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PBR BC 2021 Rankings: Risers and Additions

As part of our latest rankings at PBR BC, we will highlight six players who have shown impressive improvements since our last Rankings. Three players are Top Risers, while three will be New Additions.

Risers

Tyrelle Chadwick 1B / RHP / Westsyde Secondary, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 Chadwick is the only player on this list who doesn't play in the PBL; instead, he left his hometown of Kamloops for the Okotoks Dawgs Academy in Alberta. However, he's arguably one of the most potential-potent dual players in the country for 2021 and currently ranked seventh in BC. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Chadwick sits comfortably at 87-88 mph with his fastball, and he could be pumping in the low 90's given his strength and athleticism by 2021. At the plate, the youngster has a sound approach, showing outstanding bat speed and power to all fields. Chadwick has attracted D1 recruiters and professional scouts for a couple of years now. Chadwick will continue to be an exciting follow as a top '21 and potential draft-day name called if the arrow stays pointed up.

Nathan Thomasson RHP / SS / NA, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 6 Another two-way talent from the 2021 class, Thomasson was an everyday player for the Nanaimo Junior Pirates last season. On the mound, he featured mostly in relief, collecting a 7-4 record and 2.76 ERA. The youngster has a fluent delivery, but does struggle to find the strike zone at times, walking 32 hitters in 38 hitters last season. But evident by his ERA, Thomasson has done an excellent job of pitching out of trouble. Offensively, the 17-year old hit .246 in 138 at-bats, smacking three doubles and a triple. His hands stay relatively stationary in his stance, featuring a small toe tap as he loads. The left-handed stroke has promise, and with added strength, Thomasson should gain more bat speed in the next year. If he wants to be a dual guy at the college level, potentially, Thomasson will have to put up more consistent numbers at the dish when the BCPBL does start.

Noah Thomas 3B / RHP / Delta Secondary, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 14 / POS: 2 Thomas enjoyed a solid campaign in 2019 for the North Delta Junior Blue Jays, hitting .365 in 24 games while also dominating on the mound with a 1.37 ERA. He also spent time with the senior Jays, but didn't fare as well as a tenth grader. He has a simple approach at the dish with a small leg-kick. Thomas does possess impressive bat speed and has shown the ability to find the barrel consistently.  The 6-foot-1, 175 pounder has shown promise at both positions, proving to be a reliable guy who can swing it and get outs on the bump. Thomas is still quite slender for his height. With the proper strength training, he should add some muscle onto his frame over the next year and garner interest from colleges.

Additions

Nate Rosser RHP / South Delta Secondary, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 7 A 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds right-hander, Rosser struggled in junior PBL last season, compiling a 4.68 ERA in 14 appearances while giving up 31 free passes in just 52.1 innings. However, the North Delta Blue Jays product showed promise at Inside Performance in February, sitting 85-88 with his fastball. Command is still an issue for the 16-year old, but the fact that he has gained some strength is promising. Given his long frame, there's a lot of room to fill out physically and add more velocity. If Rosser can sharpen his ability to throw his three-pitch mix for strikes, he will enjoy a lot more success on the mound and catch the eyes of many colleges south of the border.

Mario Ricci C / RHP / Notre Dame Secondary School, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 4 Ricci is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher for the Coquitlam Reds. He enjoyed a productive 2019 with the Junior Redlegs, hitting .284. The youngster struck out just 12 times in 44 games while drawing 36 walks, a testament to Ricci's patience at the plate and the ability to put the ball in play consistently. The 17-year old was invited to Inside Performance in February, and he showed promise offensively, posting a max exit velocity of 92 mph. A switch hitter, Ricci flashed quick hands from both sides of the dish. Defensively, he has good instincts behind the plate and will be an essential part of the Coquitlam Reds senior squad. Mario is already quite physically developed for his age, and should continue to add strength if committed to his physical side. He will be a player to watch for college recruiters over the next year.

Skylar Lenihan C / 1B / Lord Byng, BC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 3 Lenihan was a standout for the UBC junior Thunder last season, hitting .348 with 15 doubles and two homers in 47 games. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, he's mature physically for a 16-year old and has shown the ability to hit for power consistently. It's going to be a different story once he faces better arms in senior PBL, but there is undoubtedly some promise offensively. Behind the dish, Lenihan had a 2.18 pop time at a PBR event last April 2019. Lenihan has also shown solid plate discipline, drawing 24 walks last season. He'll be an intriguing prospect to watch for colleges across the US if he can put up similar numbers at the plate against senior pitchers once the season does begin.