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Northwest Athletic Conference JUCO Showcase 2022: Quick Hits

September 21, 2022
By Tad Slowik
PBR Special Asst., Scouting Ops.

Tad Slowik, our PBR staffer who has been traveling across the country this fall diligently covering the nation’s best JUCO players, made it to the Pacific Northwest last week for the Northwest Athletic Conference Showcase on Sept. 17 at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Wash., just outside of Seattle. It was well worth the trip, as Bellevue was a gracious host and the weather on the day of the event was ideal. Additionally, teams, coaches, and players were all on top of their game, which stirred up excitement and energy in-event.

These players made it worth PBR’s visit, as well as the fellow college recruiters and pro scouts in attendance.

Below, you’ll find breakdowns of some of the top performers at the NWAC Showcase.

NWAC SHOWCASE: QUICK HITS

PITCHERS (Listed Alphabetically)

+ Rylen Bane, RHP, Bellevue: 6-foot, 190 pounds; durable pitcher’s stature. Fastball was 87-90 mph with late life through the zone. Tight spin on a deceptive late-breaking slider, 81-82 mph. Tight spin on sharp, downer curve, 76-77 mph, featuring some bite. Showed feel for a changeup with deception and sink. Throws fastball for strikes and with quality secondary stuff to mix in and keep hitters guessing. Demonstrated a plan of attack and mixes offerings well. 

+ Styer Brinkley, LHP, Lane: Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds; solid/durable looking lefty. Quick arm with deception in his delivery. Hides the ball well and gets on hitters quickly. Fastball was 89-92 mph with late tail and some sink; locates it well to both sides of the plate. Tight spin on a sharp late slider, 78-79 mph, with some diving action. He has a feel for a change. Throws strikes with above-average stuff that plays up as his three-pitch mix is tough for opposing batters to pick up.

+ Jordan Cezar, LHP, Southwestern Oregon: Listed at 6-foot, 200 pounds; strong, solid build. Quick arm speed; fastball was 86-90 mph, late tail and sink. Flashes some plus changeups, 81-82 mph, thrown at arm speed with deceptive fade, sink. Quality spin on a late-breaking curve. Demonstrates advanced pitchability, knows how to sequence his own mix. Throws strikes with all three pitches. Changeup is a definite out-pitch and a big weapon in his arsenal.

+ Sam Cooper, LHP, Shoreline: Listed at 6-foot-7, 190 pounds; long levers, high ¾ arm slot from a loose, quick arm. Fastball was 87-90 mph, some late tail and sink. Quality spin on sharp, downer curve, 74-75 mph, with late action and bite. Some feel for a change. Athletic to be able to repeat delivery and throw strikes, especially for his size. Size also raises his ceiling, creating high upside to monitor this spring.

+ Jackson Elder, RHP, Lane: Listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds; strong, durable frame with arm speed. Fastball was 90-92 mph with late life. Spins a curveball well, 75 mph, with sharp, late break. Generates arm speed and deception on changeup, some sinking action. Athletic to repeat delivery that helps him throw strikes with all three of his offerings.

+ Zach Elsos, RHP, Southwest Oregon: Listed at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds; a tall, strong build in a prototypical pitcher’s frame. One of the most interesting pitchers in attendance, throws from a sidearm, nearly a submarine slot. He dominated hitters, striking out all four batters he faced. Fastball was 85-88 mph with tail and sink. Sweeping slider, 73-77 mph, which had a big, sharp break to it. Extremely tough on right-handed hitters. His sidearm delivery gives him an edge but he also has good stuff and the key is he throws strikes with both pitches. Great bullpen piece for the next level.

+ Eli Holbert, RHP, Everett: Listed at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds; big physique, strong/durable stature; quick arm speed. Fastball was 91-94 mph with late tailing action. Tight, late-breaking slider, 82 mph, sharp action. Feel for a changeup, 85 mph, thrown with deception and sink. Attacks hitters with quality mix, and he’s able to repeat and throw strikes with all three offerings. 

+ Liam Paddack, LHP, Spokane Falls: Listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds; tall and strong lefty and has some arm speed from a low ¾ slot. Fastball was 89-91 mph with late life and some sink. Sharp, late curveball, 75-76 mph, with some bite. Changeup, 81 mph, has some deception and sink. Throws strikes and has a feel for keeping hitters off balance. Upside player to know from this event.

