Prep Baseball Report

Updated Colorado 2016 rankings




John Cackowski
State Director 

In the fall of 2014 PBR Colorado released their first 2015, 2016, and 2017 rankings. After scouting numerous games this spring, summer, and fall and putting together three awesome events with the Preseason All-State Event, the Junior Sunbelt Classic Tryout, and our Unsigned Senior Games where each event had the best 2016 players in the state participating, we have jumped our 2016 rankings from 125 to 150. This is our first ranking update since July of 2015. Our next update will be after our Preseason All-State event on February 28th, 2016.

Back at No.1 is RHP and North Carolina Commit Bo Weiss of Regis Jesuit HS. Weiss also plays for Slammers in the summer and fall.   Weiss has had a recent run of domination since last July. His fastball has increased to a consistency of 92 mph, and recently has touched 94 in the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter, FL. Weiss has been showing arm-side life at times. His curveball was mostly soft, sitting in the low 70s, but it flashed sharpness and good 11/5 shape at 73. Weiss’ best secondary pitch has been his changeup, which he shows good feel for. It features arm-side run and looked like a fastball out of his hand, sitting at 80-81. Weiss has cleaned some mechanics up, and looks to be a force on the mound in Colorado this spring.


Moving down to No. 2 in the 2016 class, and No. 28 overall is Paul Tillotson of Lewis Palmer High School, and also plays for Slammers Baseball in the summer and fall. Tillotson is committed to Nebraska, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher was a one man wrecking crew in 2015.  Tillotson displays a smooth tall and fall motion with level shoulders and square athletic landing throwing off two feet and repeats delivery time after time.  Arm is long and loose, lightning quick from an over the top slot.  Easy effort produces fastballs from 90-91 MPH with hard run late in the zone.  Command is excellent in the bottom half of the zone.  Has a 68-72 MPH curve with 11/5 action and sharp late movement down in the zone.  Split Change is 74-75 MPH with good sink down in the zone.

Coming in at No 3. in our Rankings is Jake Eissler of ThunderRidge and Texas Christian Commit. Eissler also plays for Slammers Baseball in the summer. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B had a strong showing at the Junior Sunbelt Classic pitching for Team Colorado, with his fastball reaching 90 mph on multiple occasions. Eissler made the Junior Sunbelt All-Tournament Team. Eissler is a strong, solid prospect. During the tryouts for the team, Eissler registered a 7.21 60 time. At the plate, the right-handed hitter produces solid contact. He uses a smooth load, short stride, and explosive lower half.  90 MPH exit velocity, top 3 at the tryout.  Shows good pull power and good control to the opposite field gap. Not much movement in swing. Lets hands do the work. Did not pitch at the tryout. From third moves towards ball well, fields out in front. Had highest position velocity at the tryout at 93 mph which could be one of the top corner velos in the country. 

Coming in at No. 4 in our rankings is Maverick Handley of Mullen HS and Stanford commit. Handley also plays for Slammers Baseball in the summer and fall. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounds, right-handed hitting catcher continues to impress us with very good skills. In the spring Handley anchored the Mustangs lineup hitting 3 or 4 hole, showing explosive bat speed in the spring. We saw Handley at our Centennial Games Tournament and the senior moved well behind the plate and handles a high powered pitching staff on daily basis in the summer.  Handley displayed a 1.92 and 1.94 pop-time in each of the games we saw him. Handley shows he's a team player. If he hits 2-hole he will get on base. If he hits clean-up he will try to drive in runs.

Joining the Top Ten for the first time from No. 11 to No. 7 is RHP/1B and Clemson commit Travis Marr.  Marr had a good fall, flashing a fastball that touched the low 90s, but sat 87-89 in Jupiter. He stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and works from a 3/4 arm slot. He pitches aggressively and works both sides of the plate well. His fastball has arm-side run. His curveball has tight, late break and his changeup is deceiving has he maintains the same arm action as his fastball.

 

Enough Reading about them to see the list click here. 

Here is a sneak peak at the top 10 

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Bo Weiss   Regis Jesuit 2016 RHP North Carolina
2
Paul Tillotson CO Lewis Palmer
2016 RHP/OF Nebraska
3
Jake Eissler CO ThunderRidge 2016 RHP TCU
4
Maverick Handley CO Mullen
2016 C
Stanford
5 Quin Cotton
CO Regis Jesuit
2016 OF
Grand Canyon
6 Preston Snavely CO Fort Collins 2016 RHP Wichita State
7 Travis Marr
CO Regis Jesuit 2016 RHP/1B Clemson
8 Wyatt Featherston CO Green Mountain
2016 OF
Western Kentucky
9 Nate Sweeney CO Cherry Creek
2016 RHP Arizona
10 Tommy Gillman CO Columbine 2016 SS
Texas AM

To see Prep Baseball Report Overall Rankings click here