2022 PBR Future Games

One of the better athletes in the state and led #TeamUtah in 6 of 8 hitting data categories (Trackman/Blast Motion) at the Future Games. Watts took a very impressive BP on Sunday with missile after missile on a line to LCF and cleared the yard a handful of times. Watts has consistently maxed out between 100.8 and 102.8 all year. A flatter setup from a semi crouched open stance, Watts gets and coils back into square and then just drives his hands inside the baseball with impressive hand and bat speed. Consistently in the low 80’s, the bat speed remained 83 with an affinity for finding the barrel during game play. Able to spoil pitches and take pitches, while making pitchers work. Watts looks the part of a hitter, but does some things in a crude way, yet has abv avg hand/eye coordination w/natural twitchy strength. Some four year school needs to jump on this guy!

A two sport baseball/football star, Watts was a standout on workout day at the PBR Future Games, as he led Team Utah in 6 of the 8 metrics recorded by Trackman and Blast Motion. At 6-0 190, Watts looks the part of a next level player! Built like a halfback w/broad shoulders, and tapered into a small waist, w/a well defined lower half. Powerful and strong with twitchy movement patterns, Watts ran a 7.09/60 for a CIF, but he showed light feet at 1B w/proper angles in working through balls out front and from the ground up. He showed a strong arm at 83 mph across the INF with online accurate throws. The bat was on point all week, as Watts was spotlighted by Lakepoint Sports on social media, as he led the Future Games event with 5 hits in 3 games. Watts had a 2 hit game with a 2B vs Team Arkansas in game one and followed it up in game three w/a 3 hit affair as well. Playing for one of the best HS programs in the country, American Fork HS had half a dozen D1 signees, ranging from BYU, Utah and TCU. Watts was a member of the 30-1 6A state champions in 2021 and the state runner up in 2022! Colleges, you don’t want to miss out on this one, as it’s hard to find a 1B that not only can hit, but is athletic and can pick it at 1B defensively! 

2022 PBR Future Games

2022 PBR West Coast Games

One of the best athletes and “movers” at the event or any PBR event for the 2022 calendar year. A Future Games alum, that will get his first shot at the varsity level next spring as a junior, but keep in mind that he plays at a nationally ranked program that was filled with an entire D1 infield and was blocked. This kid would start at 90% of all HS’s in the state already, if he was somewhere else. The bloodlines are in place, as his father Jason was an All-WAC defensive back at BYU in the mid to late 90’s, and was a two sport star in HS, being drafted in the 24th Rd by the Montreal Expos out of HS as a CF. His brother Jack is an OF’er at Utah Tech. Jett is flashy, acrobatic and smooth at SS and it’s not manufactured, it’s natural and instinctive by nature. His feet and hands are “cat” quick, along with having extremely fast feet and feel for the ball. Can throw on the run with ease and flare, along with gaining ground quickly in coming in to charge balls. The arm is gonna be plus in time as he is 85-86 across the diamond and it’s easy. Look for a low 90’s over the next 2 years! One thing that stands out among the Swift Vertical jump metrics, was there was only 10 players of the 69, that had a vertical of 30+ inches and Walker was #2 at 34.99, essentially 35! The bat has hand and bat speed of metrics of 24.3 and 70.6, while producing a lower EV of 87.9, which suggests his bat speed is in place, now the strength is yet to come, but will as he is 5-11 165 and his Dad played at 6-1 195, so projected gains are expected, which when you put the hit tool that gets hits and legs out 2B’s, those hits will clear the gaps and his 6.76 speed at LakePoint will play up in the batter's box. Excited for his future! 

A versatile defender that can play all 3 INF spots and was used at both MIF positions at the Future Games, Walker played clean defense and showed real well in the workout on day one. Jett drove hard shots on a line from RCF to LCF, staying in the middle of the field, as he took a solid round of BP. The setup features a wide base in the box, with his hands held high over his back shoulder. He loads the bat well, and when on approach, he tends to drive his back shoulder underneath, which creates an uphill path, this is something he didn’t do in my earlier summer looks, when he was swinging the bat really well. When in sync, he drives his back shoulder towards the path of the ball and though there is some uphill, he created a flatter plane and wore the gaps out with an MVP award in a mid June tournament in CA. The glove is advanced for a 16 year old, as he has natural flash, educated feet and soft, subtle hands with an energetic rhythm to his twitchy athletic movement patterns. The arm is strong for his age as he posted an 86 mph arm across the INF at the Future Games and 83 at the Top Prospect Games. Also a runner as he posted a 6.84/60 at the TP Games and a 6.76 at the Future Games. Just needs to add overall body strength and size to maximize his hitting abilities, and with that added size and additional leg strength, look for some 90’s across the diamond and 6.6/60’s in his next two years of HS baseball. 

