Grant
Ross

5-foot-10, 175 pounds; compact frame with muscle, sturdy. One of the more fierce competitors in the state’s 2021 class, Ross took the bump in relief against PTA Cardinal on Saturday night and found an extra gear on the mound that we had not yet seen in person. In a close game, Ross was sitting 86-88 mph, touching 90 a couple of times behind a loud grunt, with effort, that explodes through the zone; sharp, firm 73-75 breaking ball earned chases away, too. He struck out all five batters he faced while looking like a next-level, high-leverage reliever. Ross has obvious two-way upside, with a strong right-handed bat, line-drive approach, and defensive actions that should allow him to thrive at third base or second, though he can certainly hold his own at short.

5-foot-10, 175 pounds; compact frame with muscle, sturdy. One of the more fierce competitors in the state’s 2021 class, Ross took the bump in relief against PTA Cardinal on Saturday night and found an extra gear on the mound that we had not yet seen in person. In a close game, Ross was sitting 86-88 mph, touching 90 a couple of times behind a loud grunt, with effort, that explodes through the zone; sharp, firm 73-75 breaking ball earned chases away, too. He struck out all five batters he faced while looking like a next-level, high-leverage reliever. Ross has obvious two-way upside, with a strong right-handed bat, line-drive approach, and defensive actions that should allow him to thrive at third base or second, though he can certainly hold his own at short.

Verbally committed to Valparaiso.

5-foot-10, 175-pound two-way player, strong build, athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, crouched setup, wide base with leg lift trigger, linear lower half. Swing is compact, short to the baseball with slight uphill finish, strong hands create bat speed, strong through contact, hard gap to gap contact off the bat. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Reliable defender, active hands work out front, showed ability to be quick on the transfer. Actions are athletic with bounce and shows above average range. Arm gets long to release at times, 85 mph across the diamond, high ¾ slot with carry. On the mound works out of a ¾ window from third base side of the rubber, lands square. Fastball played 84-86 mph, touched 87 mph, showed run to arm side. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 66-69 mph.

Ross finished the tournament as The Rock’s offensive MVP, beginning the tournament with a late-night grand slam and finishing it off with three clutch extra-base hits in the championship game. He has a 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with compact strength and above-average athleticism throughout. He swings a strong, quick right-handed bat with playable pop that showed up all weekend. He went a combined 6-for-13 with two doubles, two homers, and seven RBIs. Ross is also equipped with a live arm on the mound and made a couple appearances over the tournament, including a gutsy performance in the final game of the weekend. On Thursday, Ross saw his fastball reach 85 mph and sat between 82-84 with the pitch. He also showed a curveball at 70-72 mph featuring some bite off an 11/5 plane and used it to put hitters away. He was more often in the low-80s on Sunday, but was effectively mixing in that same breaking ball and it helped him earn six Ks in seven innings. Ross is another prospect who we’ll be seeing at LakePoint next week when he joins Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games.

The five-hole DH reached base in all three of his at bats on Saturday. Ross showed plus takes on both of his first two at bats resulting in walks. Ross also flashed hard contact on a single hit right back up the middle. He added a stolen base and two runs scored on the night as well. Strong, athletic build. Right-handed hitting middle infielder. Balanced setup, high leg kick, long stride. Aggressive swing goes up to the plate ready to hit, quick hands, sneaky pop in swing, confident in himself. Went 1-for-2 as the five-hole hitter for STIKS Friday morning with a home run over the left field fence. Started on the mound Saturday morning against PBA 16U. Drop/drive type delivery, lands closed, slightly throws across his body. Long and loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 84 mph, sat between 81-83 mph with occasional run. Curveball was thrown with a decelerated arm, 11/5 shape, sat between 70-72 mph. Tossed five scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking one. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 175-pounds. Athletic frame with a strong build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery with some rhythm. Works in line, lands square, athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose arm action, works from a 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 84-86 mph. Plays with run and sink, located throughout the zone for strikes.
CB: 72-73 mph. 10/4 shape with sweeping action.
CH: 73-77 mph. Plays with both sinking and fading movement.

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-foot-9, 175-pounds. Athletic frame with a strong build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced and wide setup, brings hands back into load, leg kick stride. Fluid rhythm throughout the swing. Bat path is short and level, projects to be a gap-to-gap hitter.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Fast bat speed generated by strong and quick hands.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, throws from a 3/4 slot. Flashed carry on throws.
Defense: Flashed soft hands. Showcased clean and fluid footwork, a clean exchange, plays through the baseball well.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP 
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Smaller frame with above average strength and athleticism.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on line and lands closed, some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw, quick arm speed out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 85-87 mph. Runs to arm side, showed feel.
CB: 71-75 mph. 10/4 shape, flashed tigh spin.
CH: 78-80 mph. Fastball arm speed, fade action with feel for the strike zone.

Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Smaller frame with above average strength and athleticism.
Positional Profile: SS/RHP 
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. Straight line, better underway.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, leg lift and hang stride, good balance through contact. Aggressive swing with intent, loose hands and creates hard contact in BP.
Power: 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Slight lifted approach with bat strength.
Defense: Athletic and plays through the baseball, feet are quick, above average hands and body control.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long high 3/4 slot, showed carry across the diamond.

10/28/18 - 5-foot-9, 156-pound two-way player, smaller athletic frame with strength. Natural actions on the infield, hands showed softness, feet work through the baseball, quick hands to release. Arm is short and loose, with well above average arm strength, over the top slot showed carry, 71 mph across the diamond. 7.28 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg kick stride, good balance through contact. Hands are loose, repeats hard pull contact, fluid rhythm. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound works out of a crossfire delivery, slight drop and drive. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball has feel for the zone, flashed hard arm-side run, sat 82-85 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slurve type action, 67-69 mph. Changeup has hard arm side run, 73-76 mph.