Prep Baseball Report

2020 Games: Outfield Analysis


Jordon Banfield
Arizona Scouting Director

The Invite-Only 2020 Games took place on Tuesday, June 5th at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Arizona State Sun Devils. The event featured many of the state's top sophomores and gave players an opportunity to earn an invitation to play for Team Arizona in our premier national event, the PBR Future Games in August. Today, we continue the event coverage with our Outfield Analysis. The list is headlined by Trevor Long who was a standout in nearly every and currently splits time between ht infield and outfield. His long term future is at 3B or RF (in addition to pitching) and he proved to be a natural OF during game action. Check out the full list below.

Complete video, data, pictures and scouting reports have been posted to players' individual profiles. As always contact [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona on Twitter with any questions and/or information.

Top Outfield Prospects:

 

TREVOR LONG 3B / RHP / CHAPARRAL , AZ / 2020

Already highly-rated by PBR, 3B/OF/RHP Trevor Long stood out as easily the top uncommitted prospect in attendance. a true two-way player, it would be a tough call at present as to where he fits best down the road. His 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame is starting to develop and add strength, which combined with the athleticism (6.99 60-yard dash) may make the ceiling higher at 3B or RF. He showed the best right-handed swing of any player at the event, with a balanced, athletic setup, loose wrists and easy bat speed out front with some power to the pull side; 92 mph exit velocity. Despite having the tools to play up the middle, Long's actions profile best at 3B where he shows easy carry on his 89 mph throws across the diamond. He also played some outfield doing game action and is a natural mover who should show an above average to plus arm out there if he can't stick on the infield long term. On the mound, he showed 86-88 mph velocity on the fastball, working downhill from a high 3/4 arm slot with big arm speed. Long threw two distinct breaking balls, with the tilted 76-79 mph standing out as a potential future out pitch with tight rotation and sharp, late break. He also mixed in a slower curveball in the lower-70's that also showed tight rotation and more 12-6 shape, but less consistency than the slider. There's no question Long has established himself as one of the top 2020 prospects in the state and a high-DI prospect.

 

NOAH NITHMAN OF / OF / SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, AZ / 2020

5’10 160-pound switch hitting OF Noah Nithman has always been able to run and hit, but showed the best 60 time we've seen from him (6.76) and stood out defensively in game action, making multiple plays to take away extra bases in CF. Projects as a center fielder at the next level if he can significantly improve present arm strength/action (73 mph outfield velocity in this look), but more likely is pigeon-holed to LF. Nithman continued to impress at the plate with his smooth left handed swing that generated an 89 mph exit velocity. 

 

JOEL RUBIN OF / RHP / SAGUARO, AZ / 2020

6-foot-2, 175-pound RHP/OF Joel Rubin has some crudeness to his game, but possesses an intriguing set of tools, with a 7.19 60-yard dash, 88 mph outfield velo and 88 mph exit velo. Rubin sprayed the ball some on the mound this day, running his fastball up to 86 mph, but has reportedly been into the upper-80's previously. Did a good job maintaining fastball arm speed on change up at 75-76 mph. Also flashed a curveball at 65-68 mph. Also shows some raw power and is comfortable mover in the OF with RF profile.

 

ERIC LOOMIS OF / RHP / CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE, MO / 2020

High-waisted 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. Two-way prospect showed his arm as best tool from the outfield, posting 88 mph OF velo with arm speed and carry, but that didn't quite translate to the mound where he topped at 82 mph. Used significant number of steps to create momentum and generate that velo from the outfield, so it may not play on the mound. Arm action actually gets shorter on mound, with aggressive, athletic delivery and the same intriguing arm speed, generating good extension out front. Slow 55-59 mph curveball with 12-6 shape. Also flashed a mostly straight 64 mph changeup and shorter 64-67 mph breaker that he called a slider, but is more of a harder 11-5 curveball and a better present pitch than the slower version. Offensively, starts with hands deep and drifts forward to create some separation. Stiffer wrists; doesn't created much lag/barrel whip. Posted 84 mph exit velocity and 7.32 60-yard dash. Arm strength makes him an intriguing follow, especially if that type of velo shows up on the mound.

