Prep Baseball Report

Oakland Athletics Area Code Tryout - Pitchers


Blaine Clemmens
Northern California Director

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LATHROP, CALIF. - Below are the raw velocities from those who pitched in the live at-bats portion. Side note, NOT a lot of contact was made, certainly not a lot of good contact, but that was NOT an issue for 2023 SS Carl Schmidt (Marin Catholic HS, Texas A&M commit) who slammed a ball over the CF's head in his lone at-bat. Also good swings from 2023 SS Ben Cleary (Serra HS, Santa Clara commit) in both of his at-bats. Given the 1-1 starting count format (obviously not hitter-friendly), these scenarios are HARD for hitters.

A number of TOP pitchers were not present (Landon Stump, Aidan Keenan, Gabe Gaeckle, Cal Randall, each of whom has low-90s or low-mid-90s stuff) and Nolan Stevens (have seen up to 91) did not pitch in the tryout, nor did Cam Schneider. A rotation of Volchko, Stump, Keenan, Gaeckle, Randall would be one of best at Area Codes. Mix in Stevens and a handful of some listed here like Fields, Flora, and a couple of out-getting LHPs, and the A's Area Code club could be a hard team to deal with in early August. 

Pitcher Velocities (names organized alphabetically)

2023 RHP Zane Baltz, Heritage - FB 85-88, CB 70
2023 RHP Alec Belardes, Valley Christian - FB 86-87 (Arizona State commit)
2023 RHP Reece Bueno, Redwood (Visalia) - FB 87-88, SL 77, CHG 81
2023 RHP Langston Burkett, Santa Cruz - FB 84-87, CB 73-76, SL 77-80, CHG 78
2023 RHP Kyle Connelly, Clayton Valley - FB 82-85, CB 71 (Cal commit)
2023 LHP Gavin Farinha, Turlock Christian - FB 83-87, CB 66-67, CHG 76
2023 RHP Jake Fields, Oak Ridge - FB 87-91, CHG 79
2023 RHP Jackson Flora, Foothill (Pleasanton) - FB 87-89, CB 71-73
2023 LHP Matthew Gallant, Folsom - FB 83-86, CB 70-72
2023 RHP Jace Gillmore, Whitney - FB 86-88, CB 72-73, CHG 79
2023 LHP Sebastian Gonzalez, Berean Christian - FB 83-86, CB 71-73, CHG 78-80 (St. Mary's commit)
2023 LHP Payton Hawkinson, Tulock - FB 84-86, CB 71-72
2023 RHP Liam Kevill, Northgate - FB 86-88, SL 75-77, CB 70-72
2023 RHP Jason Krakoski, Granada - FB 86-90, CB 74-76 (CSU Fullerton commit)
2023 RHP Kurt Marton, Oakmont - FB 84-85, CB 72
2023 LHP Joshua Morano, Granada - FB 82-86 (Arizona commit)
2023 RHP Josh Pashby, St. Ignatius - FB 85-88, CB 73-75
2023 RHP Cal Scolari, Bishop Manogue (NV) - FB 87-89, CB 69-74 (San Diego commit)
2023 LHP Myles Standish, Eureka - FB 82-84
2023 RHP Jack Surdey, St. Francis - FB 84-85, SL 75-76
2023 RHP Warren Vercher, Edison (Fresno) - FB 86-88, CB 77
2023 RHP Joey Volchko, Redwood (Visalia) - FB 91-93, CB 77-79, SL 78-82, CHG 78-79
2023 LHP Andrew Wright, Lodi - FB 84-86, SL 73, CHG 78-79

Of this group, particularly impressive were Volchko who is near the top of the class, with the body, FB and hammer CB. Fields showed the same quality stuff at ProCase and ACG tryout, so he's for real. Flora has lively stuff and potential to really come on as he gains some physicality, if he does. Scolari was quite good. Gallant has a CB with bite and solid FB stuff. Farinha was interesting, the FB has velocity and sink and a BIG curveball. Morano has better stuff than he showed. Krakoski will keep coming on and the velo will keep ticking up. Showed similarly at ProCase, would think solid chance to make this team. Pashby raw stuff doesn't light up gun but the FB plays firm and the breaking ball bottoms out with swing/miss bite. Gonzalez can pitch, works quick and can mow through a line-up. When the delivery is in sync Bueno flashes the stuff and life to envision swing and miss stuff as his career goes along. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Inland Empire Top Prospects ID CA 07/06 Corona High School
Rising Stars Game (Invite Only) CA 07/12 Islanders Field - Lathrop
LA Top Prospects ID CA 07/12 O'Malley Field
California State Games CA 07/30 Hart Park


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