With the Summer season in full swing, our staff was able to gather some of the best 2023 teams from across the state of Texas and one from Louisiana to battle it out for the PBR Texas Summer championships. We will go through some of the top prospects that stood out in multiple parts 

+ FINAL RESULTS

+ Part 1

 

Lonestar 17u Pena

+ Hudson Hamilton - 2023 - RHP - Grand Oaks - Texas Commit

The strongly built right handed pitcher has continued to improve and impress each time we get to see him. Hamilton, a Texas commit, showed off one of the more dominant fastballs in the state as he sat 88-92 mph with elite spin rates up to 2700, but sitting more comfortably in the 2500-2600 RPM range. The fastball will show slight cut at times but was able to garner multiple swings and misses in the zone. The breaking ball has shown great improvement with more power curveball shape but shows depth and ability to throw it for strikes. It came in at 79-82 mph and showed promise to be a quality secondary pitch to go along with the fastball. Hamilton has more control versus command but there is no reason to think he wont continue to develop little by little and become a future power right handed arm for the Longhorns. 

 

+ Aidan Coleman - 2023 - RHP - SA Reagan - Pitt Commit

Coleman might have thrown the most dominant inning in his first inning of the semi final game against Twelve. The Pitt commit came out and commanded his fastball to all four quadrants of the zone at 90-92 mph in the first inning punching out all three hitters on just fastballs.  Coleman settled in more in the 86-90 mph range as the game went on but the fastball jumped out of the hand and gave hitters fits. The athletic right hander will also mix in a curveball at 73-77 mph and a changeup at 80 mph. At times the slots will change on the offspeed pitches but the arm speed doesnt and they will only continue to improve over time. The future game alum was quite impressive in his outing and we look forward to seeing continue to develop over the next year. 

 

+ Cole Johnson - 2023 - 1B - Lake Travis - Oklahoma State Commit

The imposing first baseman has as much raw power as anyone in the class. Johnson hit balls hard all high school season and has continued to do so this summer. Johnson recorded multiple extra base hits over the weekend and continuously hit balls hard. The Oklahoma State commit has a knack for coming up big when the situation calls for it, and he did so in pool play down with a bases clearing double that banged off the wall into a stiff wind. There is a lot to like about the bat and power potential from the strong athletic first baseman. 

+ OJ Gonzalez - 2023 - RHP - Lake Travis - Uncommitted

Gonzalez was one of the more intriguing uncommitted players in the tournament for Lonestar Pena. Gonzalez can do a little bit of everything on the diamond but was dominant on the mound during his pool play outing. Gonzalez is coming off one of the better post season stretches for a pitcher, in which he seemed to pitch multiple times in each round of the playoffs for Lake Travis and he carried it right over into the summer season. Gonzalez will pitch from 85-89 mph with control over command but he fills the zone up with the fastball and forces the action of the at bat. The breaking ball is the pitch he will put hitters away with as it shows depth and is firm at 75-78 mph showing power curveball shape. Gonzalez has the right makeup and demeanor to continue to develop into a starting arm at the next level. 

+ Aiden Bennett - 2023 - MIF - Westlake - Uncommitted

Bennett is one of those guys that you have to see multiple times to appreciate what he does on the field. The tools don't jump of the page and make you say wow, but he continuously gets the job done at SS for Westlake and for Lonestar Pena. The uncommitted middle infielder plays with a high baseball IQ, moves well in both directions and makes all the plays he is supposed to make and the occasional great play. In the box, Bennett has more gap to gap power right now and there is more to come as he continues to add strength to his frame. He is one year removed from elbow surgery and has continued to get better each time we see him play. Bennett should be one to follow the rest of the summer and into the fall as he is still scratching the surface of who he will become as a final product. 

 

+ Barrett Johnson - 2023 - INF/RHP - SA Johnson - Uncommitted

Johnson has continued to impress our staff each and every time we get to see him play. Johnson does a little bit of everything and does it all exceptionally well. Playing 3B most of the weekend, he showed he can come in on the ball as well as move in both directions with quality footwork and soft hands around the ball. Johnson has the arm to stay on the left side but I have no doubt he could probably play every position on the field if he was asked to. Johnson is just one of those guys you want on your team and will make an impact right away in some form or fashion. 

