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Future Games Day 2 Notebook

August 2, 2020
PBR California Staff

EMERSON, GA. - The 2020 Prep Baseball Report Future Games got underway yesterday with a showcase for all participants. The game action started today with Team California playing games against Team Nevada and Team Arizona. Team California split the day with a 4-3 win over Nevada and 3-2 loss to Arizona.

With 14 innings of game play today, there were plenty of standout performances to discuss. Below is a look at those players in no particular order.

+2023 SS Kai Caranto (Harvard Westlake HS) continues to impress not only with his defense - he made a play ranging to his left that was spectacular - where his instincts and quickness are off the charts. While his defense has been the story for a long time, it’s the offense that’s really taking the next step. He’s showing more consistency with the barrel along with some more natural power.

+2024 OF Benjamin Reiland (Orange Lutheran HS) is one of the premier outfielders in his class and plays with the maturity of a player much older. His approach is mature and he knows where his hot spots are in the zone. Shows advanced barrel awareness and plate discipline. Finished the day with a pair of hits and an RBI.

+2023 1B MJ Sweeney (St. Augustine HS) has made a commitment to strengthening his frame and he showed a couple times during BP those strength gains are going to prove to be very valuable in the long term. In game he started a tick slow in Game 1 before making an adjustment heading into Game 2 where he was on every pitch thrown his way. Laced a single to right field in the game showing some juice in a screamer smoked at the right fielder. Nimble for his size, Sweeney made a couple very good defensive plays including starting a near 3-6-1 double play.

+2023 OF/RHP Sammy Vander Hill (Orange Lutheran HS) made quite the impression today beginning with his first at-bat that saw him smoke a single to left field. Vander Hill showed some power during BP by going off the fence three times which translated into the game where he hit the ball hard consistently. Vander Hill hopped on the bump and worked 82-83 (T85) with the fastball while showing a sharp, biting curveball at 73-75 that he was able to command for the better part of his outing.

+2023 C/RHP Luke Scherrer (Yucaipa HS) showed why he’s one of the better uncommitted 2023 catchers in the state not only with his defense but the bat as well. Sets up quietly and shows soft hands. Arm strength is present with accuracy -1.98-2.02 pop times - with throws on the bag consistently. At the plate he shows a simple, quiet setup with significant present strength that saw him go off the wall several times during BP. There’s more power coming in the bat.

+2023 3B/1B Casey Borba (Orange Lutheran HS) has developed into an offensive threat every time he steps into the box. The added strength in the frame has Borba looking like a legitimate power threat in the not too distant future. Pounded balls during BP and has carried that over to the game where he smoked a single to left field in his first AB before smacking an RBI triple to right center field. Borba then hopped on the bump to close out the game for Team California working primarily 82-83 mph with the fastball and touching 85 mph. Curveball was sharp with late depth at times at 75-77 mph and he used it well with his other pitches. Showed feel for the changeup at 76-78 mph.

+2023 OF/RHP Owen Egan (Yucaipa HS), the #3 ranked player in the Class of 2023, has lived up to that billing this weekend. After a very strong few rounds of BP, Egan opened the game on the mound where he touched 90 while living comfortably at 87-89 mph with a sharp, biting curveball at 71-72 mph. Egan’s changeup was a very good out pitch that was a nice change of pace pitch that kept hitters off balance. At the plate, Egan has the type of juice that easily projects for future over-the-fence power with present gap-to-gap power.

+2022 OF/RHP Matt Little (Orange Lutheran HS) is a physical, strong outfielder with some tools that are desirable for college coaches. Showed some power during BP going off the fence a couple times during BP. It’s a line drive type swing with a middle-middle approach. Instinctive outfielder with sufficient arm strength to play any of the three positions. Little hopped on the mound working 82-84 mph with a fastball that showed some late run. Future is in the outfield.

+2022 C Cooper Gerecke (Liberty HS) was one of the more impressive players on the field for both games not necessarily for his production, but for everything else he did. Leadership, pitch calling, framing of pitches, soft hands, athletic actions behind the plate are all things that will intrigue college coaches. At the plate he was one of the hotter hitters with an RBI single before taking second on an error. Drew an 11 pitch walk as well. Lots to like from Gereke moving forward, the type of leader you want behind the dish.

OTHER NOTABLES:
+22 Jack Vanoncini (Carlmont HS) is a guy college coaches are going to want to see ASAP. At 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, there’s ample room for the addition of mass and strength to his athletic frame. It’s a simple set up at the plate with a whippy barrel. His ability to call a game belies his age. Instinctive with soft hands, he registered pop times of 1.99-2.03. Threw out a runner at 2B by three steps. Blocked a ball and recovered it 15 feet off the foul line before throwing out a runner at first. The play drew the praise of the opponent.

+23 SS Marcos Rosales (South Hills HS) had a quiet day drawing a few walks at the plate showing his discernable eye and his ability to lay off pitches close in the zone. Incredibly sure handed on the dirt, Rosales shows a very strong, accurate arm with off-the-charts instincts and plus range.

+2023 RHP/INF Vaughn Major (Christian HS) is a tall drink of water at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds with massive upside. With a fastball that touches 85 mph, he sits comfortably at 82-84 with his running fastball. Curveball is tight and sharp at 72-74 mph and his ability to spot it will improve with time. At the plate he shows a discerning eye and the ability to square balls up as demonstrated during BP with three balls off the fence.

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