HUNTSVILLE, TX - The Houston Top Prospects was loaded with talent as nearly 100 players in the 2019 grad classes converged on Sam Houston State University. College coaches got to see a little bit of everything on Tuesday, with players that stood out from every position. We will be rolling out content in the coming weeks, for now, here is a quick glimpse of what we saw from a strong group.

Let’s start with speed...27 total players ran a sub-7 60-yard dash, with the fastest time of the day being Oklahoma State commit, OF J.T. Mounce (Cypress Christian) running a 6.47 (laser timed). Mounce also threw 89 from the outfield, and has the look of a top of the order hitter once he gets to the Big 12. More 60 times will post with our stats story tomorrow. Speaking of the Big 12, TCU commit, LHH/OF Austin Plante (Lake Travis HS) has real strength at the plate with an exit velocity of 97 mph (off the tee), but there is also a ton of athleticism and upside in his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame as he ran a 6.98 60-yard dash. Wichita State commit, SS Austin Roccaforte (Tomball Memorial HS), is super quick-twitch on the infield and has the look of a high level defender with smooth actions and a strong arm (88 mph). He also ran a 6.82 60-yard dash.

+ Uncommitted RHP Stone Simmons (Kinkaid HS) stands 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, with a strong, projectable frame. The right-hander made the most of his mound time on Tuesday, pumpin strikes at 88-90, while mixing in a 78-79 mph slider, and a 79 mph changeup. The arm works well from a high-¾ slot and Simmons has the look of an arm with more in the tank. Simmons is a high academic student with a 3.7 GPA and a 31 ACT.

 + Uncommitted SS/RHP Michael Gresham (Boerne-Champion HS) is still one of the top two-way players on the board in the ‘19 class. Gresham has a bazooka across the infield at 92 mph, registered an exit velocity of 103 during BP, launching balls to the pullside gap. At the end of the day, he jumped on the mound and sat 88-90 with a quick arm stroke from a high-¾ slot. Can really spin his breaking ball at 74-76 with 11/5 break and sharp depth, adding in the changeup at 75-77.

+ Uncommitted RHP/OF Ryan Bogusz (Lonestar HS) will most likely pitch at the next level because of his wiry, projectable frame 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Working from a ¾ slot, the right-hander repeats his delivery with relative ease down the mound, and pumps strikes at 86-88. Good feel for his breaking ball at 72-74 with 10/4 shape and good depth. Also shows feel for a 74-76 mph changeup. Combining the upside and feel for his offspeed pitches, Bogusz is likely to get multiple D1 offers in the near future. College recruiters are always looking for athletic arms, so for good measure, Bogusz ran a 6.89 60-yard dash, registered an exit velocity of 88 mph during BP, and threw 88 from the outfield. In addition, the rising senior started at SS for Lonestar HS, and plays the outfield for Academy Select.

+ OF Benjamin Holbert (College Station HS) appears taller than his long-limbed, athletic, 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, with more room to grow and add strength as he continues to develop. There an easy athleticism to Holbert’s game as the right-handed hitter has a polished swing and creates a lot of leverage. He hammered balls to the gaps during BP with an exit velocity of 93 mph (off the bat), including launching one of the few home runs of the day to left field. Athletic player in the outfield, threw 93 mph to the dish, and ran a 6.79 60-yard dash. It’s hard to imagine Holbert being on the market much longer.

+ Uncommitted RHP Jack Granack (Legacy Prep Christian) was mostly 87-88, but did pop one fastball at 90 mph. Spun a 12/6 curveball at 69-70, and his changeup was 77-79 mph. Athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, another high academic kid with a 3.9 GPA (4.0 Scale) and 1160 SAT. Granack is already getting interest from several D1 schools, including one high-academic institution.

+ The amount of talent that continues to roll out of Cypress Ranch HS is astounding, including relatively unknown RHP Ryan Peters, who has a wiry, still developing frame at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Peters worked his fastball at 85-86 mph, threw his breaking ball at 72-73, and mixed in a changeup at 77-78. The rising senior has plenty of room to add strength as he continues to develop, but also made multiple picks at first base during the infield workout.

