Rising Stars Showcase: MIF Analysis
October 3, 2018
The Inaugural Rising Stars Showcase took place at Santiago High School in Corona, California and was open to players in the 2022 and 2023 classes. The event attracted over 50 players in these two classes with many of these players likely to be found on our upcoming 2022 Class Rankings. The participants were put through a pro-style workout that saw them run the 60 yard dash, batting practice, and a defensive workout before the pitchers took the stage to throw their bullpens and close out the event.
As part of our continuing coverage of the event we will continue to break down all the data, roll out stats, content, and videos from the event, but first here are some quick hits from what we saw at Santiago HS.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-7, 150-pounds, medium frame with strength throughout the body, particularly in his thick lower half. There's lots to like from Antillon at the plate where he shows present bat speed and control/feel for the barrel. His strength is apparent at contact where he drives balls to all fields on a line. He's short to the ball and long through it. Has some present power that really projects in the future. Shows a middle approach with some pull side pop. On the dirt he shows excellent body control with smooth/fluid footwork and fair range to both sides. Plays through balls that are in front or to the open side. Backhand is true while exchanges are clean and fast. Arm strength is a tick above average and he shows the ability to make throws from multiple angles with accuracy.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-6, 110-pounds, medium frame with long limbs, high waist, and large feet. Despite the lack of size/strength Lane shows some sneaky pop from his high level feel for the barrel and its consistent path. Starts upright and slightly open, shifts hands into launch position and uses a back load before exploding hands/hips into swing. Gets extended post contact while maintaining barrel on plane. Defensively he shows excellent footwork with above average range to both sides. There's fluidity to his catch/throw. Understands angles and hops often beating the ball to the spot and setting up for the release. Arm strength is average presently but shows some carry with accuracy across the diamond.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-9, 145-pounds, medium frame with length in the limbs and wiry strength throughout. Starts with a back heavy stance that is slightly open with high hands. Uses a slight leg lift trigger to initiate swing. Hands are quick-to-fast through the zone and he shows good feel/control of the barrel. Has a middle approach but can pull the ball with some sneaky pop. Defensively he shows fluid footwork with excellent body control. Attacks balls while funnelling out front with soft hands. Shows clean/quick transfers with average arm strength across the diamond. Throws were accurate to the bag. He's a bit raw on the defensive side which makes his current skill set play up a bit. Understands angles and plays through the ball.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-8, 140-pounds, medium frame with wiry strength throughout the body. ONe of the best defenders we had at the event, Rodriguez shows range to both sides with quick, fluid footwork. Hands are soft and fast while his movements are athletic. Plays through balls on the dirt and has enough arm strength to make throws from multiple angles. Plays under control and shows a high baseball IQ. Throws are accurate and flash carry across the diamond. At the plate Rodriguez's fast hands are on display as he drives the barrel of the bat through the ball on a consistent, level plane. Has feel for the barrel as he consistently squared up and drove balls to the gaps. Is short to the ball and long through it with sneaky power. Shows a middle approach but has the ability to hit the ball hard to all fields. Starts slightly crouched and open and uses a toe-tap trigger to initiate his swing. Finishes balanced and extended.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-6, 135-pounds, medium frame with wiry upper body strength and noticeable muscle structure in the lower half. Long limbs with large feet and large hands. When hitting he starts upright and slightly open with high hands before using a slight leg lift trigger to start swing. Shows a back load before firing back hip into the ball. Shows present bat speed with fast hands and keeps his barrel on a consistent plane through the hitting zone. Showed the ability to hit to all fields with most balls squared up off the barrel. Defensively he shows fluid footwork with fair range to both sides. Plays through balls on the dirt while funnelling out front. Shows a quick, clean exchange with ample arm strength to make accurate throws across the diamond. Shows very athletic movements and body control for a young player. Gets behind the ball on the backhand.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-2, 111-pounds, medium frame with strength in the lower half. Long limbs, large feet, and squared shoulders. Saldana showed well during batting practice where he flashes present bat speed and feel for the barrel. Consistently squared balls up to all fields from a middle approach. Keeps his hands inside the ball and projects a guy who will for average in the future. Defensively he shows smooth footwork with range to both sides. Funnels balls out front and shows clean/quick exchanges. Could incorporate lower half a little more into throws that are presently reliant on arm strength which is average at this time. Throws are accurate to the bag. Overall game projects well with continued physical maturation.