The Summer Trials took place on Sunday, May 20th at Sunrise Mountain HS in Peoria. The event featured prospects from the 2019-2022 classes and provided an opportunity to be evaluated by PBR and considered for future invite-only events like the 2020 Games, 2021 Games and 2019 Top Prospect Games in June. Today, we continue the event coverage with our Pitching Analysis. Uncommitted 2019 Danny Marshall takes the top spot after a big spring at Queen Creek where he pitched them deep into the playoffs, touching the mid-80's from a low slot and projecting as a strong left-handed option out of the bullpen at the next level. 

Complete video, data pictures and scouting reports have been posted to players' individual profiles. As always contact [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona on Twitter with any questions and/or information.

TOP Pitching PROSPECTS

 

 

Danny Marshall LHP / OF / Queen Creek, AZ / 2019 5-foot-10, 155-pound frame. The proven high school performer on the mound showed well on both sides of the ball on this day. Marshall sat 81-83 mph with his fastball from a lower angle with a cross-body delivery that should make him very tough on LHH. Marshall also showed an ability to pour his 70-71 mph curveball over for strikes and should have value as a college reliever. The 75-77 mph changeup is a developing third pitch as he left it to the arm side at times and also cut it at others. He may have shown even better as a position player where his 7.00 60, 84 mph infield velo, 86 mph outfield velo (with very strong carry) and 89 mph exit velo were all near the top measurable posted on the day. Marshall hits with a narrow lower half, which can create some inconsistencies and could drive the baseball more consistently if he created a more solid base. He shows a relaxed, easy rhythm in the box and some surprising pop for his current body type.

 

 

CJ Valdez SS / RHP / Perry, AZ / 2019 6-foot, 180-pound frame with proportional strength. Showed well across the board, posting a 6.96 60-yard dash, 82 mph infield velo and running his fastball up to 85 mph with little effort. Valdez used a compact delivery and clean arm action from a high ¾ slot to sit 82-84 mph. There should be more velo to come based on the athleticism and arm speed he generates. 69-70 mph curveball had 12-6 shape, backing up at times and was 69-70 mph but could be thrown harder to eliminate the hump, possibly turning it into more of a slurve. Changeup was a more advanced secondary offering on this day, with some fading action and fastball arm speed at 76-78 mph. Valdez has a line drive approach and swing plane in the box, gathering himself very early and showing the ability to be on time consistently. Could stand to swing with more intent, as 83 mph exit velo is not indicative of offensive ability. Easy mover on the infield with some softness in hands and a quick transfer, likely projection best to second or third base.

 

 

Ricardo Santiago OF / RHP / Salpointe Catholic , AZ / 2020 Physical 6-foot, 175-pound frame with present strength. Posting a 7.12 60-yard dash and 84 mph outfield velo, Santiago is intriguing as a position player, but showed best on the mound, sitting 79-83 and touching 84 mph with a longer arm action, high 3/4 slot and slight open-toe landing position. The secondary offerings are still developing, but the combination of athleticism and arm strength make Santiago and intriguing follow. Santiago’s 67-72 mph showed a somewhat inconsistent release, tending to pop up out of his hand early, but he did flash a promising one. The 68-72 mph changeup is also developing, as he tended to cut the ball and slow his arm some. Offensively, he hits from a wider setup, creating a very wide base with his stride. The somewhat inconsistent bat path and timing don’t always allow him to show his strength and the 75 mph exit velo he posted is indicative of that. Attacks ball aggressively in the outfield with looser, shorter arm action than he shows on the mound. Would be interested to see if he could translate that over to the bump.

 

 

Garrett Olson C / RHP / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2020 5-foot-10, 155-pound frame. Shows the ability to be a contributor at a number of positions. He has significantly lowered his 60 time, down to a 7.19 and receives and throws well behind the plate, posting a best pop time of 2.02 with 72 mph velocity. Shows solid flexibility when receiving and good footwork on throws to second. Also moves well in the outfield and made accurate 79 mph throws, but has highest ceiling behind the plate. Shows advanced mechanics in the box, keeping the barrel in the zone for a long time with an easy rhythm and solid lower half with advanced adjustability. Posted impressive 86 mph exit velo for current level of physical development. Olson also ran his fastball up to 80 mph on the mound with a clean arm action from a ¾ slot. Showed some pitchability and feel, with a tight 11-5 curveball in the zone at 63-65 mph. 66-68 mph changeup tended to miss up to arm side and needs to be thrown with FB arm speed.

