INSIDE THE 2022 RANKINGS: LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS
April 21, 2020
Follow @PBRCalifornia Follow @LesLukach Follow@Clemmens_PBR Follow @SteveDoherty643 Follow @Jacked_23
New Episode LIVE now! -At The Yard Podcast
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - As we recently released our updated Class of 2022 state rankings we thought we'd provide you a closer look at a few of these prospects. Rankings are never easy and we certainly know they are not an exact science. Much of rankings is predicated on what our team of scouts have seen, but given the national scope of the Prep Baseball Report network, we are more than able to access a library of over 100,00 players nationwide to compare apples-to-apples.
It's a given that California is either 1 or 1a in terms of talent in any given year. There isn't that much debate as to who the top players are because they've generally been identified at a much younger age. After all, the top players are easily identified. However, given the amount of games, innings, at-bats, pitches our team has seen over the last two-to-three years of watching this class, we feel confident knowing that nobody in the industry has seen more players in addition to those easily identified from California than our collective team.
And because of that level of confidence we feel our rankings best reflect the overall talent in the state.
Earlier we looked at right-handed pitchers and now it's time for a few of the top ranked left-handed pitchers in the state for the 2022 class. You can read full available scouting reports and view available video by clicking on the the player name.
You can also CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS
#ShapeTheState #BeSeen #PBRisThere
THE PLAYERS
#17 NICK BRONZINI - CALIFORNIA - ARIZONA COMMIT
The top ranked 2022 left-handed pitcher passes the eye test with his 6-foot-3 220 pound projectable frame. Exhibits overall ease in his motion and release towards home. Fastball shows life and carry through the zone helping play up his 84-87 mph velocity reading. Traditional left-handed curveball at 63-65 mph possesses late bite and projects to be his best secondary option at the next level. Consistency and success will be key for this left-hander as he matures, with his size and easy feel on the mound oozing projection at the next level.
#20 MIKAIH NEGRETE - ORANGE LUTHERAN - SAN DIEGO COMMIT
Smooth left-hander showing vast improvement and making a case to become a central part of the Orange Lutheran pitching staff in his junior and senior seasons. Physically has more room for growth in his current 6-foot-1 190 pound frame and should see it sooner rather than later. Comfort level with a four-pitch mix shows well for him to remain a starter at the next level and gives him a solid platform to have tremendous high school success. Slider projects as a plus-pitch down the line as it is released from the same arm angle and arm speed as his fastball, breaking on an 11/5 plane at 76-78 mph.
#26 CHRIS GROTHUES - SERVITE - UCLA COMMIT
The funky left-hander shows good feel and comfort on the mound. Command of this fastball highlights his pitchability as he is able to locate up-and-down and side-to-side at 81-85 mph. His ability to locate has enabled him to already see valuable Trinity League innings and expedite his development as a pitcher. Traditional left-handed 12/6 breaking curveball at 67-70 mph that he also possesses command of helps play up his fastball and garner quick outs. Mature control and feel for pitching help Grothues tremendously and with a velocity jump could make him the most statistically successful pitcher in the group.
#28 BRAEDEN SLOAN - WOODCREEK - USC COMITT
Long and lanky left-hander at 6-foot-3 175 pounds that may end up throwing the hardest of the group down the line. Works quickly on the mound, hides the ball with a short arm swing and features a 12/6 curveball that has potential to cause havoc at the next level. Arm works quickly with an engaged lower half that features power and force towards home with an aggressive follow through. Arm speed and lower half feel show there is a lot more velocity to come.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Of course given the social distance precautions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, future event dates/locations could change. If there are changes we will alert all registered players and make adjustments to our calendar.
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Norcal Underclass Games (INVITE-ONLY) | CA | 06/06 | Islanders Field - Lathrop |
Northern California ProCase (INVITE ONLY) | CA | 06/13 | Folsom Lake College |
SoCal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) | CA | 06/13 | Hart Park |
SoCal ProCase (INVITE ONLY) | CA | 06/14 | Hart Park |
CA State Games ID (Norcal) | CA | 06/16 | Islanders Field - Lathrop |
2020 PBR Future Games (California Invite) | CA | 07/29 | LakePoint Sports |
RELATED TOPICS:
- CA Update to the Class of 2026 Player Rankings 9/04/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 OF Will Suslow 8/29/24
- CA Class of 2025 Player Rankings Updated 8/28/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 OF Royce McKenzie 8/27/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 C Derrick Robertson 8/26/24
- CA Future Games Spotlight: RHP Dustin Dunwoody 8/22/24
- CA CA State Games: TrackMan Pitching Leaderboards 8/22/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 INF Greyson Gullage 8/21/24
- CA CA State Games: TrackMan Hitting Leaderboards 8/21/24
- CA Future Games Spotlight: OF Camden Goetz 8/21/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 OF Alex Mestman 8/20/24
- CA CA State Games: '27/'28 Top Performers from Game Action 8/19/24
- CA CA State Games: Positional Leaderboards 8/19/24
- CA CA State Games: '26 Top Performers from Game Action 8/16/24
- CA CA State Games: '25 Top Performers from Game Action 8/15/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 C Jaden Liu 8/14/24
- CA CA State Games: Quick Hits Workout Wonders 8/13/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 C/RHP Nyte Teeter 8/08/24
- CA CA State Games Preview 8/07/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 LHP Brayden Charness 8/07/24