Prep Baseball Report

Future Games: Position Player Recap


Brett Harrison
Nevada Scouting Director

The Future Games is one-of-a-kind event that features the best uncommitted 2023-2024 prospects from our 40-plus state coverage area and Canada with over 300 college coaches attending the premier recruiting event of the summer. Players in attendance received maximum visibility from college coaches all over the country, in addition to being promoted through the Prep Baseball Report multimedia platforms. 

The Nevada group has featured an exciting group prospects in each of its two previous year attending the event including 2021 MLB Draft Picks: Tanner McDougal (5th Rd., Chicago White Sox), Jace Avina (14th Rd., Milwaukee Brewers) and Elie Kligman (20th Rd., Washington Nationals). In a couple years, we may be looking back at this group and see a similar fate as this may have been then deepest group to represent the Silver State at the Future Games.

In the three games played, Team Nevada proved they belonged after posting 11 hits with seven runs crossing the plate behind a quality start from 2023, Seth Graham-Pippin, and scoreless relief appearances by fellow 2023's, Kody Bialas and Gunnar Myro. Game 2 vs. Pacific Northwest was highlighted by 2023, Kaden Soder's eight strike performance over his four innings of work, almost completing an immaculate inning as he struck out three batters in just ten pitches. Game 3 vs. Arizona the bats came back to life as 2023's, Gunnar Myro, Ty Silva and Brandon Swanson, all racking up multiple hits with Nevada's top ranked 2024, Ty Southisene, being a catalyst from the team at the top of the order with three quality at bats including a single laced back up the middle to start the game. 

Today, we highlight the standout performances from each game of the 2021 PBR Future Games.

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Michael Brown - Shadow Ridge / 2023

It took Brownie no time at all to get settled in for Team Nevada as he lead off Game 1 vs. California with a single though the four hole with a another single in his third at-bat, eventually scoring both times as well. Over the three games, his advanced IQ at the plate come through as he he posted a .333 batting average with a .556 on-base percentage, showing that he routinely produces quality at-bats. Defensively, he posted a perfect weekend with excellent feel for both the middle infield position with lateral range and quality footwork that helped him stay fluid through each play. Though he currently stands at 5-foot-7, 125 pounds, he plays much bigger than that with confident actions throughout his game. He projects to add significant size over the next years with his power and arm strength expected to parallel those physical gains. Brown is a player that has drummed up some serious excitement over the past few months and amplified that at the 2021 PBR Future Games.

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Nick Yu - Centennial / 2024

Yu came into the Future Games as an intriguing prospect that plays with bounce and he did just that during his three games for Team Nevada. Standing at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, he understands how to utilize his present strength in his compact frame, producing a line drive filled round during his batting practice session then continuing that during the game play portion. His ability to use the big part of the yard shows his understanding of his game with power expected to come over the next few years. He worked primarily behind the plate for Team Nevada, but his athleticism should allow him to transition to any spot with confidence. 

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Maddox Riske - Bishop Gorman / 2024

Potentially improving his stock the most at the Future Games was Maddox Riske. The 2024 middle infielder had no trouble finding the barrel in each of the three game for Team Nevada, coming up with quality at-bat after quality at-bat. His fearless approach at the plate was apparent early as he a clutch double early in Game 1 vs. California, bringing in a run and eventually scoring himself to give Team Nevada an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. Defensively, he held his own in each spot of the defensive rotation of third base, shortstop and second base with his athletic, fluid actions coming through on each defensive play. Maddox is in the mix at top of the 2024 class rankings and could be one of the most sought after prospect in the incoming sophomore class heading in to the 2022 high school season.

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Sam Kane - Bishop Manogue / 2023

The Swiss Army Knife type player with the present athleticism to hold down just about any spot on the field. He settled in in Game 3 vs. Arizona with a key double to right field that brought in a run to extend the Team Nevada lead. Kane is a intriguing player with some present power, especially to the pull side with the help of his 24.80 mph Hand Speed tracked by Blast Motion that set him near the top of all of the Team Nevada hitters. His two-way capabilities could both potentially translate to the next level and after a huge summer for the Reno Athletics, he should have another big year both at the plate and on the mound for the Miners. 

