Rising Stars Showcase: Player Analysis
September 26, 2019
CORONA, CA. - The Rising Stars showcase took place at Santiago HS and drew over 40 players in the 2023 and 2024 classes. Players were put through a pro-style showcase workout that included running the 60 yard dash, on-field batting practice, a defensive workout, bullpens and other statistically measurable stations.
Select players from this event will be chosen to participate in the Preseason All-State Showcase Games and the 2020 Underclass Games that will kick off the summer.
As we continue to break down notes/videos we will roll out more content. We recently rolled out our Quick Hits highlighting 16 players, and now we'll take a deeper dive into nine more players from the event.
PLAYER ANALYSIS
|
Derik Gerber OF / RHP / Citrus Valley, CA / 2023Uncommitted. Five-foot-6, 145-pounds. Medium frame with wiry strength in the upper half with noticeable strength in the lower half. Started off running an eye opening 7.07 laser-timed 60-yard dash before taking to the hitting wheel where he uses a toe-tap trigger with a short stride to initiate swing. Showed some feel for the barrel during on-field BP where he drove some balls into the gap. Defensively he shows adequate footwork when charging and round balls while playing through to release. Arm strength was fair showing accuracy to home plate. On the mound Gerber utilizes a dip-and-drive delivery where he uses a strong backside drive to gain ground down the mound with a compact arm in the back through to a 3/4 release point getting extend out front. Fastball showed hints of run with his two-seam fastball shows significant movement. Slider shows late diving action while the curveball was tight with 10/4 movement. |
|
Hayden Ashby C / RHP / Temescal canyon , CA / 2024Uncommitted. Five-foot-9, 145-pounds. Long, lean, wiry strong frame with long limbs, high waist and ample room for addition of mass/strength. Starts with a knee-bent setup before rocking onto bag leg and driving through with a leg lift and short stride. Showed feel for the barrel despite having a somewhat “handsy” swing - likely due to his developing body strength. Showed some present bat speed and the ability to manipulate barrel level through the zone. Defensively he sets up with an even crouch flashing soft hands and quickness in blocking-and-recovering on balls in-dirt. Arm path is a tick long but throws showed modest accuracy to the bag. On the mound Ashby showed a deliberate delivery with a full arm path in the back through to a 3/4 release point. Showed feel for his fastball, curveball, changeup arsenal that will undoubtedly improve as he continues to fill out his frame. |
![]() |
Henry Leipart OF / SS / N/A, CA / 2024Uncommitted. Five-foot-9, 145-pounds. Medium frame with length and strength down from shoulders into wrists. Highly athletic player. Starts with a slightly open setup using a short stride drive before using present hand/bat speed to whip the barrel through the zone. Showed feel for the barrel by driving balls into the gaps with a middle-middle approach. Drops hands occasionally resulting in an uphill barrel path. In the outfield he showed adequate footwork while rounding the ball before gathering out front and playing through to release. Arm strength (74 mph) is fair while throws were accurate to the bag. Intriguing player to follow moving forward who also plays on the infield (did not work out there) where his athleticism would really stand out. |
|
Thomas Morales 1B / RHP / Oak Hills , CA / 2023Uncommitted. Five-foot-9, 155-pounds. Medium frame with some strength in the lower half and plenty of room to add mass/strength throughout. Starts upright at the plate with toes pointed in and hands high above shoulders. Rocks back onto back leg using a leg lift and short stride to initiate swing. Drops hands and barrel into the zone where he maintains it on plane throughout the swing. Has some sneaky strength as shown by the number of line drives he put into the gaps. Squared everything up. Defensively he showed nimble footwork around the bag at first with the ability to turn and recover on double play balls. Arm was accurate across the diamond. On the mound he stays tall with a slight knee bend in the back leg and a high front leg lift before driving down the mound through to a 3/4 release point. Fastball showed hints of run back to the arm side while the curveball was tight with sharp break and 12/6 movement. Threw a knuckleball that had knuckle-curve action with late breaking shape down in the zone. |
|
Cooper Rasmussen SS / 2B / Chaparral , CA / 2023Uncommitted. Five-foot-9,150-pounds. Large frame with length in the limbs and large feet. Squared shoulders with some strength in the lower half. Starts upright and slightly open using a high leg lift and short stride to initiate swing. Has feel for the barrel and the ability to keep it in the hitting zone throughout the swing on a slight uphill path. Excellent use of the lower half. Defensively Rasmussen showed quick feet and range to both sides. Arm was accurate across the diamond while the backhand was true. May profile best at second base moving forward. |
|
Jeramiah Sotelo C / 3B / La Mirada, CA / 2023Uncommitted. Five-foot-9, 155-pounds. Medium frame with room for continued physical development and present wiry strength. Has an open, high handed stance getting the barrel in-and-through the zone with a slight uppercut path with excellent use of the lower half. Showed a middle-middle approach and the ability to get the barrel on the ball. Behind the plate he shows soft hands with a quick release with throws in the range of the bag. On the mound he showed solid feel for a three pitch mix dropping his fastball, curveball, changeup mix in for strikes. We’ve had several viewings of Sotelo on the mound and this was arguably as sharp as he’s looked in any of them. |
|
Matthew Calzada OF / 2B / California , CA / 2023Uncommitted. Five-foot-10, 140-pounds. Long, lean frame with long limbs, a high waist and large feet. Starts upright with high hands at the plate. Shifts weight back using a leg lift trigger before rotating through the zone. Maintains barrel on plane through swing with quick hands and some present bat speed. Swing can get handsy at times causing him to roll over. Defensively he showed adequate footwork with good reads off the bat. Funnels balls out front while playing through to release. Throws were accurate to the bag and home plate. |
|
Nick Montgomery C / OF / Cypress, CA / 2024Uncommitted. Five-foot-10, 140-pounds. Medium frame that is in the early stages of development with a high waist and long legs. Starts slightly open with hands high and a bat waggle. Swing is a bit handsy but shows feel for the barrel and the ability to maintain it on-plane. Sprayed balls to all fields during his on-field hitting. Behind the dish he showed soft hands and the ability to frame pitches while working underneath the ball. Arm strength is developing still, with throws in the vicinity of the bag. Arm path is full in the back. |
|
Marc DiCarlo, Jr. SS / RHP / Citrus Valley, CA / 2023Uncommitted. Six-foot-3, 165-pounds. Large frame with squared shoulders and long limbs. Present wiry strength in the upper half. Starts with a slightly open stance with hands at the shoulders. Uses a short stride to initiate swing while showing the ability to get and keep the barrel in the hitting zone for a long time. At times swing get a bit uphill as he looks to lift the ball. Showed a middle-middle approach at the plate. Defensively he showed athletic actions with adequate footwork that may profile best at third base. Arm was accurate across the diamond. On the mound he uses a drop-and-drive delivery where he really loads on the back leg before driving down the mound with excellent backside drive through to a high 3/4 release point out front. Fastball works on a downhill plane with some run that he starts at the knees. Worked the pitch black-to-black. Curveball was a sharp, late biting pitch with 11/5 shape that he was able to drop in for strikes. Very projectable on the mound with his current two-pitch mix and the addition of a third pitch will only enhance that. |
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
SoCal Uncommitted Senior Games | CA | 09/28 | Fullerton College |
NorCal Uncommitted Senior Games | CA | 10/06 | College of Marin |
NorCal Top Prospect Games | CA | 10/13 | College of Marin |
RELATED TOPICS
- 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
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 RHP/1B Jacob Oropeza 8/06/24
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 OF/INF Rock Akahi 8/05/24