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 wrap up our event analysis with our Top Prospects list, led by 2020 SS Vinnie LaGatta who looks like a potential premium defender with offensive upside.

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 overall PROSPECTS

 

 

Vinnie LaGatta SS / OF / Valley Christian, AZ / 2020 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame with surprising strength for size. One of the top overall performers at the event. Solid athlete turned in 7.08 60-yarddash. LaGatta squared up the baseball to all fields with some authority during round of BP. He uses a very narrow setup and big stride to create good separation, landing in a good position to drive the ball; 78 mph exit velocity. Where he really stood out was on the infield where he possesses solid actions, soft hands and a quick transfer with enough arm strength to stick at SS (83 mph infield velo). Also worked out in the outfield where he posted an 85 mph velo, but clearly projects best in the middle infield. The twitchy defender appears to be a DI infield prospect and will certainly factor in to the updated 2020 rankings at the end of the summer.

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.

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.

TJ Oster 2B / SS / Valley Christian, AZ / 2021 High-waisted 5-foot-9, 135-pound frame. Lists himself as a primary 2B as he plays on the same high school team as standout SS Vinnie LaGatta, but shows plenty of arm strength to play short or even center/right field. Likely the top freshman prospect in attendance, Oster stood out in nearly every category, positing a solid 7.07 60-yard dash, outstanding 87 mph outfield velocity and the type of quick-twitch athleticism that should make him a very strong follow moving forward. Really threw from the outfield with backspin and carry that would be interesting to see on the mound. Hits from wide, athletic setup, tending to lose his posture, without transferring weight into his front side. Posted 74 mph exit velo, but shows tools to hit.

Alex Figueroa 2B / OF / Millennium, AZ / 2019 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Took the top round of BP for any player in attendance. Showing off loose wrists and an easy rhythm in the box, Figueroa has natural loft in his swing and drove the baseball from LCF over to the pull side. Has made some mechanical adjustments to get better extension and stray through the baseball since we saw him last. There's very little question about his hit tool and Figueroa is a potential DI prospect in that regard. He has also made physical improvements; cutting his 60-yard dash down to a 7.35 and increasing his exit velo to 86 mph. Defensively Figueroa is less natural, most likely fitting in LF where he posted a 76 mph outfield velo. May fit very well at a high-end juco where he can continue to make defensive refinements.

Tanner Spallina C / OF / Verrado, AZ / 2020 5-foot-11, 174-pound frame with present, proportional strength. Stands out defensively behind the plate where his throws show on-line carry and solid footwork allowed him to post a best pop time of 1.96 with 75 mph velocity. Advanced blocker and quiet receiver could catch at the college level early in his career. Offensive rhythm is somewhat inconsistent, at times using a toe tap and other just a traditional stride to post 81 mph exit velocity. Hits from somewhat narrow base and could benefit from starting slower and earlier with a more solid, athletic lower half. Shows enough strength and bat speed to be offensive contributor, especially when considering potentially high-end defense. Turned in 7.45 60-yard dash.

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.

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.

 

 

Matthew Hall C / 3B / Cactus Shadows, AZ / 2019 6-foot, 195-pound frame with a strong lower half. Starts hands deep, loading them even deeper, creating some length through the zone with high one-hand finish. Looking to lift and pull. Tends to hit out over his front side. Posted 86 mph exit velocity and made louder contact than that indicates during his round of BP. Athletic tools fit best behind the plate, where he showed very impressive arm strength, posting a best pop time of 1.97 with 78 mph velo from the crouch and on-line carry. Also worked out at third base where he threw 82 mph across the diamond. 7.77 60-yard dash.