2023 Utah Top 10 Prospects (Spring Update)

Ryder Robinson SS / 2B / American Fork, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Texas Christian U

Robinson the #1 ranked player in the ‘23 class and a TCU commit, didn’t do anything to be knocked off that perch, as he sprayed hard LD’s to all fields from both sides of the plate during his BP round. With 3 MLB scouts in attendance, Robinson was immediately noticed and it won’t take long for other scouts to do the same. A PBR Future Games alum and a 2021 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-State honoree, Robinson has a silky smooth stroke to hit from both sides of the plate and makes it look EZ. A bloodline player, as his uncle was a four year starting 3B at BYU and his Father was an All-American MIF at CSI and played in the Cardinals chain for three years. Ryder’s older brother Crew was a 1st Team JUCO All-American at CSI a year ago and currently plays at UC-San Diego. Robinson is also the leadoff hitter for national powerhouse American Fork and lef the state in runs scored with 52 a year ago. Look for Robinson to contend for state player of the year honors before he culminates his HS career. 

2021 Future Games Alum

Crew McChesney OF / RHP / Lone Peak, UT / 2023

Uncommitted

The top uncommitted ‘23 in the state, and is the best athlete in the class. A two sport star, as McChesney is also one of the better WRs on the gridiron, as he blows by defenders in getting deep in hauling in highlight type plays. On the baseball field, Crew tore his UCL on a freak injury with weeks to go in the ‘21 season, which caused him to miss all summer/fall. Now healthy and only 8 months post op, McChesney posted arm velo from the OF at the Preseason All-State of 90 mph. Look for even greater velo to the low to mid 90’s as he is removed further from surgery and gains his man strength in 3-4 years. But what sets McChesney apart is premium speed as he posted a blazing 6.24/60, which on the MLB scale of 20-80 is an “80”, making him the best runner in the state, as well as one of the handful of fastest 60’s in the entire country. A quick compact stroke from the plate that generates elite hand speed of 25.7 and bat speed of 80. Now that McChesney is back on the map, look for a big year at the plate and on the bases, as he possesses Power 5 school type talent and should impact any program on both sides of the ball. 

Cole Kershaw 1B / 3B / Jordan, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Utah

Last but not least, the loudest bat in the ‘23 class belongs to Kershaw. Alum of the Power Showcase HE Derby, the U Utah commit has ++ raw power and displays it almost immediately walking into the box in a BP setting. But he does it in games as well. The 2021 6A triple crown statistical leader as a sophomore, Kershaw has lift in a very powerful stroke to hit with a max EV of 102.6. He also shows big hand and bat speed metrics at 28.2 and 82, which are elite data points. Nicknamed the “Baby Bull” by yours truly, it’s caught on across the state, and he also reminds me of former big league hitter, Rusty Staub. For a big kid he can really whistle the bat and drive high and deep shots to the pull side. Look for Kershaw to contend for player of the year honors before his HS career cones to a close in 2023. 

Tyler Ball RHP / 3B / Skyridge, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Stanford

The top pitcher in the ‘23 class, Tyler committed to Stanford after his freshman year and was highly recruited by other schools as well. An Underclass Area Code alum, Ball has been on my radar since he was 14 years old, as I’ve seen him play with my son at a younger age. Ball has intriguing potential and is built like a MLB pitcher, with a lean, yet strong muscular build. Possessing a clean, yet shorter HTQ arm stroke, Ball shows good use of his lower ½, and has genetic arm strength, which he possessed at a young age. Now with two seasons of HS baseball remaining, not only is he a D1 commit, but shows the type of arm and arsenal of pitches to be a pro prospect out of HS. With a Stanford offer in hand, the Cardinal very rarely loses a HS commit to the draft, thus it will have to be a very high draft selection, for Ball to forgo a Stanford education, in addition to being a top Cardinal pitching recruit. Ball features a FB in the 88-90 mph, that reached the low 90’s in the fall. Ball also has a tight late breaking CB in the 74-78 range and has late tilt and biting depth. The CH 79-80 has late tumble and 13.8 inches of depth and turn over type life. Look for Tyler to have a big junior year, as he features the type of arm to put him in the conversation of region and state pitcher of the year, whether it's this spring or next. One thing is for sure Tyler will be a name to keep an eye on for Utah baseball fans, as he has big time potential. 

Grant Scholzen SS / 2B / Hurricane, UT / 2023

 Commitment: U of the Pacific

The U of the Pacific commit, sets himself apart with his quick twitch hand speed: 26.9 and bat speed: 76.9 from the left side of the plate in generating a fast bat that handles velocity. With growing strength, an EV of 92.4, should jump exponentially as he gains his man strength. With a smooth stroke and discerning eye at the plate, Scholzen is also able to work counts and draw a 2 to 1 ratio of BB’s vs K’s. Scholzen is part of a bloodline of former college and professional baseball players in his extended family, as his father played in the Angels organization, one uncle (Jimmy) played in the Rays organization, as well as another uncle (Jeremy) played at Southern Utah University. Scholzen’s extended cousin is a Utah Valley U commit, Luke Iverson, the current Pine View HS catcher, while another extended cousin is a star softball player at College of Southern Idaho and lastly an immediate cousin was a standout women's basketball player at CSI and Dixie State. With two years left in HS baseball, look for even more progression to his game as he continues to mature. 

