Back

Utah HS Team Preview: Orem HS

Sun February 26, 2023
Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Utah HS Team Previews - Orem Tigers

Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been scheduled starting Feb 27th, and rosters are soon to be set. The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Monday March 6th. Jeff Scholzen (Utah Scouting Director) begins the 2023 season coverage with our annual preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple of weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in the state with our team previews.

As our ardent readers are aware, Team Previews are answered by the Head Coaches of those programs and the scouting reports embedded in the PBR player profiles of the top players, are written by state scouting director Jeff Scholzen, the states only full-time MLB Area Scouting supervisor ever. 

With data partners Trackman Baseball, the leaders in measuring the ball flight and its characteristics off the bat for position players and out of the hand for pitchers. No one does it better. Blast Motion captures key swing metrics in evaluating the efficiency of the swing and where a player's swing is good or bad and what needs to be worked on. Swift Performance measures power output as an athlete with the EZ jump mat and collecting not only the 60 yard dash, but the 10 and 30 yard dashes as well. 3M technology measures key pitching mechanics and how the delivery through the body moves in sequence to produce and provide a more effortless and efficient delivery. 

This season as in every past season, stats are collected across the state at the end of that week's play, with input from coaches, assistant coaches and ultimately myself in putting together comprehensive player content on a weekly basis with the following. 

1. Weekly Utah Power 25 Overall Team Rankings (Monday)

2. Player and Pitcher of the Week, along with other notable player performances (Tuesday)

3. Player Spotlights throughout the spring of top players who are making their mark on the HS scene in capturing college recruiting looks. 

4. I will be scouting games throughout the state and posting player videos on Twitter for college marketing purposes on a weekly basis and in some cases where action is flowing and games are staggered, such as the preseason tourneys down south on a daily basis. 

Quick Footnote: Only 7% of all HS baseball players will play college baseball and the elite of that group, which consists of only 2% will play at the D1 level. These are the players I’m watching and gleaning information on. This is determined by objective data from events, as well as the subjective eye evaluations, honed from my 30 years at the college and professional level. 

Orem by the Numbers

Head Coach: Carl Hermansen (10th Year at Orem) Wasatch Head Coach 1997-2003

  • To show you how far the program has come and what Coach Hermansen has accomplished in building this perennial state playoff club into, since taking over and completely remaking the culture, brand and talent level for the Tigers.

(Excerpt: The Daily Herald (June 12, 2014)

Hermansen was the head coach at Wasatch High School from 1997 to 2003, and prior to joining Park City’s staff he was actively involved with youth baseball programs.

Perhaps that’s why Orem decided he would be the best choice to help a program return to relevance.

Orem hasn’t had a winning season since 2008 but has shown improvement recently. The Tigers were 9-12 last year and 11-15 in 2013. They went 9-14 in 2012, but in 2011 they won just five games.

“There is a great foundation here. I’m a big believer in building the youth programs and I think that’s what sold me to the administration,” Hermansen said. “The key to all of the successful programs are the youth feeder programs, so I think that’s what we need to build to have success at the high school level.”

Hermansen graduated from Orem High in 1988 and played college baseball at Southern Utah U. 

State Classification/Region: 5A / Region 8

Last Year's Record: 

2022: 22-10

2021: 21-11

Number of State Tourney Appearance in last 10 Years: 8

Number of State Titles games in the last 10 Years: 1

Number of State Titles in the last 10 Years: 0


  • Orem’s Keys to Success

  • {Jeff Scholzen’s X-Factor of 5 players, that if they play to their potential, there is a definite state title within the Tigers grasp} 

  • 2025 Blake Brotherson, RHP, had a tremendous summer and pitched his way into my interest. After seeing a few videos on twitter, I reached out to Blake to get him to the Northern Utah ID in the Logan area last September. Once he took the mound, it was very evident that with his frame and projectable build and loose fluid arm, coupled with an easy controlled, athletic delivery, he was an arm to get excited about. After the Logan event, I invited Blake to the All-State Games at Snow Canyon HS the next month in October, and he once again showed the same tools and assortment of pitches. Was able to get swing and misses, along with soft contact on the ground as well. Brotherson is an exciting young arm, and I have already reserved a spot for him, in the prestigious PBR Future Games this coming July 26-29 at the LakePoint in Atlanta. 

