Prep Baseball Report

Northern Nevada Prospect Open: Standout Performances


Brett Harrison
Nevada Scouting Director

The Northern Nevada Prospect Open was an opportunity for players from all over Northern Nevada to show off improvements made during the summer and increase their recruiting stock as we head into a crucial Fall season. This event featured a talented crop of players that should continue to generate interest over the next year and was one of the final events before the Fall PBR Player Ranking Updates are announced. 

Players were put through a Pro-Style Workout, which consisted of a Laser Time 60 Yard Dash, a TrackMan and Blast Motion analyzed Batting Practice session, Catcher Evaluations that included Pop Times, Velocity, Receiving and Blocking, Outfield Evaluations and Infield Evaluations. 

Full Northern Nevada Prospect Open Statistical Leaderboard - HERE

Next, we highlight the overall standouts performances from the Northern Nevada Prospect Open.

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Xavier Richards - 2022 / Reno

The Under the Radar right hander saw his stock rise significantly over the weekend with his performance on the mound. Richards worked exclusively out of the stretch during the pitcher evaluation portion of the event where he showcased an intriguing three pitch mix that consisted of a fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball showed life out of the hand, topping out at 88.18 mph with some downhill action while sitting in the 83-88 mph range. He throws a tight slider that featured some late action, coming out with similar arm speed and plane as his fastball. His changeup flashed some sink and fade that he showed feel for throughout his bullpen session that could potentially be a plus pitch down the road as he continues to develop consistent command. This a prospect who was a relative unknown prior to the Northern Nevada Prospect Update and has now put himself on the radar.

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Luke Metzker - 2022 / Bishop Manogue

After his standout two-way performance at the inaugural West Coast Games, Metzker piggy backed that effort with another quality performance at the Northern Nevada Prospect Open. He found himself at or near the top of every statistical category beginning with his 6.86 Laser Timed 60, followed by a pair of event bests 93.83 mph TrackMan Exit Velocities and an 87 mph Infield Velocity. His athleticism shines on the defensive side of the ball with range to both sides and the footwork to keep himself fluid through the process. On the mound, he topped out at 86.95 mph via TrackMan with his loose, quick arm action keeping him in the 84-87 mph range throughout his bullpen. He complimented his fastball with an above average breaking ball the has 11/5 shape with bite that he throws with a ton of confidence, proven at the West Coast Games. His changeup sat in the 70-74 mph range with some arm side fade and sink and has continued to show promise as a quality pitch. Metzker projects well on both sides of the ball with his overall game trending the right direction with more to come as he continues to add size and strength. 

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Cal Scolari - 2023 / Bishop Manogue

The Team Nevada representative at the 2021 PBR Future Games continued to prove why is arguably the top arm out of Northern Nevada in the 2023 class. After posting an event and personal best 90 mph Outfield Velocity, the long, lean righty sat 83-85 mph via TrackMan while topping out at 85.71 mph with flashes of both arm side life as well as some cut. He paired it with an improving slider that ranged from 71-78 mph with some tighter action as the velocity increased. Scolari is a intriguing prospect that projects well on the mound with his short, quick arm action to go with his developing 6-foot-3, 160 pound frame. His progression on the mound should parallel his physical gains made over the next year and we will be following along closely as a player whose stock has and will continue to rise.

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Harvey Smerdon - 2024 / Reno

The 2024 middle infielder out of Reno HS is going to be a player to keep on your radar over the next couple years. Smerdon produced one of the top defensive performances  that we only expect to get better as he continues to add size and strength to go with his present easy, fluid defensive actions at shortstop. Offensively, he produced a line drive filled round to the big part of the yard with more power expected to come as he continues to develop physically. This a player to keep an eye on with the PBR Player Rankings coming out soon as his stock has continued to rise over the past year and projecting to continue on that trend heading into the 2022 prep season. 

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Thomas Young - 2024 / Douglas

Young is an athletic two-way prospect with quality actions on both sides of the ball that should see his stock rising in the 2024 class. The Douglas HS product found himself near the top of a number of statistical categories, running an event best 6.85 Laser Timed 60. Defensively, he showcases athletic actions through the ball with his feet working well to get him online with his target, working through the ball with confidence. At the plate, his added physical strength was obvious with a 10+ mph increase in his Exit Velocity from earlier this year as he lived gap to gap throughout his round with some flashes of pull side power potential. Young is another player to keep on your radar over the next couple years as he continues to progress his game.

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Sam Kane - 2023 / Bishop Manogue 

The Bishop Manogue product continues to have a productive summer after repressing Nevada at the 2021 PBR Future Games, following it up with an excellent overall performance at the Northern Nevada Prospect Open. His day got started by running one of the events top Laser Timed 60's at 6.86, followed by an impressive batting practice session that showcased his power potential to the pull side turning into present power while driving the ball to the big part of the yard throughout his round. The Swiss-Army Knife type player then showcased his clean defensive action in both the outfield and infield, earning one of the top Outfield Velocities at 87 mph to go with it. Kane is a "yes sir" type player with the athletic ability to hold down any spot in the field that would fit well at any program.

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Cole Benefiel - 2024 / Galena

Benefiel's game continues to trend in the right direction with improvements in almost every statistical category at the Northern Nevada Prospect Open. After getting his day started with a loud round of batting practice that saw him drive the ball mostly back to the middle of the yard with as simple, compact stroke. He has added noticeable physical strength over the past six months and the benefits were present on both sides of the ball, especial on the defensive side. His receiving improvements have paralleled his additional strength in his hands and forearms to go with some flexibility in his set up, allowing him to set up with a quality target towards the bottom of the zone. The Galena product finished his day by posting one of the top Pop Times at a PBR Verified 1.95 with each throw coming in around the bag. 

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Takeo Cervantez - 2024 / Bishop Manogue 

The Bishop Manogue sophomore showcased his athletic actions on both sides of the ball at the Northern Nevada Prospect Open. His recent physical development, growing two inches and adding 15 pounds, has translated to significant improvements throughout his game, starting with his Laser Timed 60 that improved by over half a second in just over a years time, but that is where he was getting started. He shined on the defensive side the ball, posting an event best 1.94 Pop Time with improvements not only in his footwork behind the plate, but in his arm strength as well where he earned another event best 78 mph Catching Velocity. Cervantez is another young prospect for the Miners that we will be following closely in the coming years. 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Nevada Fall Underclass Showcase NV 09/26 College of Southern Nevada

 

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