 

DAMIEN LYON OF / 1B / SAN TAN FOOTHILLS, AZ / 2020

6-foot, 170-pound frame. Room to fill out. Balanced and slightly open set up at the plate. Knee knock and barrel tip timing mechanism. Creates good separation and sequencing firing the hips through before rotation of the upper body. Hands stay short to the ball and barrel gets on plate early. Varied between a high one handed and two-handed finish. Defensively profiles as a corner outfielder where he moved comfortably. Good job carrying momentum through his throws. Used an over the top arm slot to generate a 79 mph outfield velocity. Also posted a 7.30 60-yard dash. 

 

DREW WOODY LHP / OF / HIGHLAND, AZ / 2020

6-foot-1, 170-pound LHP/OF Drew Woody has really started to make progress physically and mechanically, turning in a 7.09 60-yard dash and 86 mph exit velo, in addition to flattening out his bat path to keep his barrel in the zone longer. Woody also ran his fastball up to 80 mph on the mound with a clean arm action. Curveball ranged from 65-69 mph with inconsistent shape. Change up was thrown at 73-74 mph with fastball arm speed and fading action. Athleticism and arm action make Woody an interesting follow on the mound as he continues to develop physically. 

 

RICHARD SANTIAGO OF / RHP / SALPOINTE CATHOLIC , AZ / 2020

6-foot 175-pound frame. Strong, athletic build. Showed ability as both a position and pitcher. Hit from a wide set up and maintained balance throughout the swing. Good extension through contact; 84 exit velocity. Defensively projects best as a corner outfielder where he moved confidently and aggressively. Good footwork and momentum through his throws; 85 mph outfield velocity. Posted a 7.35 60-yard dash. On the mound Santiago worked 78-81 mph with his fastball that had some life to his arm side. Have seen up 84 mph in the past. Created good downhill plane on pitches down in the zone. Showed the ability to spin an 11/5 breaking ball at 67-69 mph. Also threw a change up at 69-73 mph that was an effective weapon when thrown in the bottom half of the strike zone.  

 

LEVI PADILLA OF / LHP / SALPOINTE, AZ / 2020

5-foot-7 155-pound frame. Strong, compact build. Efficient path to the baseball with minimal wasted movement. Swing gets on plane early with good extension through contact. Made hard contact in game action. High follow through and finish; 80 mph exit velocity. Projects as a corner outfielder at the next level. Showed a quick arm that produced an 81 mph outfield velocity. Also ran a 7.07 60 yard dash. 

 

NICHOLAS FRATANTONI OF / 2B / PINNACLE, AZ / 2020

Lean 5-foot-8, 140-pound frame. Fratantoni recorded improved numbers across the board since we last saw him in January. At the plate he squats some into a balanced set up from the left side. Internally rotates front foot keeping hips counter rotated into stride foot contact. Hands work back and up before descending down again. Impressive, efficient bat path into the zone; 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively Fratantoni worked out as both an outfielder and an infielder. Profiles better as an outfielder due to long arm action as he fully extends his arm behind his back during arm swing. Moved confidently and aggressively in the outfield using proper footwork into his throws; 77 mph outfield velocity. Also posted a solid 7.25 60-yard dash.  

 

CADEN GUSTAFSON OF / LHP / DESERT RIDGE, AZ / 2020

6-foot-2, 178-pound frame. Long levers. Hits from a tall, upright, open stance. Hands work down and back during stride creating some separation. Barrel tips away from body as hands work towards the baseball creating a bit of length. Some loft in his swing, high two handed finish; 79 mph exit velocity. Worked out defensively in the outfield where he profiles best at a corner spot. Used a compact arm action and a high ¾ arm slot to generate a 76 mph outfield velocity. Also posted a 7.34 60-yard dash.