  • 2024 Easton Davies, RHP (Arizona State commit), came out of the pen a year ago as a freshman, and captured 2nd Team All-Region honors. Davies has a live arm and can pump FB’s from 86-90 mph and has touched 91 last summer/fall. At 6-2 180, he is oozing with projection. Davies has the type of arm that should be pumping FB’s in the mid 90’s. One thing to look for with Davies, is he has been having some issues with his throwing shoulder since late fall and may not be quite 100% healthy heading into the first couple of weeks to the season. But if healthy, he has dominant stuff for the HS level. 

  • 2023 Luke Kimmel, LHP (Utah Valley U commit) Though having a slight build, can fire his FB in the mid to upper 80’s and has a big controlled CB that gets swing/misses. It’s the type that hitters give up on and he can land it for strikes and bury below the zone. He can change shapes and axis points to the pitch with downed type and sweeping action and it gives hitters fits. Kimmel committed to Utah Valley U, a couple of miles down the road, this last December. Look for Davies and Kimmel to give the edge to the Tigers in two of the three games as well in region 8 play. 

  • 2023 Sawyer Slade, C (BYU commit) Slade will serve a two year church mission out of HS, and then enroll at BYU in the fall of 2025, but still has work to do, in leading the offense along with Cohen Strickland and providing a bit bat in the top/middle of the order. After a monster 2022, where Slade punished Utah pitchers to the tune of a .467 BA with 9 2B's, 9 HR's and 47 RBI, and was one of two hitters in the state to accumulate 50 base hits, along with BYU freshman OF-Luke Anderson, the 2022 Gatorade POY from Snow Canyon. Slade looks to replicate those numbers, though it will be hard, as that's a career year for any high caliber HS hitter, but with Strickland pairing with him, pitchers will have their hands full regardless. 

  • 2023 Cohen Strickland, 2B (UNCOMMITTED) Strickland like Slade, put up monster numbers as a junior, as he also torched opposing pitchers to a .416 BA with 16 2B's, 8 HR and 43 RBI, to go along with 47 base hits. The duo were the best 1-2 punch of any two hitters in the state. They return to power a team that hit 28 HR's as a team in '22. Strickland just was cleared to play, after suffering an elbow injury during the football season, and will have recruiters watching his senior year, in hopes of securing the big bat in the middle of the Tigers order. 


Key Returners with Class/Position

Cohen Strickland 2B / Orem, UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 21 / POS: 1

 

Uncommitted
8/14/22

Not many players in the state have jumped on the scene and produced with the bat over the course of this past spring more than Strickland. He attended our Fall Prospect ID last November and then I followed his spring numbers, and this earned him the right to compete at the West Coast Games, after posting a stat line of .416 8 43 w/16 2B’s at Orem HS. At 6-1 185, Strickland is streamlined and athletic in his movement patterns and just runs fair in the 60, but is a very sound base runner and turns the corners well, and shows hand and bat speeds that are elite to drive the baseball w/conviction in producing the 2nd highest amount of xtra base hits in the state to Gatorade POY Luke Anderson. The load and trigger with the hands to hit, are unorthodox, as he loads at a 45-degree angle, and then when he gets ready to drive his hands to the baseball, he lays his barrel down into his shoulder. Yet this seems to get him into the zone quicker, as the barrel lays into the zone, which allows him to stay on the ball and in the zone a long time. His hands are quick and his bat is fast, producing ultra quick bat speed times. With a number of wood bat HR’s this summer, any JC program that hits with wood, will get an impact bat right away. Defensively he makes the routine plays and the arm is a bit short, but gets rid of the ball quickly with a short, quick arm stroke and is accurate with his throws. Based on the production, metrics and size for an offensive 2B’man, someone needs to gobble this kid up quickly. I like this one!

 

Sawyer Slade C / OF / Orem, UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 16 / POS: 1

 

Committed: Brigham Young U

2022 1st Team All-Region / 1st Team 5A All-State

8/14/22

Slade put up massive numbers in 2022 for the Orem Tigers and earned 5A 1st ™ All-State honors. The stat line was impressive as he hit .467 9 47 w/9 2B’s, to go along with 50 hits, which put him 8th all time in Utah history for a single season. Slade also had a really good summer, hitting a handful of wood bat HR’s as well. The setup is semi spread and square with a crouch and loads to a 45-degree slot and repeats a short, compact powerful stroke to hit with a whippy two hand finish. The ball jumps on contact and he squares balls up often. The defense still needs some work on pitch framing and working underneath the ball to stick pitches and get the low K. The feet are fringe in quickness, yet he gets the ball underway and showed on the bag accuracy during the workout phase of the event. Slade is a top tier HS bat, that colleges should be jumping on right now and not later. 

