WACO, TX - Following a great trip to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Convention, Prep Baseball Report hosted the second Preseason ID Event of the early spring at Waco ISD Stadium. Cool and rainy weather cleared the way for sunshine and breeze to host forty players for a great day of baseball. Here is a quick look at some of the highlight of the day.

College recruiters are going to want to take note of 2022 SS Travis Sanders (Copperas Cove HS) as he is going to get a lot of attention early in his high school career. Already ranked No. 53 in the PBR Class of 2022 Overall Rankings, Sanders has a long-limbed 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame and the kind of actions on the infield that standout at a young age. He moves with smooth footwork as he plays through the ball with easy rhythm, soft hands, midline exchange, gains a ton of ground to throw with a quick arm stroke across the diamond. Offensively, the right-handed hitter has loose-quick hands with a compact, aggressive hack as he transfers his weight with ease.

It’s still early for pitcher, but 2020 LHP Mason Brandenberger (Clifton HS) has no trouble commanding four pitches for a strike. The left-hander has sharpened up his slider a bit since football season ended, now throwing that pitch at 72-73 mph with 2/8 shape. He still dotted up his fastball to both sides of the plate at 80-81 mph, and has elite feel for pitching. His curveball has 1/7 shape with good rotation and depth, while his change up was also quality at 72-73 mph. Brandenberger is one of our favorite arms in the ‘20 class because he can throw any pitch in any count, and whichever school pulls the trigger on him is going to be glad they got him. He plays multiple sports, while his competitiveness and presence also set him apart.

2020 SS Cason Gregory (Cleburne HS) can really pick it at shortstop with smooth footwork, soft hands, and the ability to gain ground and throw strikes to first base. He improved his 60-yard dash time to 6.94-seconds and posted an exit velocity of 87 mph. The swing works with loose hands and a leg kick that provides leverage and rhythm.

2021 C Chanden Scamardo (College Station HS) is already strong for his class with at 6-foot, 195-pounds. He posted a top velocity from the crouch of 80 mph four out of the five throws to second base with his best pop time of 1.94, and multiple 2.01’s. The right-handed hitter hammered the ball around the yard during BP, posting a top exit velocity of 88 mph, driving the ball deep to gaps, and homering to left-centerfield.

2020 3B Rhett Grosz (Midway HS) is an all around solid player that moves with smooth footwork on the infield and has the arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield as he has quality carry across the diamond and can throw on the run. The right-handed hitter ran a 7.21, posted a top exit velocity of 91 mph, and homered to left field during BP

2020 C Carter Pool (Keller HS) is another athletic catcher that has caught our eye on multiple occasions. Pool threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 2.07-2.19 and a top velocity from the crouch of 75 mph. The right-handed hitter laced balls through the middle of the field with a line drive approach and a top exit velocity of 90 mph.

2020 RHP Logan Pace (Midway HS) has a projectable pitchers frame at 6-foot-4, 193-pounds. The right-hander threw strikes with his fastball at 84-85 mph, mixing in a 70-73 mph slurve with short break, along with a quality changeup at 76-78 mph.

2020 3B/RHP Wesley Mitchell (Houston Christian) already looks like a college baseball player at 6-foot-3, 182-pounds, with a high-waisted, athletic, lean-strong frame. The right-handed hitter posted a top exit velocity of 90 mph while he squared it up during BP and has a nice arm across the infield. He topped out at 86 mph on the bump, working from a high-¾ slot with an athletic delivery. Quality curveball with tight 11/5 rotation for a strike, and showed feel for his changeup. Lots of upside moving forward.

2020 C Patrick Baca (Vandegrift HS) is not even close to filling out his young frame at 5-foot-9, 140-pounds, but he can really play catch with athletic actions at both shortstop and behind the plate. He is an elite receiver with soft hands and great feel. Throws with high end accuracy, posting pop times of 2.0, 2.01, 2.08, 2.08, and 2.014, as well as running a 7.02 60-yard dash.

Seems like most guys at South Grand Prairie HS can hit, and 2020 SS Garrett Williams fits that same mold. The right-handed hitter posted a top exit velocity of 88 mph, driving balls on a line through the middle of the field.

2021 SS Thomas Soto (Round Rock HS) stands 5-foot-10, 155-pounds and bounces around the field. The switch hitter has loose hands from both sides of the plate with whip in the barrell and posted a top exit velocity of 96 mph. The actions are solid at shortstop, he can cover ground and throw on the run.

2020 OF Justin Grech (Southlake Carroll HS) ran a 6.93 60-yard dash and showed great actions in the outfield during BP, running balls down in the gaps. He threw darts to the plate with a top velocity of 87 mph, and plays through the ball with easy actions.

2020 C/RHP Johnny Follett (Hebron HS) has tons of carry in his arm from behind the plate with a top velocity from the crouch of 77 mph. The right-handed hitter also has an aggressive hack and throws the barrel through contact.

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