WACO, T.X.- This showcase was loaded with talent from around the state in the 2020-2023 classes. Our featured quick hits notebook is a rundown of some of the standouts from Sunday. 

Arms

Thomas Marquadt, Harlan, 2022, RHP
Athletic actions throughout the delivery, was able to run his fastball up to 85 mph with some natural arm side run, and pair it with a breaking ball at 75 mph with tight spin.  Still has plenty of room to grow and mature but could be an athletic arm to follow down the road.

Edward Mendoza, Eagle Pass, 2021, RHP/ 1B
Was one of the more impressive arms on the day, showing improvement from past events. Threw lots of quality strikes at 85-88 mph with tilt on the ball down in the zone and he hides the ball well with a little bit of funk on his front side in his delivery. Was also able to throw strikes with the curveball at 73 mph as well as show a changeup at 76-77 mph with great arm speed and good late fading action.

Konnor Baird, Salado, 2020, RHP
Powerfully built 6-foot-4, 195-pounds, showcased the biggest arm of the day at McLennan running his fastball up to 91. Was also able to mix in a slider that ranged form 76-80 mph and showed signs of a swing and miss pitch when right.

Fernando Garza, Katy, 2021, RHP/1B
Standing 6-foot-6, 240-pounds, Garza was another impressive arm on the day was up to 90 and sat mostly 87-89 with some tilt on the fastball when down in the zone creating a tough angle on hitters. Pairs his fastball with a 76-80 mph breaking ball with slurve type shape. Overall showed a repeatable delivery with some effort getting down the mound, but was able to flash signs of promise and a bright future on the mound.

John Michael Ramirez, Brandeis, 2022, RHP
Sat 85-86 on the day with his fastball from an over the top arm slot, as well as flashed a slider with depth at 78 mph, needs to still show consistency but definitely flashes signs of promise as a young pitcher.

Position players

Jayson Jones, Braswell, 2022, 3B
Jones headlined the group and definitely had a day for himself. Was able to improve his 60-yard dash time to a 6.76 and show his natural rhythm and feel for hitting. During BP was able to show barrel awareness to balls on both sides of the plate and drive them where they were pitched. Also was able to show his natural athletic ability with his hands and feet on defense. Still plenty of room to grow as a baseball player but has a very high ceiling.

Chase Mora, Tomball, 2022, SS/RHP
Athletic middle infielder with natural feel for the game, shows athletic actions on defense with hands and feet that work well together as well as a strong arm at 84-mph across the infield. Mora also hit a couple balls hard during the game without much to show for it. Shows a simple setup and load in the box with natural rhythm and got great extension through the zone.

Ryan Pherson (Southlake Carroll), Rowdy Hoadley (Georgetown)
Pair of 2021 infielders that showed promise and natural athletic ability and feel for the game on the day as well. Hoadley a switch hitter with who showed the ability to handle the barrel from both sides of the plate during BP, and show smooth athletic actions on defense, handling the slow roller well. Pherson, was impressive during BP with a balanced athletic setup, and got good extension through the zone with the ball jumping off his bat.

Jaiden Chinnis (Liberty Hill),  Cole Philips (Boerne)
A couple of outfielders that also showed up by making a couple nice plays as well as natural athletic ability and future promise. Chinnis, a long and lean 6-foot-2, 160-pounds, ran a 6.69 60-yard dash and his speed showed up in the game making a great sliding catch in foul territory near the fence. Showed great closing speed as well as his ability to track the ball on the run at full speed. Philips, 6-foot-2, 170-pounds showed off his natural athletic ability and was able to show promise as a baseball player moving forward.

Gabe Herrera (Reagan), Creed Willems (Aledo) were grinders behind the plate playing in both games and showing off their tools in each. Herrera is much more known for his defensive abilities right now, POP time of 1.97 with the throw right on top of the base,  but shows balance and rhythm at the plate right now and has plenty of room to grow. Willems currently is much more of a bat than a defender behind the dish. But his bat showed up with a double to deep right center field as well as another couple hard hit balls as well.

Caedmon Parker (The Woodlands Christian Academy), Zach Cawyer (Nolan Catholic) both Future Games participants that showed why they were able to represent Team Texas. Parker, a football player as well, ran his fastball up to 89 on the day with tilt down in the zone and flashed a slider up to 79, as well as make a couple athletic plays in the field, both at 3B and at SS.  Cawyer, was a tick down with his velocity from past outings but still threw well at 83-86 mph with tilt on the fastball. He takes the ball out a little unconventionally but is able to synch it up and create a tough angle on hitters at times.