THE FIVE: OC Preseason All-State

OC Preseason All-State: Not our first viewing of Peters but it certainly will be the most lasting as he showed his overall abilities both at shortstop and on the bump combined with legitimate hitting skills. Sets up slightly open using a leg lift trigger before exploding off backside. Keeps hands in motion during setup and pairs them with leg lift getting his barrel on plane which he maintains through the zone. Hands are explosive. Easy to see high RBI, consistent gap power coming on his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Defensively his actions are smooth and consistent. Backhand is pure while showing the ability to adjust to bad hop. Hands were quick on the turn. On the mound it was our best viewing of Peters as he appears to have increased command and velocity with more consistent mechanics. Touching 89 mph with his fastball it comes from an almost over-the-top slot on a downhill plane that he worked black-to-black. It’s tight and fairly straight showing the occasional hint of run. Curveball is sharp and tilts away from righties and will be a more than effective pitch. It was the changeup that showed the most improvement since last viewing. Coming from the same tunnel as the fastball there’s late depth and fade. While he touched 78 mph with the pitch, the action on the pitch was best noted at 76 mph. 

OC Preseason All-State: Storey participated in the Top Prospects Games last fall where he stood out with his overall athleticism in the outfield and at the plate where his right handed stroke projected gap power. Storey improved on his outfield velocity (84 mph) and his exit velocity (90 mph) from the Top Prospects Games. He continued to show athletic and easy actions in the outfield where he funnels balls out front under control and shows clean exchanges with sub 1.0 glove-to-release times. Storey hopped on the mound for the first time where he shows a lively arm with an 84 mph fastball that works downhill in the zone and side-to-side. Storey’s curveball was tight with late tilt at 65-66 mph while his changeup works off the fastball tunnel before dying at the plate at 75-76 mph. When asked after his session if he’s been pitching much Storey replied in his casual style, “no, not really.” Well, here’s to hoping we get to see that more often this spring because the are is free and easy with way more in there. 

OC Preseason All-State. Jaffe was one of the standouts in this workout. Has a projectable, large, tall, athletic frame with significant room for all around growth, Has made noticeable physical gains and has become more twitchy since our last viewing at the Future Games last July in Georgia. Exhibited a solid BP round punishing balls to all fields. Starts from a traditional, balance position, with high hands separated from body. Has a barrel load trigger with minimal hand movement. Approach to ball is violent with excellent bat speed and extension to high finish. As he adds weight and muscle, we will see him driving the inside pitch for high double totals and homeruns in the future. Defensively Jaffe moves extremely well for his length and makes the correct reads on ground balls with proper actions. Shows a strong accurate arm with carry and zip on throws across the diamond.

Orange County Preseason All-State - large mature and imposing 6-foot-4 215 pound frame. Arm worked off a whippy ¾ arm action with a consistent release point. Showed a straight 86-88 mph fastball with carry through the zone, topping at 90 mph on the last pitch of his bullpen. Curveball had some funky side-to-side spin to it at 73 mph that played off his fastball well. Change-up showed run and sink from the same release point as his fastball at 77-80 mph. Overall competitiveness and imposing fastball coupled with a funky curveball will make him difficult to face and should become an uncommitted name to watch.