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Christian Gross - Palo Verde / 2024

One of Nevada's top ranked 2024's, Gross has all the makings of a legitimate prospect. His advanced feel at the plate translated from an exceptional batting practice round during the West Region Workout to his in-game performance, especially in Game 1 vs. California where he went 2 for 3 with an RBI. He complimented his .333 batting average with a clean defensive performance where he showcases his ability to not only hold down both middle infield positions, but third base and corner outfield positions as well. Gross will be a very interesting follow over the next few years and could be player that has his breakout high school season this year and solidify himself among the best 2024 prospects the state has to offer.

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Connor Apeceche - Green Valley / 2024

Apeceche is a physical 2024 that has seen his game behind the plate improve significantly over the past year. Physical development has helped his game on both sides of the ball with his ability to receive velocity improving with his increase hand and forearm strength as well as his additional strength in his lower half contributing to his present power at the plate. Along with his receiving, he arm strength has continued to trend in the right direction as well and he made it known as he gunned down a pair of baserunner in back to back innings to get Team Nevada out of two potentially big innings. 

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Gunnar Myro - Bishop Gorman / 2023

After a breakout high school season, Myro continued his impressive ways with an impressive performance on both sides of the ball at the 2021 PBR Future Games. Widely known for his ability to barrel up the baseball and not get cheated in any plate appearance, he posted one of the top offensive performances of the event for Team Nevada, starting with his batting practice session during the West Region Workout where he was one of the few players in the region to leave the yard multiple times as he posted a 96.26 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan. He continue to swing it during the game play portion of the event posting at least one hit in each of the games with an impressive .429 average against some of the west regions' top arms still on the board. Myro came into the Future Games with a ton of excitement around him and he proved himself worthy of that excitement with his performance on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball as well as on the mound and event behind the plate.  

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Ty Silva - Shadow Ridge / 2023

Silva has had massive summer leading up to the Future Games and continued that success at the premier event of the summer against the top Uncommitted players in his class. The rising 2023 had arguably the most impactful overall performance not only earning Dick's Sporting Goods Player of the Game with his two for three performance in Game 1 vs. California with two 99+ mph Exit Velocities, but also being placed on the All Future Games Team after posting a .500 average over his three games played. His two triples and four RBI's lead Team Nevada as well as his stellar batting practice session where he posted a team best 99.73 mph Exit Velocity via TrackMan. Though he may project as a corner outfield type, especially as he continues to add physical strength, he had not issue holding down the centerfield position, showing off a quality first step and the ability to range to both gaps with confident actions. Silva will be an exciting follow for the next two years and could be one of the next 2023 prospect off the board in Nevada.

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Brandon Swanson - Faith Lutheran / 2023

Another rising prospect in Nevada's 2023 class is Brandon Swanson, after a successful sophomore season at Faith Lutheran and a loud summer for LVR, he continued to show his ability at the plate by hitting .375 including a two for three day at the plate against an impressive Arizona pitching rotation. He showed exceptional feel to all field during not only the batting practice session, but in game as well with most of his hits coming as line drives to right field or right-centerfield. He also played a perfect first base over the three games with a few critical picks on throw across the diamond the gave the infielders a ton of confidence to make any plays that came their way. Swanson he seen his game mirror his physical development over the past year with his power numbers continuing to rise with much more expected to come. 

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Easton Shelton - Faith Lutheran / 2023

Already standing at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Shelton already has a good understanding of how to use his physicality on the offensive side of the ball proven by his 100+ mph TrackMan Exit Velocities in previous PBR events and continued to produce impressive numbers at the 2021 PBR Future Games. Though he was dealing with a slight injury heading into the event, it didn't slow down his offensive performance with the highest Average Exit Velocity for Team Nevada during the West Region Workout at 89.11 mph via TrackMan, proving he has the ability to routinely find the barrel. Shelton came into the Future Games as one of the top power bats in Nevada's 2023 class and continued to prove just that throughout the weekend. 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
PBR West Coast Games (Nevada Invite) NV 08/13 UNLV & College of Southern Nevada
Northern Nevada Prospect Open NV 08/21 Bishop Manogue

 

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