Ryker Schow OF / 2B / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Brigham Young U

A BYU commit and All-Tournament team selection at last summer's PBR Future Games, Schow put himself on the map and shortly thereafter, committed to BYU, after receiving his offer prior to the Future Games. A strong game player, that’s metrics also translate to game play. A 6.97/60, which recorded a high of 6.84 at the Future games, but also plays well in game, as he takes aggressive tight turns around 1B, and looks for extra bases out of the box. An EV max of 95.6 should jump to 100 as he gains the 20 lbs his frame suggests handling. A product of the powerhouse Pleasant Grove program, Schow has a high baseball IQ and shows it in his actions and instincts on the field. Not a toolsy player, but what he is, is what recruiters like, and that's a baseball player that performs and stirs the drink for team success.  

2021 Future Games Alum

2021 Future Games All-Tournament Team

Cameron Nielson RHP / SS / Cottonwood, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Utah

The U Utah commit, and PBR Future Games alum, has a strong hitting profile and emerging pitch arsenal on the mound. The projected ace of the staff this spring at Cottonwood, Nielsen should make a loud statement on both sides of the ball this spring. With an EV range over the past 6 months of 96-99 mph, Nielsen can get long in his swing, but possesses hand and bat speed to handle velocity. An efficient and consistent defender at SS, Nielsen posted an event best, 87 mph arm across the INF, and look for his arm to creep into the low 90’s over the next two seasons. On the mound, Cam has touched 89 mph with the FB at the PBR West Coast Games last August, which was a 5-8 mph range increase from this time a year ago. In the low to mid 80’s at the Preseason All-State, is a valid range for coming out of the snow and cold weather of northern Utah, as he works his arm into mid season form in the coming weeks as the HS season unfolds. At 170 lbs, Nielson has the frame to add another 20 lbs over the next few years, and as he reaches his man strength, look for Nielson to make his biggest mark from the pitching rubber, as his FB should creep into the low 90’s FB in the near future.

2021 Future Games Alum

2021 West Coast Games Alum

Billy Bird 1B / LHP / Timpanogos, UT / 2023

 Commitment: Utah

A Future Games participant with good size and present and projectable strength. A two way type that is being recruited as such. It starts with big pull side juice from the 1B position and he has some natural lift and ext to drive the ball to all parts of the field. He will have all fields power when all is said and done. Right now it plays straight away to the pull side and he has a very good sophomore season with the bat. The arm is the intriguing part as he has a little Mark Mulder feel to him. The delivery is a raise the leg and tuck the front shoulder with a late shoulder turn out front. The arm swing is low TQ and with some length and whip. He gets to a full finish out front and does have some spin out at times, but is correctable. The FB was 83-86 at LakePoint, but have seen 88 in the spring. The FB has some late natural sink and the CB sweeps. The CH is the weapon as he can kill spin and shows FB arm speed to create deception. The CH dives and has some turnover effect in the bottom part of the zone. One of the better two way guys out there. 

2021 Future Games Alum

Petey Soto Jr. SS / OF / Crimson Cliffs , UT / 2023

 Commitment: Dixie State U (Utah Tech U)

The Dixie State commit is one of, if not the smoothest defender in the state, regardless of class. Have seen him play since he was 10 years old. Gifted with dancy, educated feet and plus movement patterns to allow for his glove to be in the right place at the right time. Also can play CF, and shows off a avg arm at 86 from the OF and 77 from the INF, though he doesn’t sell out for metrics, but just plays catch and throws K’s in all directions. Able to throw from multiple arm slots and do it EZ. From the plate, Soto has a quick twitch well synced up hitting stroke with good use of his lower ½ and looks the part of a young Francisco Lindor. An fringe to avg runner at 7.06 in the 60, yet his lateral quickness at SS, belies a player that moves within a circle of range, rather than a straight line runner. With an additional 15-20 lbs at maturity, this kid has a very high ceiling. 

2021 Future Games Alum

Brayden Marx RHP / OF / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2023

Uncommitted

The top uncommitted arm in the ‘23 class, Marx has scholarship offers to a half dozen programs, and is betting on himself to find his best fit. With offers ranging from west coast schools to midwest D1 interest from the Power 5, Marx has jumped his velo from 83-85 a year ago to a T92 in the fall, and sits 88-90 on most days. Posting an 86-88 mph FB at the Preseason All-State, Marx had the flu for a week and had just overcome being sick, when he still showed up, to increase his stock and be present. A baseball junkie, Marx has become a name since his breakout performance at the PBR Future Games last summer, Marx posts very high spin rates to his CB 2656 with a velo range of 71-75. The CB has short, quick tunneling action and reacts like a hard SL in shape and depth, yet because it comes out of a short, ball to ear type HTQ slot, the pitch locks up hitters and darts and dives with late zone action. The CH 76-78 kills spin with an average spin of 1738. Like most HS pitchers, Marx can work off the FB/CB combo and sprinkle in the CH to keep hitters honest. With two seasons of HS baseball remaining, look for Marx to be a region player of the year type arm moving forward, and landing in the college spot of his choice.