Prep Baseball Report

Bryant and Stratton JC Scout Day: Takeaways


By: Pete Hamot and Josh Fields
Wisconsin Staff

On Wednesday, August 28th, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff traveled to Brant and Stratton JC for the first scout day of the fall circuit. There were just under 30 prospects in attendance with a mix of both classes, and there were numerous players that showed well for themselves on the day. 

Today, we will be taking a look at a number of players that stood out from the day, with scouting reports and videos, below. 

For a look at the Statistical Analysis from the day, click HERE

POSITION PLAYERS

+ FR INF Josh Diorio (Whitnall, WI) took a smooth round of BP in our look. The right-handed hitter has a longer, flat swing that works with ease through the zone, staying mostly to his pull-side with a max EV of 92 mph. On the infield, he displayed steady actions and hands that work out front. Arm is strong across the diamond and can play on the move (T86 mph). 

+ SO MIF Jedvier Garcia (Riverside University, WI) is a toolsy prospect to know from the scout day. Garcia started off his day by cruising to a 6.55 in the laser-timed 60, and his athleticism plays on the infield too; boasting athletic actions with steady hands and easy range to both sides of his glove. His arm is plenty strong, and it can play on the move and from multiple angles (T88 mph). The right-handed hitter worked on the barrel throughout his round of BP, working to stay on top of the baseball while using the whole field, reaching up to 97 mph for his max EV with a max distance of 342’. Last season, Garcia turned in a .281 batting average in 114 at-bats, also notching 10 doubles, four home runs and eight stolen bases. 

+ FR MIF Jacob Garth (Stevens Point Area) turned in the second-best 60 time of the day with a 6.69, reaching a peak run speed of just under 21 mph while also possessing the quickest 10-yard split with a 1.60. The right-handed hitter has a simple swing that stays flat through the zone, looking to work middle/pull-side. He also creates notable rotational acceleration according to BLAST, averaging 25.5 Gs while maxing out at 32.5 Gs. 

+ SO 1B Ashton Kampa (Muskego, WI) put on a show during BP, launching numerous towering home runs to his pull-side with a max distance of 382’. The physical left-handed hitter possesses easy pop with the ability to elevate to his pull-side regularly, creating a max EV of 100 mph while averaging 93.4 mph. He creates easy bat-speed throughout his operation, averaging 79.3 mph while topping out at 83 mph. Defensively, he moves well around the bag at first, pairing with sure-handed actions and a live arm (T88 mph). As a freshman, the left-handed hitter turned in a .344 average in 93 at-bats, also recording 10 doubles, five home runs, a .613 SLG and .393 OBP.

+ SO C Deacan Koback (Stevens Point Area, WI) stands in at a physical 6-foot, 215-pounds, and he showed some easy power with the ability to backspin the baseball middle/pull-side. He works with easy effort throughout his operation, staying flat through the zone and creating a max EV of 94 mph. Defensively, Koback showed a strong arm that played with easy life and carry through the bag (T75 mph, 2.05 pop-time). 

+ FR C Christian Lim (Brookfield Central, WI) is a physical right-handed hitter to watch for the Bobcats. Listed at 5-foot-10, 198-pounds with a strong lower-half and round shoulders, Lim worked on the barrel throughout his round of BP with a max EV of 93 mph. He worked consistently on the barrel up the middle of the field while staying mostly on-plane through the zone. 

+ FR OF Bradyn Nelson (Oconomowoc, WI) is an exciting new face for the Bobcats this year, finishing his prep career as the No. 108 prospect in the state. The right-handed hitter took an intriguing round of BP, displaying bat-speed and athletic hands that allowed him to create a max EV of 97 mph, also creating well above-average rotational acceleration in the process (T28.4 Gs). Nelson pairs his power with speed, cruising to a 6.73 in the 60, and his athleticism easily translates to the outfield with loose, natural actions and a strong arm (T85 mph). 

+ SO INF/OF Brayden Pleau (Kimberly, WI) returns as one of the top hitters for the Bobcats, finishing last spring with a .432 average in 118 at-bats, also slugging .559 in the process with a .504 OBP and 13 doubles. The right-handed hitter has athletic hands with the ability to manipulate the barrel and use the whole field, working on the sweet spot 70% of the time according to TrackMan. He’s a steady defender both at third base and in the outfield. 

+ SO C Sean Reilly (Dodgeville, WI) looks to be one of the top returners for the Bobcats, coming off a spring where he turned in a .345 average in 110 at-bats to pair with 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs, a .555 SLG and .403 OBP. Equipped with a physical 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame, Reilly boasts strength in multiple aspects of his game. His round of BP was one of the louder showings on the day, topping out at 98 mph for his EV with an average of 91 mph; displaying some strength and twitch in his hands with the ability to drive the ball the other way. Behind the plate, Reilly showed steady actions with a well above-average arm (T81 mph; 1.97 pop-time). 

+ RSO MIF Luis Serrano (Jefferson, WI) is a twitchy, athletic prospect to know for the ‘Cats. He started off his day by cruising to a 6.74 laser-timed 60, and his athleticism easily translates to the middle of the infield; boasting confident/natural actions and hands that pair with fluid footwork and range to both sides of his glove, plays with bounce. Strong arm across, topping out at 86 mph, can play on the move. The right-handed hitter showed the ability to spray the ball to the whole field, reaching up to 91 mph for his max EV while also showing some hand-speed through the zone (22.7 mph avg.). 

