while mixing in his sweeping slider and flashing the change-up, as Franklin defeated Palo Alto. At the plate he posseses plus raw power and also hit-ability, with a knack for the RBI and ability to get off his A-swing vs plus stuff, which he showed vs the 90-93 mph he saw from Charles.

Brock Thompson SS / 2B / Liberty , CA / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 28 / POS: 8 OverallRank: 360 / POS: 77

6-foot-0, 155-lbs; L/R; Uncommitted; The lone uncommitted player in this piece, that status seems destined to change fairly soon. We've long (seems odd to say for a sophomore) seen the LHH bat play and as he's developing more physical strength, his ability to make impact contact with his quick and clean stroke is showing up more and more often. Played 3B in the tournament, due to senior Cutter Coffey maning the SS position but it seems likely that he will man that spot in his junior season. In a state with a deep and talented sophomore class, Thompson will be in the mix as one of the top MIF in the state throughout his high school career.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
NorCal Rising Stars: Bay Area CA 05/08 Canada College
SoCal Rising Stars Games CA 06/04 O'Malley Field
Orange County State Games ID CA 06/11 Hart Park
Orange County Top Prospects ID CA 06/21 Hart Park
Inland Empire Top Prospects ID CA 07/06 Corona High School
LA Top Prospects ID CA 07/12 O'Malley Field
California State Games CA 07/30 Hart Park


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