 

Luke Kimmel LHP / OF / Orem, UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 25 / POS: 2

 

Committed: Utah Valley U

2022 1st Team All-Region / 2nd Team 5A All-State

11/21/21

Kimmel was a pleasant surprise and has present pitchability and attacks the zone with 3 pitches for K's. Has the ability to mess with hitters timing and rhythm at the plate. A small LHP with a slight immature frame and build, look for added weight and strength as he continues to mature and evolve physically. Looks like a late bloomer type build, yet shows some twitch and definite athleticism. The delivery is a flexible high kick to compact delivery that he gets solid length out front and drives down the slope from a medium plane with some sharp angle to LHH's. The arm is clean and fluid and has some whip and present arm speed to project high 80's with tight sweep to a lower velocity CB, that he can land and darts away from LHH's for S/M's. Shows feel to move the ball around the zone and pitch to all 4 quadrants of the zone. Love the pitchability and the compete in this kid. He's gonna have a big junior year and will be part of a two headed monster staff, with ASU commit Easton Davies. With this left/right combo, it could help the Orem Tigers to a deep state playoff run. 

Easton Davies RHP / Orem , UT / 2024

Rankings  State Rank: 9 / POS: 2

 

Committed: Arizona State
2022 1st Team All-Region / 2nd Team 5A All-State
7/31/21

A Future Games participant and the #1 ranked player in the ‘24 class. Easton showed well from a stuff and tools standpoint at LakePoint, as he showed the college recruiters in attendance the strong framed athletic build you look for in a young pitcher. The ability to throw 3 pitches with arm strength. One of the top 20 velocity arms at the event, Davies flashed 91 with the FB and showed sink life below the thigh with a 2569 abv avg spin rate. He showed the ability to repeat his delivery, although he along with some of the other pitchers had some difficulty gripping the baseball due to many of them pitching in humidity for the first time. When he used the rosin, he pounded the ball down in the zone and was able to spin the SL 78-82 with tight late lateral biting action with depth at times. As he continues to grow, add strength and mature, this is the kind of arm that will be throwing really hard one day and attract MLB scouts. He is already on the radar with major colleges from his time in Atlanta, with offers already in hand. 

6/19/21

A really good showing and performance for Easton at the Top Prospect Games, as he received his first D1 offer after this last weekend. It’s my belief this will be the first of many in his young HS career. A very talented young athletic lean build with plenty of room to grow and add size and strength in the coming years. Only 15 years old and armed with a 86-88 mph FB that sat between those numbers. Kids this age fluctuate vastly with their velocity, but the FB remained tight in its numbers and jumped at the plate with ease. It wouldn’t be going out on a limb, to say that if he remains healthy over the next 3 years, this is a mid 90’s arm waiting to happen. The SL 72-75 has CB velocity now, with late biting SL action. A 80 mph pitch type in the future. Accepted an invite to the PBR Future Games and will be fun to see what he can do at a young age on that type of college recruiting stage! 

 

Blake Brotherson RHP / Orem, UT / 2025

Rankings  State Rank: 4 / POS: 1 Overall Rank: 382 / POS: 95

 

Uncommitted

2022 2nd Team all-Region

9/17/22

Positional Profile: RHP/1B Blake is a 15 yr old, 2025 w/considerable upside for physical growth, weight and strength gains. Shows feel for 3 pitches and works the FB/CB in the zone for consistent K's. The type of arm that you should see 2-3 mph increase each year in HS, and should be a 90+ arm within 2 years, and breakout as a senior with big velocity. Can only dream and can't wait to follow him and see his progress every 3-4 months as the years tick by.
 

Body: 6-2, 155-pounds. Lean, lanky w/a proportioned athletic look. What the look like at 15 yrs old
 

Delivery: Simple side side and he rocks into a flexible high kick to delivery. Stays online and directional to the plate, and lands firm on a soft toe/flat foot. Gets okay ext now, and finishes into a 3/4 finish out front and is somewhat upright after release and follow through.
 

Arm Action: RH. Clean takeaway from a medium high glove break. Fluid in back and rotates his arm stroke into the power slot w/a clean arc through a HTQ release point.
 

FB: T83.6, 82-83 mph. FB has carry and is firm and to the naked eye, he appears to be throwing harder than regestered. The ball exits clean and with the rising life, it jumps on hitters T2324, 2201 average rpm.
 

