Luke (LT)
Taylor

A former PBR Future Gamer and 2-time Area Code team alum, Taylor went into the ProCase with lots of fanfare from a monster 2023 HS season in which he hit .532 10 44 with 9 2B’s and 3 3B’s. One of the top 5 statistical seasons in the state, as he led Olympus to a stellar 22-3 season and a 5A Region 6 title. Taylor was the first catcher to showcase behind the plate and he didn’t disappoint! With EZ clean actions and an advanced setup, Taylor showed a professionally sound round of throws to 2B with crisp throws on the bag every time! He was 1.87-1.90 and showed little effort in doing so. At the plate, Taylor showed his clean fluid slightly uphill hitting stroke in sending balls all over the field with backspin carry at 98.5 exit velos with wood after showing a max of 103.6 at the Preseason All-State with metal. Max distances of 386 with metal, Taylor also drove his best shot 382 with wood and with the thick air of Southern California, 382 would have been closer to 400+ in the thin air of Utah! Luke is squarely on the radar of MLB scouts now for the 2024 draft!

Luke has thrived since his transfer to Olympus HS, as he is surrounded by friends, supporters on and off the field, as well as hitting in a potent lineup that scores runs and provides protection, in getting pitches to hit, out of the two hole, in the lineup. Currently sitting at over .550 with the batting average, Taylor has also contributed 7 HR’s and is among the top 3-4 in the state with 38 RBI. Taylor has blasted 4 HR’s in the past 5 games, with one HR, a two run shot with one out in the bottom of the 7th vs Brighton in a 4-4 tie, in hitting a 2-run walk off shot, to give Olymuus the Region 6 title. Taylor has worked his tail off this past year, to quiet any doubters as to his transfer and his #2 individual player ranking. It goes without saying, that when talented players are around other talented players of like mindsets, players will thrive in those conditions and Taylor has done just that. Also an accomplished recover behind the plate, Taylor has improved his pitch framing and blocking, while also controlling the running game to establish himself as the states top all around catcher and one of the states top all around players as well. USC is his college destination, but SC can wait, as Taylor has state title hopes on his mind, as well as finishing strong over the next year of his HS career. 

2021 PBR Future Games

Taylor has been one of our mainstays at our invite only events and was a breakout prospect at the Future Games in 2021. A toolsy player over skill right now, but soaks up instruction and lives and breathes the game. Once Taylor stepped in the box for the BP portion of the workout, it got quiet, as he launched a few high and deep to straightaway left and LCF, that brought rain on a couple. A fast bat that can produce bat speeds from 73-79 mph, with a slight uphill path and HR type stroke. Spreads out in an even prop square stance with his hands held deep and over his back foot to get his bat into a ready position, to just turn the barrel as he loads into his backside. Gets to quality separation and explodes his hands into the baseball with very projectable strength and future big raw power. The defense continues to improve. Still young and just turned 17, Taylor, still with two years left in HS, the best is yet to come. 

Positional Profile: C/1B

Hits: RHH.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 91.2 MPH. 371' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-74, 68, 62, 72, 76 mph.
Defense:
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C/1B

Hits: RHH.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 91.2 MPH. 371' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-74, 68, 62, 72, 76 mph.
Defense:
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

Recently re-opened his recruiting after committing to Utah in August of 2021. Saw Luke quite a bit this past week in SoCal with his ‘24 Trosky National team and he was really good with the bat and had 5 hits in 4 games w/2 2B’s and a long HR to LF. Taylor looks to be catching his stride and is gaining further attention, now that he’s back on the recruiting trail. The bat has big upside w/loft, bat speed and natural leverage for better than avg to potential + pwr moving forward. The tools behind the plate are developing nicely for a 16 yr old. Shows the soft hands to catch and works his thumb underneath the ball to steal pitches for K’s. The arm has improved from some inconsistencies in bouncing one hoppers in the past, to now showing online accurate throws through the bag w/some 1.90-2.00 pop times.

One of the top 2 hitters in the ‘24 class, Taylor was the most viewed player profile for 2021 and a PBR Future Games alum. The U Utah commit has big time projection with the bat and behind the plate, as well as physical strength, Ht/Wt gains at maturity. Taylor has an abv avg base to hit from, as he starts with his bat in the 45 degree load position and rocks back for timing with a small knee kick to tone his foot strike. Taylor then unloads and fires his hands tight and slightly uphill through the baseball and finishes strong into a full whippy two hand finish. The swing is geared for extra bases and HR power down the road. Behind the plate, he is flexible and sticks pitches and gets off 2.1 pop times with accurate throws. The arm strength continues to improve as he reminds me of a smaller version of Mike Piazza. Look for big things from this potential power hitting catcher. 

Taylor is one of the top 2 hitters in the Utah class of ‘24. A Future Games alum, Luke went off in BP with 3-4 deep drives to the pull side for HR’s and has shown an advanced feel for his age, regarding his setup at the plate. He starts with his hands cocked and in the firing position and rocks back and lifts his front and sets it down softly and fires the bat with an elevated plane to drive and lift the ball. With an EV of 98, it won’t be long before Luke is breaking the 100 mph barrier, with 3 years of HS competition in front of him!

A Future Games participant and one of the top 2 hitters in the ‘24 class. Luke had a tremendous workout with the bat as he rocketed 3 ball high and deep over the LF wall with an easy slightly uphill stroke with loose wrists and a fluid bat path. With a two hand fully whippy finish, then ball jumped off his bat. Also had a ringing 2B to RCF in game 2 that was deep and split the gap. Taylor also caught game 2 and played 1B in game 3. Behind the plate, he worked well with pitchers and blocked 9-10 balls in the dirt with agility and smothered balls. His index finger was beat up by some of the velocity and as his makeup is top shelf, he wanted to stay in the game, before being lifted. At 1B, he handled some hot shots off the turf and made them look easy and took the bag himself on a couple of occasions. Looked at home at both spots. Versatile defensively and showed really well. Is being recruited by a handful of schools and I expect it to grow as the years go by. 

“LT” has become one of my favorite players in the state. The kid has a demeanor that creates a leadership type attitude, and is a good teammate, along with being very talented. The arm has a ways to go, and he does run like a catcher, but the receiving and mechanics for a 15 year old are advanced and the metrics are out on this part of the game, as the eye test is used. He sticks pitches and works underneath the ball and steals K’s. He blocks and recovers well for his age. But the bat is advanced for a freshman with 88 mph EV’s and his longest drive of the day was at 347 ft. He shows a demeanor and aura about him in the box and behind the plate and exudes confidence and has an engaging personality. All qualities that will make him a next level college player. 

Taylor came as advertised from his HS coach, and former D1/D2 recruiting coordinator Eric Morgan. Taylor has good size for a young 14/15 yr old kid at 511 170. With an already semi developed lower ½ with big feet and hands, and a build that looks to carry another 30 Lbs at maturity, Taylor should develop the size of a next level prototype catcher. What’s interesting is that being a ‘24, he has yet to play a HS game, but you can see this kid contributing to his varsity team this next season. With a class best 88.5 MPH exit velo, Luke featured an even props square stance with a conventional setup to hit with the bat at a 45 over his back shoulder. He turns his hands as he loads the bat and then lifts his foot and sets it down into a short soft foot strike. He keeps his back hip hinged, so he maintains balance and stays back throughout the swing. The swing is a short, quick inside/out stroke and buries his nose to the ball. He buggy whips the bat through a flatter plane and into an around the back shoulder two hand finish.