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Six-foot, 170-pounds, big, physical frame with squared shoulders and strength down through the wrists with a thick backside and thighs. Coffey was one of the top players at the event given his overall skill set at the plate, at shortstop, and on the mound. When hitting he shows big power potential thanks to his knack for squaring up balls and using his explosive lower half strength to drive them to all fields. Has present bat speed that result in line drives and gap-to-gap power presently. Very projectable power at the plate. Defensively he excellent footwork and range to both sides. Actions are athletic and smooth. Has plenty of arm strength to make accurate throws from multiple angles. Hands are fast and smooth while his exchanges are clean. Throws have carry from a short arm action. On the mound Coffey flashed the ability to pound the zone with a fastball/curveball combination. Has a compact arm with quick speed through to an out front release point from a ¾ slot. Generates downhill plane from a slight drop-and-drive delivery. Fastball flashes run to the arm side which he commanded to both sides of the plate. Curveball has plus pitch potential as it's sharp with late, downer breaking action with 1/7 shape. Also threw a slurvy version of the curveball with downer sinking action. Lots of projection here as there's way more in the tank with Coffey.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-10, 165-pounds, large, physical frame with present strength throughout the body. Starts from a slightly crouched, open stance with barrel resting on right shoulder. Pumps hands before getting them to launch position. High left leg trigger initiates swing. Hands are quick-to-fast and he shows control of barrel which he keeps on plane through the hitting zone. Shows present gap-to-gap power with projectable future increases in that area. On the dirt Reimer shows fluid footwork with range to both sides and an understanding of angles and hops. Gets great reads off the bat allowing himself to get in perfect position to make plays. Shows excellent body control when attacking balls which funnels out front before using his quick hands and clean exchanges to get rid of the ball in a hurry with accuracy. Has present arm strength. On the mound Reimer shows a loose, clean compact arm action through to a high ¾ slot. His long arms assist in his out front release from his drop-and-drive delivery. Does a good job of hiding the ball with a high leg kick and slight back turn. Shows late, sharp spin on the breaking ball that he keeps at or below the knees with it's 2/8 shape. Pitch has plus potential. Fastball shows hints of run to the arm side and has life as it enters the hitting zone. Pitch is heavy and appears faster than registered velocity because of the deceptiveness of his delivery. Pitches jump out of his hand and get on hitters in a hurry.
Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-6, 140-pounds, long, lean, medium frame with present wiry strength throughout the body. Rodriguez shows an upright, open stance with high hands. Rocks weight back with a high leg kick before using his explosive lower half and quick hands to drive the barrel into the ball. Shows present bat speed and a knack for barreling balls. Has a presence about him in the box. Flashed some indications of future power with line drives to the gaps including a one-hopper off the left center field fence. Defensively he shows rhythmic movements with his footwork, range, and overall athleticism. Gathers ball out front and has fast, clean exchanges with enough arm strength to make accurate throws from multiple angles. On the mound he oozes projection. Starts tall and uses a high leg lift before driving down the mound. Arm is quick-to-fast with easy effort. Fastball is heavy with some life as it enters the zone. Has excellent command of the pitch to all quadrants of the strike zone. Curveball shows short, quick break late with some down action. Pitch really projects as he not only has command of it, but he keeps it down in the zone. Throws fastball and curveball from same slot and arm speed. Changeup shows downward sinking action from same slot. While he didn't flash the command of it that he did with other pitches, the changeup projects to be a future out pitch.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Senior Games (Invite Only) | CA | 10/13 | JSerra High School |
Los Angeles Open | CA | 10/20 | Maverick Field |
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Scouting Report
9/23/18 - Rising Stars Showcase - Five-foot-10, 150-pounds medium/large frame with long limbs and noticeable strength in the lower half and wiry strength in upper half. At the plate Borges shows a consistent barrel path from an upright, slightly open stance. Keeps quick hands inside the ball and shows some present bat speed. Drops his hands into launch position and drives back hip into ball. Shows to be a hitter for average while using all fields. Defensively he shows a rhythmic athleticism when approaching balls. Range to both sides is fair and arm is capable of making throws from multiple angles. Arm strength is average but projects with continued physical maturation. Backhand is true. Footwork can get choppy getting to the ball, but manages to have them in proper position when fielding the ball. Funnels balls out front and shows clean/quick exchanges.