(Shooter Hunt - PBR Future Games Top 25 Position Player Prospects)

Ridge Erickson (UT) Erickson's ability to receive at a high level is matched only by the catch-and-throw capability, and he turned in workout pop-times at a 1.92-1.97 clip. Quick on the transfer with a strong, 80mph arm, the defend-tool is advanced, and he looked the part of a leader on the diamond, even in a quick look. Compact and athletic at 5-foot-11, 185-poundswith some natural strength throughout, the right-handed hitter showcased a simple stroke that promises more power on the way with an easy gap-to-gap approach presently. With so many programs desperate to find elite defenders behind the plate, Erickson stands out as one to follow, and with a strong right-handed stroke, there is also potential that he may develop into a run-producer at the next level.

This has been the one player that has climbed the board the fastest since the start of the summer. A glove over bat right now, but the bat is not that far off. The defense is just that good! A lean athletic Buster Posey type build and look right now at the same age! Ridge caught really well at the Future Games, as well as all summer. The setup behind the plate is really good w/a balanced athletic base, moves well side to side and can shift his hips to the corners, to stick pitches. Works underneath the ball and shows a low target, while dropping to block abv avg. He can pick balls to the backhand side, as well as glove and scoop balls on the short hop that others would block. Smothers balls in front and prevents base runners from moving up. Is adept at back picks to both corners and has picked a large number of runners off this summer. With a twitchy lower ½ and fast feet, Erickson gets off throws to 2B in times of 1.87-1.96 at the Top Prospect Games and 1.92-1.97 at the Future Games. The bat shows power potential and has a conventional semi crouched stance, with the bat held at a 45-degree angle with rhythm in loading the bat and driving his hands to and through the baseball with a short to/long through swing pattern. There is some slight uphill path to project lift and carry into an extended one hand follow through. Is gaining a following with a couple D1 offers on the table and others to come. This kid is the best catch/throw kid in the state and should develop into a premium next level defender as he has two years of HS remaining! 

-- Jeff Scholzen (Utah Scouting Director)

2022 PBR West Coast Games

The son of long time state champion head coach Reed Secrist, who was a 13 year veteran of professional baseball and has won numerous state title and coach of the year awards. The apples didn’t fall too far from the tree, as the other two Secrist boys have played college baseball. Crew is the last in the line and has improved leaps and bounds over the last 2 years, since entering HS, as he has cut his 60 time from 8.2 to 7.3 and has added significant wiry strength. All the Secrist boys as well as his coach/father are stout, tall and strong. Crew displayed even further strength gains this past weekend, with highs of 96.4 in exit velo, 78.8% sweet spot contact and has jumped his bat speed max to 73. Secrist has a feel for the game with the bloodlines, but has the wiry strength to get even stronger and take his short, quick slightly uphill stroke to another level over the next couple of years and add sme latent power. Best suited for 2B, but the hands work and the bat should play as an offensive 2B type at the next level. 

Had a good showing at the West Coast Games, as he excelled in game 3 w/3 hits and 4 RBI’s along w/a slick one handed play to his left and made a accurate backhand power feed to the 2B’man for the force at the bag. Lean and wiry with the frame to add muscle and size as he matures. His father Reed is his HS coach and is a 4 time state champion coach and has produced dozens of college baseball players, along with 12-13 currently playing at the next level. Crew’s father played 13 years of professional baseball and has 3 brothers that play or played at the next level. So the bloodlines are in place w/the instruction as well. Crew features an upright stance with a drawback of his front side into his backside w/an inward turn of the knee to load his backside and takes the knob of the bat and drives it inside out with a short, compact stroke to find the barrel. Gained valuable varsity time in ‘22 as a D1 commit went down at SS, allowing Secrist to start every game up the middle as a sophomore. Makes plays with instincts and field awareness and his arm is a bit short right now, but will only get stronger as he fills out overall and gains his man strength down the road. Look for even more development over others with the instruction and bloodlines intact. 