+ Uncommitted RHP Christian Huerta (Klein Oak HS) has a long, smooth arm stroke from a ¾ slot. His fastball was 85-87, and threw his slider at 76-78 with still developing shape for a strike.

+ Uncommitted LHP/1B Cole Alexander (Liberty Hill HS) has a projectable, strong frame at 6-6, 225-pounds. The left-handed hitter posted an exit velocity of 93 mph (off the tee), made loud contact during BP, strong throws across the infield from 1B, and ran a 7.1 60-yard dash. The left-hander also threw at the end of the day, sitting 81-82 with a 69-70 mph curveball, and a 72-73 mph changeup. High academic student with a 4.0 and a 1250 SAT.

+ We have seen uncommitted SS Michael Cervantes (Clear Springs HS) multiple times in both the showcase and game setting. Cervantes has easy actions at SS, to go with solid footwork, clean exchange, and a strong (87 mph) accurate arm. He can play all three infield positions, ran a 7.0 60-yard dash, and handles the bat well with a balanced setup, quick hands, and great barrel awareness.

+ SS Dylan Johnson (Johnson HS) ran a 6.89 60-yard dash, posted an exit velocity during BP of 95 mph, and showed soft hands at shortstop while throwing 87 across the diamond.

+ SS Kade Sanchez (Caldwell HS) can really defend and will be a great sign no matter where he chooses to go to school. The footwork is outstanding, to go along with soft hands and plenty of arm strength (88 mph). The ball sticks in his glove, and he plays a lot faster than his 60-yard dash time of 7.33. There is a feel for the game that allows him to stand out, and when the ball is hit to shortstop, there is an out at first base.

+ OF Jacob Wilson (George Ranch HS) may have a smaller frame at 5-foot-6, 135-pounds, but he has lighting running through his veins and packs a punch at the plate. Wilson ran a 6.74 60-yard dash, threw 87 mph from the OF, and registered an exit velocity of 85 mph (off the tee). At the plate, Wilson has loose hands and easy rhythm, working with a balanced leg kick allows him to be on the barrel during practice and delivers the head with a loose finish.

+ SS Blane Romero (Oak Ridge HS) has a loose hack and easy rhythm at the plate, his barrel stays in the zone for a long time and he laced balls from gap to gap during BP with a top exit velocity of 89 mph. Romero is an all around athletic player with somewhat flashy actions, quick footwork, clean exchange, and his arm works well from different slots with a top velocity of 84 mph across the infield. Ran a 6.86 60-yard dash.

+ RHP Parker Bigham (Barbers Hill HS) has a projectable pitchers frame at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. The right-hander sat 85-87, and spun a curveball at 70-72, and a changeup at 77.

+ Really like the way 3B Miguel Martinez (Davis HS) goes about his business, carries himself with confidence and has natural actions at third base to go with an accurate arm that works from different angles and can play on the run. Posted an exit velocity of 87 mph (off the tee).

+ LHP Jacob Miles Clack (Seven Lakes HS) was another strike thrower in attendance. Clack stands 6-foot, 170-pounds, working from a high slot with a short arm stroke his fastball was 82-85 mph. Curveball showed good depth and rotation at 71-73 mph with 1/7 break, and he also mixed in a 77-78 mph changeup.

+ RHP/SS Colton Eilers (Smithson Valley HS) has an athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Did everything well on Tuesday, ran a 7.17 60-yard dash, registered an exit velocity of 90 mph, and threw 84 from the outfield. On the mound, the right-hander works from an over the top slot with his fastball sitting 84-86 mph. Throws a 12/6 curveball at 74, and a changeup at 74-76 mph.

+ Uncommitted LHH/C Luke Ely (Franklin HS) showed pull side gap power during BP with a smooth stroke and an exit velocity of 95 mph (off the tee). Ely also ran a 7.27 60-yard dash, made accurate throws to second base with a top velocity of 80 mph and pop times of 1.93-2.07. Ely can really get the ball in and out of his glove and has a clean arm stroke.

+ Uncommitted C Joey Crisci (Allen HS) has a super clean exchange and his arm works really well behind the dish with an easy arm stroke. He is one of the most accurate throwers in the 2019 class, posting pop times of 1.92, 2.0, 2.01, 2.08, and 2.13.