 

+ Julius Ramirez - 2023 - 1B - PSJA - Uncommitted

Ramirez can flat out hit. The imposing right handed hitter continuously hit balls hard over the weekend. The uncommitted 1B/DH is not just a big body in the box with raw power, he understands where his barrel is at all times and drove balls to all fields. He has power and feel for hitting and will only continue to develop into a future middle order bat at the next level. 

 

 

+ Louie Alonzo - 2023 - RHP/UTL - Cedar Park - Uncommitted

Alonzo showed very well in his outing in the PBR Texas Summer Championships. Alonzo filled up the zone with multiple pitches for strikes and attacked hitters. The fastball worked 85-87 mph over the entire outing showing some arm side action and ability to get weak contact. The breaking ball worked from 71-73 mph showing curveball shape with some depth, but definitely room for improvement as he continues to throw it harder and match the feel he has for the fastball. The athletic right hander is another one that can play all over the field and is a ball player at heart, but on the mound he stood out over the weekend. 

+ AJ Herrera - 2023 - C - Central Catholic - Uncommitted

The undersized catcher can really defend behind the dish. Herrera shows that by handling some of the best arms in the state in the 2023 class daily. The uncommitted backstop communicates well on the field, receives the ball with a quiet body and strong wrists, blocks in both directions, and throws accurately at a 2.15-2.2 clip in game. Herrera does all the little things right and will only make the pitching staff better wherever he winds up at the next level.

 

+ Brennan Greer - 2023 - INF/RHP - SA Reagan - Uncommitted

Fresh off an impressive outing at the Top Prospects games at TCU, Greer followed that up with another impressive outing over the weekend at the tournament. Greer has a knack for filling up the zone and attacking hitters with multiple pitches for strikes in any count. The uncommitted right hander attacked with a natural sinking FB at 86-89 mph and up to 90 mph on the day. The breaking ball showed much improved shape and turned more into a cutter/slider at 80-82 mph. The cutter was a new pitch to our staff but it showed great promise when it was right and paired well with his sinker. The two pitch mix should allow him to stay off the fat of the bat and go deep into games as he continues to refine and develop his arsenal. There is a lot to like out of the natural strike throwing abilities of Greer and there is more to come from a velocity standpoint down the road. 

 

Lonestar 17u Winkler

+ Boston Lee - 2023 - INF - Alvin - Tarleton State Commit

The athletic infielder had one of the better weekends at the dish. The Tarleton State commit showed a natural feel for hitting and found the barrel consistently over the course of 4 games. Lee is high waisted and shows plenty of projection left in the body to get stronger, and when he does, he should be able to really hit for power and do damage in the box. There is a lot to like now but we think Lee’s best days are still ahead of him. 

 

+ Jonathan Gonzales - 2023 - CIF - Austin Bowie - Uncommitted

 Gonzales is a natural hitter from the left side and shows the ability to get the job done at a high clip. The uncommitted 3B/1B has a natural rhythm to his load and swing allowing him to be on time and find the barrel consistently. Playing first base predominantly on the weekend, he shows good feet around the ball and also around the bag receiving throws. Gonzales showed no reason he cant play third during the high school season with Austin Bowie but he is versatile and at the end of the day, the bat is what stands out and should be his carrying tool to the next level. 

 

+ Eric Tenery - 2023 - LHP - Tivy - Uncommitted

Tenery had one of the better outings on the weekend amongst all the arms. Tenery punched out 7 and walked 1 over 5 innings of work. Tenery got swings and misses in the zone with both the fastball and breaking ball. The uncommitted left hander has some natural deception to the delivery that hides the ball well and allows him to get swings and misses with the fastball in the zone. Tenery is not a finished product by any means but he showed a ton to like moving forward with his natural feel for pitching.

 

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