Rankings Insider: 2022 Risers

The PBR Arizona- Class of 2022 Player Rankings had its end of the Fall update on Thursday, December 17th. PBR Arizona has had a chance to spend countless hours covering outside game & tournament action in addition to holding some of their own events over the last several months. We have had the chance to see many quality prospects during this time of all different skill levels including players that been on the radar for sometime now as well as players that have progressed more recently. As we get into the offseason season, we want to continue to follow these prospects even more as there are still many needs for players at all of the different levels of college baseball.

As always, the evaluation process is a fluid and ongoing process with multiple viewings in order to get the best feel for players abilities. It’s important to note that individual players will continue developing at their own pace, and surly this list will have more updates in the future.  As we get closer to spring, PBR will once again be out in full force to see the progress players have made. 

Today, we will be taking a look at some of the prospects from the latest update that are trending upward in the class of 2022 in Arizona. 

Class of 2022- Risers

Tanner Holland OF / Hamilton, AZ / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 8 Holland continues to rise in the 2022 class, showing off his athleticism throughout the fall. We had previously wrote up Holland in a "Fall Standouts" article over a month ago. Holland is the fastest player we have seen at a showcase in 2020, running a 6.38 60-yard dash at our Tucson ID at the end of August. We have seen him run similar times recently. We have also seen him in some games this fall where he seems to bring some to the top of the lineup. As a hitter, he shows some rawness in his swing but his natural strength & some feel for the barrel helps him get plenty of hits. He uses an athletic open stance, using a pull approach with above average bat speed. Seems to get better at the plate with more experience. He has above average pop that could increase in the future with some slight adjustments that he has more than enough athleticism to make. Defensively, he has the ability to go get in the OF with obvious speed. With continued repetition in footwork & reads off the bat combined with some more fluidity in the arm, he has a real shot to stick in CF at the next level.

 

Jace Smith RHP / 1B / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 41 / POS: 14 We featured Smith in a Progress Report at the end of October as he made some jumps on the mound towards the end of the fall. Smith attended our Top Prospect Games this past summer. At the event, he worked his FB 81-84mph, throwing with long arm action with average arm speed from a H3/4 slot. It was an overall average day for Smith but it was enough to show future potential. At the end of the fall, Smith started to make some improvements, cleaning up his delivery to make it a bit more fluid & athletic to go along with his strong 6-foot-2 185-pound body. It was noticeable that Smith was moving more efficiently down the mound with some added tempo. His arm path & swing has shortened up a tad with more consistency than the past with additional arm speed. His FB worked 87-89mph in an outing for the Twisters/ Mets 4 Corners Scout Team. Smith's improvements should be monitored closely.

 

Austin Balmes RHP / 3B / Corona Del Sol, AZ / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 37 / POS: 12 When the Spring HS season begins, don't be surprised to see Austin Balmes as one of the leaders on the mound for Corona Del Sol. In 2021, some younger players are going need to step up to keep CDS on top with several college prospects from the previous year moving on. Balmes has a shot to be 1-2 in the rotation & gain significant experience on a winning team this year. Balmes jumped on our radar at our Summer Review back in August. He showed some upside as a two-way player but projects a little more as right-handed pitcher at this time. Used a clean athletic delivery with easy effort. Threw with short loose arm action from a 3/4 arm slot. The ball came out clean and seemed to jump out of his hand a bit. He worked his FB 81-84mph, working down in the zone. His CV showed some tightness & spin at 65-68mph. SL had cutter action with a CH that shows potential at 71-74mph with sink/run. Talking to some of his coaches, he seemed to work up to the mid 80's a bit more as the fall progressed. Balmes' upside should be followed.

 

Caden Thiele OF / C / Desert Vista, AZ / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 31 / POS: 9 We have had a chance to see Thiele in several games this fall. As of late, one can tell that he's been spending some time in the weight room as he has developed some more defined strength in his 6-1/185-pound frame. Thiele is still one of the more versatile players in the class with some of the most powerful actions out there. Thiele shows good presence in the box, using a gap to gap approach with pop and power potential. His success at the plate is evident from good bat & hand speed while accelerating onto the swing plane quickly. His Trackman & blast numbers from the summer would back this up. Defensively, he has naturally strong arm from the OF with easy effort. Also recording 2.07-2.12 pop times behind the plate. Earlier this fall we also had a chance to see Thiele pitch or Sandlot baseball where he worked his FB up to 87mph with a hard breaking ball with tight spin. Thiele can currently go a number of different ways in the future and his development should be followed closely.

 

Adian Duarte SS / RHP / Cienega, AZ / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 72 / POS: 12 Duarte is a player that we haven't seen as much as some others out there but we had a chance to see him at our Tucson ID at the end of August. We like what he brings to the table as a shortstop & he showed some potential on the mound. Duarte has a strong balanced body at 5-11, 180-pounds. In a lineup at Cienega with some strong hitters, Duarte was one of the top hitters before the season shut down last season. Hits from a relaxed open base, gathered leg lift, drifts into front foot strike. Small simple load with short swing. Looks to drive the baseball with some natural pop and strength through his swing with a mid/pull approach. Displays above average bat speed. 95 mph exit velocity via Trackman. Ability to play multiple infield spots. Strong arm across the diamond with easy effort. Carry with accuracy to the bag. Short arm action with quick clean transfers & release. Confident infielder with plus actions. Fields the ball out in front. Soft hands with good awareness of his glove & body. Good feel for the INF. 7.03 runner in the 60. On the mound, he pitched out of the stretch with simple procedure, easy slow tempo delivery. FB worked 79-81mph from OT slot. Look for Duarte to continue to rise in the class.

Click here to see the Arizona- Class of 2022 Player Rankings

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Isaiah Jackson	AZ	Cienega	2022	OF	Arizona State
2	Logan Saloman	AZ	Hamilton	2022	RHP	Arizona State
3	Dillon Orr	AZ	Shadow Ridge	2022	RHP	Tennessee
4	Austin Humphres	AZ	Shadow Ridge	2022	LHP	Arizona State
5	Andrew Carroll	AZ	Chaparral	2022	RHP	Arizona
6	Derek Smith	AZ	Horizon	2022	C	Oklahoma State
7	Issac Araiza	AZ	Cibola	2022	RHP	San Diego State
8	Gavin Turley	AZ	Hamilton	2022	OF	Oregon State
9	TJ Adams	AZ	Red Mountain	2022	OF	Arizona
10	Nick Arias	AZ	Tucson Magnet	2022	SS	Grand Canyon