+ Uncommitted C Mason Tomchesson (Klein Collins HS) has a loose hack at the plate, ran a 7.12 60-yard dash, and threw strikes to second base with pop times of 2.0, 2.05, 2.07, 2.08, and 2.09.

+ C/3B Carlos Abello (Kinkaid HS) can do a little bit of everything - from playing third base - to catching. But it is the left-handed swing that adds to the intrigue from a recruiting standpoint, as he has a smooth, balanced swing with gap power and an exit velocity of 94 mph (off the tee). He was on the barrel during BP and the ball jumps off his bat.

+ C/3B Clay Sowell (Kingwood Park HS) showed a ton of carry on his throws to second base with a top velocity of 78 mph, and pop times of 2.03, 2.11, 2.04, 2.12, and 2.03.

+ SS Keagan Vance (Clear Lake HS) has polished actions on defense and can really play catch on the infield. Quick exchange on double play ball, can throw from different slots and has a clean arm across the infield. The right-handed hitter has a balanced swing with quick hands and an exit velocity of 88 during BP.

+ SS Zachary Williams (College Station HS) posted an exit velocity of 89 mph (off the tee) and his arm really works across the infield with a top velocity of 88 mph.

+ OF/RHP Dillon Pawlik (Ridge Point HS) started the day with a 6.85 60-yard dash, and took a solid round of batting practice. The right-handed hitter has a short, direct path to contact, and the ball jumps off his bat with a top exit velocity of 88 mph (on the field), and he threw 89 from the outfield.

+ There is plenty to like about C/RHP Daniel Shafer (Willis HS), besides the fact that he took a great round of BP (with work gloves on) #bluecollar. His swing works well with an athletic setup, an easy leg kick to generate leverage, and good barrel awareness with a top exit velocity of 87 mph (on the field). On throws to second base, the ball has the extra giddy-up that recruiters love to see and the ball jumps out of his hand even though he has a longer arm swing. His pop times were 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, and 2.10, but there may also be a future on the mound. His arm translates into a fastball velocity of 82-85 with some arm side run. CB was 74-75, SL 79-81, and CH 79-80.

+ C/3B Dylan Butcher (C.E. King HS) is a strong framed right-handed hitting catcher at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. Butcher has pull side power at the plate, to go with quick hands and a top exit velocity of 89 mph. His best pop time was a 1.89, with the others coming in at 2.08, 2.08, 2.15 and 2.25.

+ OF Tommy Ivey (Kingwood Park HS) continues to impress as an all around athletic outfielder. Ivery started the day with a 6.97 60-yard dash, then took an outstanding round of batting practice, working with an aggressive hack and an athletic leg kick, Ivey is on time, on the barrel, and delivers the head with authority (89 exit velocity off the tee). Not to mention he threw 88 from the outfield.

+ SS River Orsak (Barber Hill HS) is a quick twitch middle infielder that ran a 6.75 60-yard dash and showed solid actions at shortstop with a clean, accurate arm that works well from different slots. The right-handed hitter has a flat swing, made strong contact with an exit velocity 88 mph (off the tee).

+ 2B/SS Cord Filipp (Sweeny HS) moves with silky-smooth actions on the infield and his arm works really well from multiple angles with a top velocity of 83 mph, and he ran a 6.85 60-yard dash.

+ This was our second time seeing 2B Gavin Baird (Angleton HS) in the past two days and he has the look of a coveted left-handed hitter at the next level. Ultra-quick hands at the plate, he stays balanced throughout his swing, but attacks the ball with aggression and violence, making hard contact during BP with an exit velocity of 86 mph (off the tee).

+ Rarely do we have a player run the 60 twice at an event (unless they trip, stumble or fall), but OF Riley Hicks (Frisco Centennial HS) said without a doubt he would beat his first time of 6.59 so I said “what the heck”. Just a minute later, Hicks posted a 6.49 60 time. Got to love the confidence.

+ Profile pics and stats will post in the next couple of days.
+ Full STATS will release tomorrow morning.
+ Video should post in the next week, and email reminders will be sent to inform families how to view videos. 

FULL ROSTER

 

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