Prep Baseball Report

PBR Super 60 Spotlight: MIF-Ryder Robinson


Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

To say Ryder Robinson has elite college baseball bloodlines is an understatement. The son of former CSI All-American SS/2B, Darek Robinson, Ryder’s father was drafted in 1991 out of Pleasant Grove HS late by the Kansas City Royals and then by the St. Louis Cardinals the following year, under the old “draft and follow” rules of the MLB Draft. Darek signed the next year at Dixie JC and played 3 years in the Cards system. Ryder’s older brother Crew also played at CSI and was a JC All-American 2B in 2021, before taking his talents to UC-San Diego in the Big West Conference. Ryder also has an uncle, Dillon Robinson, who prepped at Lone Peak HS and played 2 years on Utah Scouting Director Jeff Scholzen’s Angels Elite Scout Team in 2008-2009. Dillon was the 2010 5A Player of the Year and embarked on a 4 year career at BYU from 2011-2015 and was a semi regular his first two seasons and redshirted his 3rd year, due to an injury, before hitting .350/.370 those final two years. Dillon married his wife Ashlee, who was a BYU softball player. Ryder’s paternal grandfather Randy Robinson played basketball at Snow College and his maternal grandfather Kent Garrett was a pitcher at BYU and was responsible for starting American Legion Baseball in St. George, Utah in the mid-70’s in helping Former MLB pitcher Bruce Hurst be seen by major league baseball scouts, before becoming a 1976 1st Rd Pick. So the bloodlines are thick!

Ryder has become a star HS player in his own right, and as a sophomore/junior, has been named to two All-Region 4 1st Teams, as well as becoming a two time 6A 1st Team All-State MIF’er. Ryder was also named the Region 4 Player of the Year and was a member of the 2021 Team Utah squad at the PBR Future Games and had his coming out party that July in Atlanta. 

The fall of Ryder’s sophomore year in 2020, Robinson gained steam with various D1 programs and with a handful of offers in hand throughout Utah, he also was offered by BIG 12 and national powerhouse TCU and committed a year later in November of his junior year to the “Horned Frogs.”

To say Robinson has also put up eye popping hitting numbers the past 2 years is also an understatement! As the lead off hitter of national and state powerhouse American Fork HS, Ryder hit .440 as a sophomore with 53 runs scored and only struck out 4 times in 115 PA’s. Going into his junior year, it would be hard to replicate those numbers, but Robinson did that and more as he hit .436 with 55 runs scored and 6 HR’s, while striking out only 9 times in 134 PA’s. That’s 13 strikeouts in 249 PA’s and his 108 runs scored would be one of only 2 players to accomplish back to back 50 runs scored seasons in recent memory. The other player was Snow Canyon and current BYU OF’er and 2022 State and Gatorade Player of the Year, Luke Anderson. If Robinson accomplishes the runs scored feat again, he would be the first player in Utah history to do so three times! 

Heading into the 2023 PBR Super 60, Robinson is one of the most underrated and under the radar draft prospects in the country in this scouts opinion. It’s safe to say, Robinson heads into his senior year, as the front runner for 6A and Gatorade Player of the Year honors. 

As a sophomore Ryder checked in  at 6-1 165 with size 13 shoes. His uncle Dillon was 6-3 210 at maturity and his grandfather's stand good size. Robinson is now 6-2 185 and it’s safe to say 6-2 200-205 is a distinct possibility, and with his first 6 HR’s in HS, coming a year ago, I saw Robinson two weeks ago down in St. George as American Fork scrimmaged state power, Snow Canyon and in back to back AB’s hit two majestic HR’s, with one to straightaway CF and a mammoth shot to deep RF. I expect Ryder with his fluid fast bat and feel to hit, to turn heads with MLB scouts this coming Sunday in Chicago! Good Luck Ryder!

Ryder Robinson - Player Profile 

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

 

 Committed: Texas Christian

  • 2021 1st Team All-Region 4
  • 2021 6A 1st Team All-State
  • 2022 1st Team All-Region 4
  • 2022 6A 1st Team All-State
  • 2022 Region 4 Player of the Year
3/06/22

 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. 


7/31/21

A Future Games participant and stole the show according to Shooter Hunt on workout day. Team Utah was hurt by a late start and we got started around 10pm to hit and most coaches had called it a night, but Ryder stepped in and barreled balls to the allies with 92 mph EV’s with a crisp, fluid, yet slightly uphill smooth stroke from both sides of the plate. The swings looked like a mirror was flipped, as he had the same virtual look on both sides of the plate. Barreled balls in all directions. In the game he showed defensively like the workout, with educated feet and soft hands in playing ground up and out front with a fringe to avg, but accurate on line arm. The defense looks a bit like a 16 yr old version of former UNLV 1st Rd pick Bryson Stott and former 5th Rd ASU pick Gage Workman (who I drafted out of HS). The game clock is slow and even though the slew of over 300 college coaches, of which were baring down on us, Ryder didn’t let any moment get too big. He took vicious cuts at cripple count FB’s that he just missed in fouling straight back to the screen. Tough with 2 K’s, Robinson was tough to put away as he has plus hand/eye to spoil pitches and spit on tough pitches for quality takes. With a couple of big offers in hand, other offers will be coming in the not too distant future. Look for Ryder to be committed soon! 

     2022 Preseason All-State

         2021 Future Games


July 28, 2021 (PBR Future Games)

March 6, 2022 (Preseason All-State)

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Super 60 Pro Showcase NATIONAL 02/05 The MAX - McCook, IL
Utah Preseason ID UT 02/11 The Hive (Juab HS Fieldhouse) - Nephi, UT
Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) UT 03/04 Hurricane High School
Northern Utah Rising Stars ID UT 04/22 American Fork High School - American Fork, UT
Southern Utah Rising Stars ID     UT             05/06 Hurricane High School Hurricane, UT               


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JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)

Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report after serving 9 years as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout. 

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.

Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship. 

A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization from 1991-1992.