Utah HS Team Preview: Timpanogos HS

February 21, 2023
Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Utah HS Team Preview: Timpanogos HS

Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been scheduled starting Feb 27th, and rosters are soon to be set. The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Monday March 6th. Jeff Scholzen (Utah Scouting Director) begins the 2023 season coverage with our annual preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in the state in our team previews.

PBR Utah will also be publishing its state “Power 25” rankings that will be updated every Monday once the season begins. Throughout the season, PBR Utah will be pumping out coverage, highlighting individual players, games, rankings, scouting reports and naming players/pitchers of the week, every Tuesday as well. PBR Utah looks forward to getting out there this spring to see some great baseball.

Timpanogos Baseball History

Coach Nelson comes from one of the most decorated baseball families in Utah state history, as he is the brother of former Viewmont baseball legendary coach in his own right, Clyde Nelson and the iconic Utah Valley U Hall of Fame coach, the late Dave Nelson. Coach K is also the uncle to ultra successful Salt Lake CC Head Coach D.G. Nelson. Coach Nelson earned All-American honors as an INF’er in the 1970’s at BYU. Coach Nelson also played in the Minnesota Twins system, reaching as high as AAA. Kim Nelson is also the all-time winningest high school baseball coach in Utah state history, and set a benchmark for wins, over a 42 year career, that it's safe to say may never be reached in any of our lifetime's.

Timpanogos by the numbers

Head Coach: Kim Nelson (42 Years) American Fork and Timpanogos (28 Years)

Classification: 5A

Region: 9

2022 Win-Loss: 18-10

2021 Win-Loss: 21-10

State Playoff appearances in last 10 years: 10

State Championship appearances last 10 years: 4

State Championships last 10 years: 3

State Champions: 2016 and 2017

Key Returners with Class/Position

Billy Bird 1B / LHP / Timpanogos, UT / 2023

Rankings State Rank: 14 / POS: 2

Committed: University of Utah

7/31/21

A Future Games participant with good size and present and projectable strength. A two way type that is being recruited as such. It starts with big pull side juice from the 1B position and he has some natural lift and ext to drive the ball to all parts of the field. He will have all fields power when all is said and done. Right now it plays straight away to the pull side and he has a very good sophomore season with the bat. The arm is the intriguing part as he has a little Mark Mulder feel to him. The delivery is a raise the leg and tuck the front shoulder with a late shoulder turn out front. The arm swing is low TQ and with some length and whip. He gets to a full finish out front and does have some spin out at times, but is correctable. The FB was 83-86 at LakePoint, but have seen 88 in the spring. The FB has some late natural sink and the CB sweeps. The CH is the weapon as he can kill spin and shows FB arm speed to create deception. The CH dives and has some turnover effect in the bottom part of the zone. One of the better two way guys out there.

4/01/21

Tate MacGillivray 2023 SS/RHP

Luke Livingston 2024 CF/RHP

Kayden Harding 2024 C

Key players lost to graduation

Dakoda West (Utah Tech U)

Dylan Gazaway (Lane CC)

Chaz Crook (Shoreline CC)

Who is your X Factor to your success

Brighton Tate 2024 3B/P

List the names of returning players who were named All-Region / All-State

2023 Billy Bird, 1B/LHP (5A 1st Team All-State)

2023 Tate MacGillivray, RHP/SS (All-Region 7)

2024 Luke Livingston, CF/RHP (All-Region 7)

Player lost to graduation and College Baseball

Chazz Crook, 1B (Shoreline CC)
Dakota West, RHP (Utah Tech University)
Dylan Gazaway (Lane CC)

Coaches Summary and Outlook

Pitching is strong with Billy Bird and Tate MacGillivray

Livingston, Bird and MacGillivray were 3 of our top 4 hitters. Scoring runs will come from their improvement, as well as a few others stepping up like Kayden Harding, Brighton Tate, Tanner Morgan, Collin Morgan

Kim Nelson (Head Coach)

RELATED NEWS

JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)

Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report after serving 9 years as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout.

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.

Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship.

A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization from 1991-1992.