Prep Baseball Report

NorCal Preseason All-State Outfielders


Ryan Ozella
NorCal Area Scout

Lathrop, CA: The annual NorCal Preseason All-State was our latest stop on the road to the California State Games setting up shop at Islanders Field on a cool and foggy day. The weather didn’t stop us from getting to see a large group of talented players at this premier early season showcase with those players ready to show their fall/winter development as their high school seasons are just a few weeks away. This invite only event roster saw just over 70 players in attendance. 

Players were put through a customary pro-style workout that included a laser-time 60-yard sprint, a round of batting practice, defensive workouts at respective positions, and concluded with bullpen sessions for pitchers. We purposely did not include games because we didn’t want to put pitchers who aren’t ready to face live hitters in that situation.

A large majority of the players have been on our radar from previous Springs, Summers and Falls or previous PBR events. A few were attending their first ever PBR California event giving us a first look at these players in a showcase setting. No matter how many times we may have seen players, this was another great showing with many players leaving a lasting impression and quickly getting added to the spring follow list. 

With so many players at the event we've rolled out positional breakdowns. We've showcased our Quick HitsStats LeadersCatchersMiddle Infielders, Corner Infielders from the event and today break down the remaining Outfielders from a very deep group.

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Outfielders:


Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-9, 180 continues to show the frame strength, speed and agility to be a player at the next level. One of the top Uncommitted 2020 OF in the area. High back elbow, balanced stance getting into his lower half while maintaining posture as he uses a high foot/knee tuck to stay behind the baseball; easy effort and compact barrel continue to show the ability to keep the hands tight and turn the body with force. Bates maximizes his frame strength in every swing being able to easily drive the ball and showing leverage with over-the-fence power to his pullside. Did not throw as he works his way back into season shape, but we’ve seen Bates have the speed (6.88 60yd) and reactions to go get the ball in the middle of the OF with above-average arm strength for the position (up to 85 previously). Teams looking for a 2020 OF should have Bates high on their list.

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-3, 190 long and strong chiseled frame with current strength throughout and speed to carry over to the next level. Slight crouch with hands at back shoulder pulling hands back deep with controlled foot lift; stays in back hip well and creates some stretch with stride. Barrel stays level through the zone with direct hands flashing quickness in the hands/barrel; strength in the frame and ability to work gap to gap (89 EV). Has improved his ability to get to the baseball in the OF along with his arm strength and path giving him ability to play all corner spots in OF and INF; arm has some scap load and ability to utilize his arm side run to be accurate to bags (84 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 185 compact frame with current strength in the squared shoulders. High hands/high back elbow starting tall before loading hands down and back and holding load in core and back hip; quick and fluid hands working barrel on plane upwards through the zone. Feel for the barrel and understands his approach being able to work gap-to-gap and knowing when he can get to his pullside pop (87 EV); continues to show professional rounds of batting practice that translate to game as well. Light feet and good athleticism in the OF staying behind the baseball and working body through it in rhythm; arm is compact with some extra steps in the load up. Consistently accurate and true throws to each of the bags (81 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 165 high waist, long leg athletic build showing burst and athleticism in twitchy actions. High hands/high back elbow set up staying tall with feet under his shoulders; rocks into back hip with front foot lift as hands have some lift in load. Twitchy actions show up in hand speed where he can jump to the baseball a bit; when he’s smooth with the load the hands fire on a better upwards path showing the ability to drive balls through the middle of the field (85 EV). Works his feet through the ball with glove out front and understands how to stay behind the ball catching in time to get ball to his hand cleanly; compact arm swing with high release shows looseness in the arm and ability to put throws accurately to the bags (82 OF).

Scouting Report

PBR Norcal Preseason All-State: 6-0, 175 tight waist, long and strong frame with strength in shoulders and ability to play with burst and athleticism. Starts tall with flared elbows and high hands resting bat flat on back shoulder before sinking into lower half on the load; some big coil in the load having the hands pull back on front knee turn. Barrel follows the shoulders with ability to lift and stay behind his front side; when he’s at his best the high, one-handed finish allows him to drive the ball through the gaps with easy carry (80 EV). Plays with aggression in OF attacking the baseball and using a long arm swing to produce firm throws out of the 3/4-to-Mid-3/4 slot; slot creates some run but he understands it and utilizes it to keep throws to the bag (82 OF) with quick release looking to get the ball out.

Scouting Report

PBR Norcal Preseason All-State: 6-3, 195 mature and strong frame with current strength throughout and length in the limbs. Tall, slightly opened stance with high back elbow and hands at the back shoulder; short hand load bringing some early rhythm to the swing. Steeper direct hands to the baseball with compact barrel making his best contact out front while working the middle of the field (83 EV); when keeping the hands tighter and having barrel on plane can showcase more bat speed to the pullside gap. Plays behind the baseball using his long arm to make throws to bags; throws have higher arc and can add firmness by working lower half through the baseball (73 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-0, 185 long, lean frame with some strength in the shoulders/chest. Tall and balanced at the plate with hands at back shoulder and high back elbow; slight foot lift for load keeping hands still and creating some stretch on stride. Hands stay inside the baseball with direct path showing ability to wear out the RCF gap and flashing times where he can create leverage to the pullside when allowing the barrel to turn with more upwards path (88 EV). Easy athleticism for CF and plays with calmness in OF; arm has some depth out of glove but is loose and can keep throws online to the bags (80 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-0, 190 squared and projectable frame with current strength in the core/lower half. Open stance with high hands and wider base; limited wasted movements from lower half with slight hand load and strong blocking in front leg. Easy and quick barrel through the zone showing ability to stay inside the baseball and on-time has he worked gap-to-gap with carrying line drives (88 EV). Good feet for the middle of the OF and ability to move through the ball in time; high glove side and longer arm swing produce firm throws to the bags (80 OF). 