 

 

Steven Stewart C / RHP / Centennial, AZ / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 6 6-foot, 135-pound frame with high-waist and long limbs. Remains very thin but should add significant strength/mass at some point.  Starting to show signs of making a physical jump, lowering his 60 time to 7.53, raising his catcher velo to 73 mph and hopping on the mound to touch 80 mph with his fastball. The right-handed swing remains well behind the left-handed version, where he does an excellent job of getting on plane and keeping the barrel in the zone with some natural loft. RH swing leaves the zone quickly and doesn’t create the same solid base. Turned in 2.09 best pop time with solid mechanics and could project to a number of positions, including pitcher, depending on physical development. Secondary offerings are still developing on the mound, but 63-66 mph breaking pitch did show proper rotation at times.

 

 

Rodolfo ( RJ ) Molina SS / 2B / Salpointe Catholic, AZ / 2021 5-foot-6, 130-pound frame. Molina has an intriguing toolset, turning in a 7.12 60-yard dash and running his fastball up to 81 mph on the mound. Molina sat 77-79, using a three-piece arm action and aggressive delivery with big intent and some recoil. He also showed the ability to throw his 12-6 curveball with big break at 65-68 mph in the strike zone and flashed a straight change at 74-76. His left-handed swing is almost too short, with very little hand movement and a steep path, but he appears to be the type of athlete that will figure it out. Turned in 78 mph exit velocity. Shows twitchy feet and workable hands on the infield, making plays to both side and throwing the ball across the diamond at 78 mph from a higher slot.

 

 

Gavin Muller RHP / OF / Desert Ridge, AZ / 2020 5-foot-11, 172-pound frame. Worked exclusively from the stretch, sitting 74-77 mph with his fastball, touching 78. Uses long, windmill-type arm action with a straight over the top arm slot. 57-61 mph curveball, shows big 12-6 break. Also threw what he called a slider that was really just a harder, shorter version of his curveball that was a better pitch with tighter rotation. Changeup showed wide variance in speed (60-66 mph) and movement as it showed both cut and sink at times.

 

 

Travis Densmore LHP / OF / Mesa Mountain View, AZ / 2019 Very physically immature 5-foot-9, 145-pound frame. Simple, compact delivery with some shoulder tilt, getting on top of the baseball quickly on the back side. Showed ability to command three pitches in the strike zone, with his fastball sitting 71-73 mph. The curveball had 1-7 shape and consistent rotation with the ability to throw it both in and below the zone. Changeup sat 66-68 mph with fastball arm speed.

 

 

David Norman RHP / RHP / Sunrise Mountain, AZ / 2019 Listed 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. Rhythmic, slower tempo delivery with short, clean arm action. Gets on top of the ball quickly in back. Works to load hips and use them to drive himself down the mound. Fastball sat 76-78 mph, touching 79 with varying action, as it showed natural arm side run at times, but also cut occasionally. Threw two breaking balls from 60-65 mph that were both really curveballs, showing 11-5 shape and some depth. Tended to cut 68-70 mph change down below the zone.

 

 

Jaxon Rose RHP / SS / Liberty, AZ / 2020 5-foot-10, 145-pound frame. Two-way prospect still appears to have highest ceiling on mound, but has made athletic improvements, lower 60 time to 7.68. Sat 73-76 mph on the mound, touching 77 from ¾ arm slot with some effort. 11-5 curveball showed consistent, tight rotation with some depth at 64-68 mph and 64-66 mph changeup showed tumbling action. Tends to fall down mound with low front side, getting very little out of his lower half. Uses knee-knock trigger in the box. Could work to stay on pane longer through the baseball to make more consistent solid contact; 72 mph exit velocity. Posted 77 and 72 mph outfield and infield velocities respectively; defensive actions may profile best to third base.