Positional Profile: SS/2B

Hits: RHH

Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 86.7 MPH. 315' max distance.

Arm: RH. INF-79 mph .
Defense:

Run: 7.36 runner in the 60

Vizual Edge: 76.02 Edge Score

A bloodline player, he had a couple of brothers that play at the next level and a father, who is the Snow Canyon 4 time state champion head coach, who played 13 years of professional baseball. Taught and coached right, Crew is blossoming into a projectable hitter for the next level. Currently holding down the 2B spot as a sophomore for the defending 4A state champs, Secrist has a slight uphill approach to hit and is gaining strength and maturing physically. Room for another 25-30 pounds at maturity. The ball jumps off his bat with an EV high of 91. Currently with long legs and a lean skinny look, the men in his family are physical and I look for the same from Crew. I see a hitter that will be a late bloomer and impact the Warriors offense. 

   

Nalder earned Utah 5A Region 8 MVP and put up a massive stat line during the 2022 spring season, as he hit .522 6 47 w/11 2B’s and an OPS of 1.442! Compact and strong with the ability to impact the ball w/a short, direct, flat stroke, while keeping the barrel in the zone a long time. The bat is his carrying tool! The defense needs work as he needs to work under the ball better to receive. The arm is strong, and can put balls on the money, yet is a bit inconsistent in his accuracy. The arm plays in the OF and he does throw like a catcher, but the carry is good and he gets off strong accurate throws. The arm will play on the corners with RF especially. A gamer that gets after it, while working his tail off to prove his skeptics wrong. It baffles me why a top school hasn’t just seen the bat and wants the impact that is there to translate quickly to the college level. 

Positional Profile: C/OF

Hits: RHH.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 92.4 MPH. 372' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-70, 71, 72, 71, 70 mph. OF-87 mph.
Defense:
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 69.19 Edge Score

Miller, a PBR Future Games alum, is a two way threat at the plate and on the mound. Last summer Miller was touching 90 mph with his FB and sitting 86-89, while touching a 91 at the BYU Prospect Camp in late August. Sitting in the low to mid 80’s at the Preseason All-State, as he is coming out of snowy and cold northern Utah, and rounding his arm into shape. Miller impressed with the bat and posted a 94.9 EV, and clocked in a 6.91/60 and a 6.92 at the Future Games. The OF velo is at 83 and can be better, as his recent FB velos on the mound suggest. An athletic tall rangy OF, with broad shoulders and long arms and legs, Nolan has the frame to hold another 15-20 pounds and be a physical corner OF, with enough arm for LF and possibly RF at the college level. The bat is held high over his back shoulder and he gets into the slot well and has some funky mannerisms to his game that remind me of former big league OF’er Hunter Pence. Not the prettiest of movement patterns, but he is strong and projects further strength as he matures. It remains to be seen which spot on the field he lands down the road, but with his athleticism and arm strength, speed and power potential, he is a future next level player no doubt. 

Miller a Future Games alum with a good arm and intriguing twitchy athleticism, was in preseason form on the mound as he works his way into mound shape come March. But the bat showed well as he smashed balls hard with an EV of 92-94 and was 86 from the OF. a 6.92/60 type, that in this indoor style event, registered a 3.87 H-1B and can scoot. There's some Hunter Pence type mannerisms to his game and it's more than enough on both sides of the ball to play at the next level. The bat and playing the field is starting to intrigue me right now and he is a projectable type athletic kid, that will get considerably stronger as he continues to fill out and mature.   

A Future Games participant and was a late add to the roster, but one that I was happy with and be more than belonged there. A strong athletic build with future projs left and one to dream on in the next few years. Featuring a high kick to delivery, and really reaches out front to finish the FB thru an OH arcing arm slot, Miller finishes with a flat back to finish and generated velocity with arm strength. The FB touched 88 and there’s definitely more in there the CB 59-63 is a work in progress as he is new to pitching and raw, but has big upside. The bat produced 27 mph hand speed and 74 mph bat speed with 94 EV’s. He has quick hands and although his barrel release needs tweaking to show more bat speed to match the high hand speed, he does things a bit unconventional like Hunter Pence, but is athletic and has a high ceiling. Also ran a 6.92/60 and has powerful legs, which help the hitting metrics and to generate velocity with the FB. Colleges keep an eye on this kid as he could blossom big time by next spring.