CB: 69-70 mph. Controlled with feel to land and hit the mitt. The pitch is a K and he has easy TQ tilt and medium depth. As he throws harder with maturity and the spin increases as well as the velo, the pitch will add depth and harder bite through the zone. T2049, 1998 average rpm.
 

CH: 72-75 mph. Threw a few that faded with fair depth and bottom. Needs to throw more and gain added confidence. T1617, 1574 average rpm.

 

9/15/22

Without question the most interesting prospect of the event goes to Brotherson! Featuring a 6-2 165 frame that is what they look like to build from, into a future 190 Lb prospects body. Blake has the type of athleticism in his delivery to throw much harder over the next 3 years of HS baseball. A classic simple rock step and a turn into a flexible balanced high kick and reaches out well and lands on a firm front toe at foot strike and stays directional through release to the plate. The arm is very loose and biomechanically sound. There’s no wasted effort and his head stays still, and he pounded the K zone with all three pitches in a FB, landed CB and fading CH. Advanced for his age and showing abv avg feel to pitch, the FB 83-85 now has carry through the zone and threw K after K, while spinning the FB at 2324 rpm’s. The CB 70-71 has tilt and depth w/feel to land and bury the pitch with ease. It was impressive to see the feel with the pitch and it tunneled well off his FB. The spin should increase as it’s at 2049 now, but with added arm strength and further physical development, there is plenty enough ease to his operation that it’s easy to see a 6-8 and even 8-10 mph increase in the FB as well as potentially 7-8 mph more in the CB. The CH 72-74 (spin of 1617) while killing spin, is spaced well and all 3 pitches create some tough spacing coverage for hitters to cover during an AB. Blake passes the eye test physically with his crystal ball projection and what the future holds for this kid. Already receiving D1 interest off this 1st look and video posted to social media. The future is bright and he will be getting an invite to the All-State Games in late October. 

 

Maddox Lamoreaux SS / 2B / Orem, UT / 2023

 

Uncommitted 

2022 All-Region

Owen Miller RHP / 1B / Orem, UT / 2024

Rankings  State Rank: 44 / POS: 9

 

Uncommitted

2022 All-Region

7/12/22

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Delivery:
Arm Action: 76.
FB: T82.9, 81-82 mph. T2242, 2096 average rpm.
CB: 71-75 mph. T1991, 1890 average rpm.

7/12/22

Positional Profile: RHP/1B

Hits: RHH.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 MPH. 371' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-76 mph .
Defense:
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 76.69 Edge Score

 
Key players lost to graduation 

NONE!

Who is your X Factor to your success

Coaches having the kids prepared from the first pitch.  We lost the majority of our games last year in the first inning. 

Returning players who were named All-Region / All-State 

Cohen Strickland - All-Region / All-State

Luke Kimmel - All-Region / All-State

Maddox Lamoreaux - All-Region

Sawyer Slade - All-Region / All-State

Easton Davies - All-Region

Owen Miller - All-Region

Blake Brotherson - All-Region

List players you feel have college baseball potential*

Cohen Strickland/Sr/INF

Luke Kimmel/Sr/P-RF

Maddox Lamoreaux/Sr/SS

Sawyer Slade/Sr/C

Easton Davies/Jr/P

Owen Miller/Jr/P-1B

Blake Brotherson/Soph/P

Aiden Scheetz/Sr/Utility

Merrick Bostock/Soph/3B

Carter Hall/Soph/P-OF

Kai Wesley/Fresh/P


Coaches Summary and Outlook

{Orem is returning their entire starting lineup and pitching staff from a 22-10 team last year} 

Orem is led by seniors and 3 year starters - Cohen Strickland (2B), Luke Kimmel (P/OF)  Sawyer Slade (C).  Followed by RHP’s Blake Brotherson (soph), Easton Davies (Jr), and Owen Miller (Jr ) who will also hit in the middle of the order.

Returning position players Alex Hansen, Copper Bishop, Gray Sundberg, Maddox Lamoreaux (SS), Ollie Takahashi provide a year of experience to solidify a strong group.  New comer RHP-Aiden Scheetz (a Sr transfer from Uintah), Carter Hall (soph), Landon Nix (Jr),  Merrick Bostock (soph), Zach Engemann (Soph) all look to challenge for innings and strengthen the core of the team.  

Orem will be tested early as they make a preseason trip to Arizona to play in The Boras Classic where they will compete against some of the best teams in the region.  Orem is planning on that experience to get the team ready for the ultra competitive Region 8.

  • Carl Hermansen (Head Coach)

RELATED NEWS

 

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.