+ Hunter Polley, RHP, Walla Walla: Listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds; athletic build. Quick arm, produces 87-91 mph fastball, late action. Deceptive cutter, 81-82 mph, with short, late break. Effective spin on slider, 77-79 mph, sharp, late break. Maintains arm speed on the change to create deception. Competes with four-pitch mix and throws strikes.

+ Bryan Rojas, RHP, Lane: Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds; strong, durable pitcher's body that generates arm speed. Fastball was 89-92 mph with late life. Creates tight spin on a sharp downer curve, 74-76 mph, with late bite to it. Has a feel for change that is deceptive. Athletic to repeat delivery and throws strikes with all three pitches.

+ Cho Tofte, RHP, Tacoma: Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds; tall and athletic pitcher's build; loose, live arm. Fastball was 89-92 mph with late life. Tight spin on sharp, late slider, 81-82 mph, with some diving action. Efficient spin on a sharp, downer curve, 75-76 mph, with some bite. A feel for a change with deception and sink. Quality four-pitch mix with a feel for the strike zone.

+ Dylan Watts, RHP, Tacoma: Listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds; loose, quick arm; ball comes out of his hand easily. Fastball was 91-92 mph, late tail and sink. Tight, deceptive slider, 81-82 mph, with sharp, late diving action. Feel for both pitches and he’s able to pound the strike zone. Sinker/slider type prospect with upside.

POSITION PLAYERS (Listed Alphabetically)

+ Titus Dumitru, OF/1B, Linn Benton: Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; strong athlete. Defensively, showed the ability to get instinctive jumps on fly balls; throws are accurate, some carry. Future value lies in his offensive profile; big bat potential with the ability to square it up and make loud contact regularly. Plus raw power which can turn into middle-of-the-order run production.

+ Ryan Fowler, C, Tacoma: Listed at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds; strong, compact/durable build that fits his catcher profile. Defensively, first-step quickness to block; soft hands and strength in wrists that helps subtly receive pitches on the edge of the zone to garner extra strikes. Throws from the chute are accurate, with carry (2.03 pop times). Catch-and-throw abilities will help contain the running game. Also a mature approach from the left-handed batter’s box, ability to barrel the ball up with some pop.

+ Elijah Henning, SS, Southwestern Oregon: Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds; strong athlete with first-step quickness up the middle of the infield, with actions that fit shortstop long-term. Throws carry from quick release, maintaining left side of the infield abilities. Balanced approach at plate with ability to drive ball to all fields; makes hard contact with power potential. A quality shortstop prospect with offensive upside.

+ Steven Meier, CF, Columbia Basin: Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds; strong, athletic stature. Instincts and first-step quickness on defense; can run the ball down in the gaps, helping him profile as a center fielder at the next level. Accurate arm with carry. Strong left-handed hitter; keeps hands inside the ball and finds the barrel. Ball jumps off his bat with power potential.

+ Brooks Rasmussen, OF, Columbia Basin: Listed at 6-foot, 175 pounds; strong, athletic build. Instincts in the outfield with a strong, accurate arm; throws carry. Has the potential to return value as a corner outfielder. At the plate, left-handed hitter who hits from a mature approach. Barrels balls up with the ability to drive it to all fields. Has raw power with a chance to be a middle-of-the-order bat.

+ Justin Stransky, C, Lower Columbia: Listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds; strong athlete who moves well behind the plate, quickness and mobile evident on the block. Soft hands helps frame the ball effectively. Strong arm, with carry, and accuracy to the bag; ability to shut down the running game at the next level. Offensively, strong approach at plate; keeps hinds inside and finds barrels. Ball jumps off his bat with power potential.

+ Jafari Williams, CF, Southwestern Oregon: Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds; live, athletic body with tools. Instincts to get a quick jump on defense, speed to close on balls in the outfield. Accurate throwing arm with carry, measured at 92 mph at this event. Quick first step with ability to steal bases. Solid approach at the plate with barrel feel, uses all fields. Raw plus power potential. Athlete who can play a premium position and has high, run-producing potential offensively.

+ Zion Williams, CF, Shoreline: Listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds; strong, live, athletic body with first-step quickness which allows him to close on the ball in the outfield. Strong, accurate throwing arm – can be a plus defender in center field. Solid approach at plate with bat speed and the ability to square it up. Ball jumps off his bat with plus raw power. Athletic  center fielder who has prominent offensive upside; a must-see player this spring.

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