+ SO INF/OF Nick Webster (Siren) is a physical athlete that stood out from the scout day. Listed at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, Webster is a sub-7.00 runner with some strength from the right side of the plate. He has an easy, simple swing that works to stay on top of the baseball, consistently working the ball up the middle of the field with a max EV of 95.2 mph. Moves well on the infield, confident hands, plays with timing through the baseball, arm can play on the move (T82 mph).

+ SO INF/RHP Ryan Weed (East Troy, WI) was another catalyst for the ‘cats last season and returns as a more physical version this year, listed at 6-foot-5, 225-pounds with lean strength throughout. The right-handed hitter was all over the barrel in BP, working up to 95 mph for his max EV with an average of 91 mph. He showed the ability to elevate with authority to his pull-side, blasting his furthest ball at 363’. As a freshman, Weed cruised to a .343 batting average in 108 at-bats with nine doubles, six home runs, a .611 SLG and .405 OBP. He moves well for his size at third base, utilizing his levers well through the ball with confident hands and a strong arm (T86 mph across). 7.07 runner in the 60. On the other side of the ball, the big right-hander displayed a lively fastball that played in the 86-87 mph range with some effort and carry through the zone (17.5 avg. IVB). To pair off the fastball he went to a cutter at 82-83 mph with a short lateral wrinkle, and a curveball with downer shape at 70-72 mph. His final offering was a splitter that he killed spin on at 78-79 mph, landing it consistently for strikes. 

PITCHERS

+ FR RHP Jake Ross (Wisconsin Lutheran, WI) had a strong showing in his ‘pen, showing a feel for four pitches throughout his showing. He has an up-tempo delivery that works quickly into a coiled balance point, dropping into his back leg while holding some bend as he works in-line down the mound. His arm plays quick out front with a loose, whippy release, ¾ slot. Ross cruised with his fastball in the 85-88 mph range, playing with life out of the hand and finish through the zone. He was able to land his curveball for strikes consistently, playing with sharp 11/5 shape and over 2,400 rpm at 68-72 mph. He showed some feel for his slider as well, playing with more lateral shape in the 69-71 mph range, also landing it for strikes. His final offering was a changeup that played at 74-79 mph, running naturally to his arm-side (T15.4”) with some feel to that side as well.

+ FR RHP Elijah Niemiec (St. Thomas More, WI) stands out physically at 6-foot-5, 205-pounds, and there’s more to come for the big right-hander. He has a controlled delivery that works into a medium/high balance point, tall/fall lower-half works in-line down the mound, hips and upper-half explode through footstrike with a quick arm, ¾ slot. The four seam fastball jumps out of the hand in the 85-87 mph range with slight run to the arm-side; while his sinker has up to 14.8” of run in the same velocity range. His curveball showed some depth off an 11/5 plane, landing it for strikes on occasion at 69-72 mph with over 2,600 rpm at times. The slider spins at a well above-average clip as well, similarly playing at over 2,600 rpm with sharp 10/4 bite, 72-74 mph. His changeup plays similar out of the hand to his fastball, selling it with fastball intent, some fade/run, 76-78 mph. 

+ SO RHP Zachary Rechner (Catholic Memorial, WI) will be an arm to monitor throughout the rest of the fall and into the spring. Listed at a durable 6-foot, 195-pounds, the right-hander has some intent in his delivery, working into a high balance point that works in-line through the plate. Arm is longer in the back before firing through with a high ¾ slot. Fastball played around 85-86 mph, running heavily to the arm-side at times (T16.3”). He showed two different breaking balls, starting with an 11/5 curveball at 70-72 mph, and a more lateral slider with sharp 10/4 action, 72-73 mph. He was able to land a cutter in for strikes 80% of the time, playing with a short lateral wrinkle at 79-81 mph. He sells his changeup with arm-speed and fastball intent, showing some feel for the bottom part of the zone at times, 77-78 mph. 

+ FR RHP Giles Groothousen (Flambeau, WI) will look to be a strong addition to the ‘Cats slew of arms this coming spring. The athletic right-hander has a powerful lower-half that gets into his legs while working in-line down the mound, pairing with a quick arm that comes out of a high ¾ slot. His four seam fastball played around 85-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph on his best bullet with mostly straight action, while his sinker played more in the 84-86 range with up to 14” of run. He struggled to land his breaking ball at times, but his good ones showed sharp 11/5 shape with depth at 73-75 mph. His final offering was a knuckleball at 73-77 mph, killing spin and dancing with unpredictable action at times. 

+ SO LHP Carter Szohr (Germantown, WI) is a lean, projectable southpaw that returns 44 innings from a season ago to go along with a 4-2 record, 2.05 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He’s a loose mover that creates a tough angle with an over-the-top slot, creating tilt and carry on his fastball that played in the 82-84 mph range with an average IVB of 20.3 (T23.2). His curveball showed some swing/miss potential with sharp action and depth from a slurvy plane, 68-71 mph. His final offering was a fading changeup in the 71-74 mph range, thrown with intent and the ability to land for strikes. 

+ SO RHP Joe Marcin (Madison West) displayed a quality three-pitch mix throughout his ‘pen. Listed at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, Marcin is a controlled mover that can get down the mound with extension and a long stride, high ¾ slot. His fastball played in the 83-84 mph range with mostly straight actions, setting up a tight 11/5 curveball in the mid-70s with quality feel for the zone. He also showed some feel for a changeup in the 77-80 mph range, flashing late dive to the arm-side with the ability to land it in and around the zone. 

For a look at the complete event page, click HERE

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