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-11, 160 long and lean build with space for added strength. Tall stance, slightly opened with high back elbow and loose hands; knees come together in load with hands staying back before gaining ground showing athleticism in the swing and stretch across core. Loose, upward swing with top hand able to finish the two-handed swing over back shoulder; worked the pullside with some lift and shows ability to stay on the baseball (88 EV). Moves with confidence and ease in the OF showing burst to the baseball; arm is compact and loose with lofty throws (81 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 170 long and wiry frame with some lean strength across broad chest. Open, very high hands stance showing ability to adjust load and timing on pitch; utilizes a knee tuck most consistently to keep body over back foot with hands having a small load. Quick hands and whippy barrel from full body swings able to get through the baseball while showing ability to lift to the pull gap; have seen swing be more flat and compact flashing barrel feel to all fields (89 EV). Consistently under control in the OF tracking and moving in time with the ball while keeping rhythm; high glove side and longer arm action showing ability to keep balls firm on a line to bases (81 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-0, 173 long frame with some budding strength throughout; projectable young frame. Slightly opened and narrow stance keeping some hand rhythm with them deep by back shoulder; rides his stride well staying in the back hip with slight foot lift as hands show small load back. Flat barrel works level through the zone with loose hands; stays balanced well through contact and showed ability to have quickness in his turns. Worked middle of the field and pullside with line drives and with more strength could add more carry (82 EV). Consistently worked to catch the ball above his head moving in time and allowing full swing arm to work loosely and cleanly through the 3/4 slot; chance for more arm strength to go with current accuracy (81 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 6-2, 200 physical frame with strength in the firm shoulders and chest and length in the lower half; not done filling frame. Slight bend in knees with high hands/high back elbow; controlled forward movement with slight foot lift allowing him to gain ground while maintaining spacing for hands to work. Compact barrel turn with direct hands allowing him to make contact out front and backspin balls through the gaps; when stays locked on front side able to create easy lift through the middle of the field (91 EV). Athletic movements in OF with ability to get body moving through the baseball; longer arm swing before mid-slot arm action keeping throws firm with a bit higher arc (79 OF). Frame and swing to play both corner OF spots and 1st base. 

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-9, 175 compact frame with firm upper half. Slight crouch with hands high and high back elbow; knees tuck tight on slight lift and load before gaining some ground and shorter hand load. Direct hands as top hand drives the swing with barrel turning upwards through the zone; Able to lift through the middle of the field (82 EV). Aggressive in the OF with good direction to his bases; full swing arm with high glove side showing lofty throws that produce some carry (72 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 175 physical upper half with wide shoulders and length through the athletic legs. Balanced stance with hands wide and high keeping flatter barrel over back shoulder; lift and replace with front foot showing looseness in the hips. Barrel turns well behind him and upwards through the zone with high finish from steeper hand path; able to backspin balls with carry working each of the gaps (86 EV). Light feet and some athleticism in OF; can be more aggressive to get the baseball. Arm has full swing with high release showing limited carry to bags (71 OF).

Scouting Report

NorCal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 150 long and wiry frame with space for added strength as he continues to mature. Opened stance, slight knee bend with loose hands at the back shoulder; toe-tap load with hands having limited movement. Loose and easy swing showing compact barrel turn and upwards path getting on plane early and finishing high over front shoulder; flashes feel for the barrel able to work with carry to both gaps and stay behind the ball well (79 EV). Added strength will help the bat continue to improve. Read the ball well in the OF and shows athletic ability to adjust on the fly; quick load up when he gets the ball with a compact and easy arm action able to throw firmly to bases (84 OF).

Scouting Report

PBR Norcal Preseason All-State: 5-10, 160 compact frame with added strength in chest and arms; still young and projectable frame. Balanced stance with high back elbow keeping hands just below back shoulder; quick load over back foot with quiet front side allowing hands to start to turn barrel behind him. Barrel turn allows hands to get on plane early working upwards through the zone; when he keeps the front shoulder on the baseball there better direction through the ball and ability to allow bat speed to play. Quick turns produce higher carry gap-to-gap and flashed consistent hard contact (86 EV). Utilizes his lower half staying connected to the ground as he moved through the baseball; arm is slingy from mid-3/4 slot allowing arm to produce low trajectory throws with bits of run to the bases (81 OF).

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Winter Update Series powered by Mike Murphy Baseball CA 02/08 MMB - Walnut Creek
SoCal Underclass Games ID - Los Angeles CA 02/09 O'Malley Family Field
Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports CA 02/10 EM Sports - Rancho Cucamonga
Norcal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/06 Islanders Field - Lathrop
SoCal Underclass Games (INVITE ONLY) CA 06/13 Hart Park
SoCal ProCase CA 06/14 Hart Park
2020 PBR Future Games (California Invite) CA 07/29 LakePoint Sports

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