Prep Baseball Report

Arizona Fall Review: Quick Hits


Brett Thorney
Area Scout

The Arizona Fall Review took place on Sunday, December 15th at Seton Catholic Prep in Chandler, AZ. We began our post-event analysis yesterday by taking a look at the top statistical performers in each category. 

Today, we continue our analysis with an early look at some of the initial takeaways from the Fall Review. 

+ 2021 RHP Augie Walters (Brophy College Prep, AZ)- might have showed the most pitch ability of the day. Walters has a thin projectable frame with long limbs & athleticism. Calm collective approach to pitching. Bouncing back from an injury, Walters showed long arm action with low effort at 81-84mph. Watch for Walters to make a jump into the spring/summer with more time on the mound & physical lower half development.

+ 2021 C/RHP Steven Stewart (Ironwood, AZ)- one of the more versatile guys at the event. Stewart really showed that he could do it all with some success. Sports a long projectable frame with plenty of room to add strength. Switch hitting catcher that can also get on the mound to pitch a bit. Solid arm strength with 1.96-2.14 pop times as well as sitting 80-82 on the mound, topping out at 84mph. Offensively, he showed the ability to find the barrel from both sides of the plate. 

+ 2022 C Henry Chabot (Brophy College Prep, AZ)- Last time we saw Chabot was at the Universal Classic this fall where he really got on our radar as a defensive catching prospect. Once again, Chabot didn’t disappoint behind the plate displaying his above average defensive skills. He showed a consistent arm at 74 mph with pop times ranging from 1.89-2.07. Chabot seemed to make a jump on the offensive side of things- showing one of the top BP rounds of day with consistent barrel contact at 93mph.

+ 2021 C Tanner Smith (Basha, AZ)- Oregon State commit. Smith displayed arguably the best performance of the event. Has always been a pure hitter looking to do some damage. He showed some real body control at the plate in his round of BP- hitting some balls out of the ballpark. Also had an event high 96mph exit velocity. Defensively, he put in some of the best pop times we have seen from him. Getting rid of it quickly, Smith threw 1.85-2.06 pop times with 76 mph arm strength. 

+ 2023 RHP Linden Reaburn (Casteel, AZ)- continues to be an intriguing younger pitcher to keep an eye. We have had a chance to see him quite a bit at events like the JR Future Games & in the PBR Arizona Fall Championships this past summer/fall. He didn’t disappoint on the mound at the Fall Review either. Pitching with a more intent driven approach, Reaburn sat 82-83mph with over-top arm action. Mixed in two offspeed pitches that were thrown for strikes down in the zone. Overall, he has an above average arm for the age group. 

+ 2021 OF/RHP Tyler Bare (Casteel, AZ)- turned in a solid day across the board. Bare is an intriguing two-way player to follow. At  6’1” 155lbs there is some more maturing to be done and plenty of room to gain strength in his frame. Ran one of the top 60 yard dash times at 6.99 & had one of the top BP rounds. Hits from a medium athletic base with a controlled toe tap trigger. Consistent line drive contact at 85mph. Also pitched in the event sitting 80-82mph. Arms works and throws 3 pitches for strikes- will definitely eat some innings come spring. 

+ 2021 SS/3B Rocco Gump (Seton Catholic, AZ)- has been on the PBR radar for quite some time now. Gump has a lot of natural ability to be a high level baseball player at the next level. Gump has a tall long limbed frame with present athleticism. Ton of room to add size. Has an above average left handed bat with a LD approach. With his size and speed, there is a chance he might move to a corner position at the next level. He has an above average arm and carry across the diamond at 84mph. 

+ 2022 SS/3B Trenton Harrington (Chaparral, AZ)- has some solid tools across the board in his skillset with above average athleticism to go along with it. Fields the baseball with rhythm and confidence with carry across the diamond at 82mph. Left handed hitter that hits from a tall narrow stance with leg kick- looking to drive the baseball, 90mph exit velocity off a tee. His speed (7.06 60 yard dash) and athleticism make him a prospect to keep an eye on down the road. Should improve in all areas as he gets stronger in his projectable 150lbs frame. 

+ 2021 SS Braden Watkins (Hamilton, AZ)- one of the better athletes at the event. Watkins turned in the top 60 yard dash time at 6.85. His speed and athleticism play in the OF. Watkins is a LHH that hits from a narrow open base, landing square. Short swing to the baseball with small separation, Watkins barreled up the ball consistently in his round of BP with a middle of the field approach. 

+ 2022 SS Karsen Waslefsky (Casteel, AZ)- Waslefsky stood out in a solid group of INFs. His numbers won’t jump off the page at you but he looked the part. Plays the game hard and with energy. Showed carry, rhythm and good direction to 1B on throws with 78mph velocity. Hits from a medium athletic base with small knee turn trigger. Simple repeatable approach to hitting that finds the barrel with low effort. Should be a player to follow especially with continued physical development. 

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