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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/20/2017

16u BCS Day 3 Scout Notes

Photo: Perfect Game

Daily Leaders | Player Stats | Day 1 Notes | Day 2 Notes

EvoShield Arsenal shortstop, Jaider Morelos (2019, St. Petersburg, Fla.) is a smooth fielding shortstop for the Miami based club. The Florida International University commit has professional form at short. He has excellent footwork and advanced glovework to go along with his quick and highly accurate throwing arm. At 6-foot-1 and 165-pounds, Morelos also possesses an athletic presence that will certainly help him as he transitions to the collegiate level. The EvoShield leadoff hitter also has a great feel for the top spot in the lineup. He is a tough out. He works counts and sees a lot of pitches. His slightly open stance, quick hands, and flat bat path allows him to let the ball travel and use the entire field to hit.

The EvoShield cleanup hitter and center fielder is Matthew Pujals (2019, Miami, Fla.). A rising junior at John A. Ferguson High School, Pujals is a tremendously gifted athlete. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Pujals hits from a slightly open stance and uses his powerful arms and shoulders and equally solid core to generate advanced bat speed. He looks for pitches middle-in and incorporates a power hitter’s lift at contact. He is also an advanced outfielder who can cover the gaps. He plays a little shallower than most center fielders, but he has the ability and confidence to get to most balls hit over his head.

Elias Urena (2019, Miramar, Fla.) plays right field for the Arsenal and he plays it well. The 5-foot-9, 130-pound speedster is a perfect match to his outfield mate, Pujals, in center. Despite his size, Urena has a big arm that is extremely accurate. He moves easily and athletically to cover a lot of ground with ease. Offensively, the left-handed hitting Urena understands that his speed is his number one tool. He uses a short, compact swing to hit the ball up the middle and to the opposite field. Once on base, Urena is a threat to steal and take an extra base.

The Marietta, Georgia-based East Cobb Yankees have a fundamentally sound team that plays tough and plays together. There is no quit in this ball club. Cole Phillips (2018, Trion, Ga.), the Yanks third baseman, epitomizes that toughness. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Phillips hits in the three-hole for the East Cobb team and he brings a high baseball IQ to the plate with him. The big lefthanded hitting Phillips doesn’t get cheated and can drive the ball to all parts of the field with authority. He also has sound third base skills. He has excellent first-step quickness, especially to his glove side. He has a strong and true arm that makes consistently accurate throws.

Colin Sanders (2018, Cumming, Ga.) had a big day for his club. He started on the hill and used a solid three-pitch mix to get his team into the third inning with a great shot to win the ball game. His well-commanded fastball was clocked in the 79-81 mph range. It was lively and had solid sink at the plate. His curveball was a sweeper that was especially effective against right-handed hitters. His out-pitch was his straight change that was consistently in the 71-72 mph range. After he came off the mound, Sanders played a couple of positions and late in the ball game, ended up in right field. It was in right field where he made the play of the game. His fully extended, diving catch with two outs in the top of the seventh inning kept the score tied at six and ultimately gave the Yankees a shot at the win.

Although he didn’t start the game, Gavin Gray (2019, Calhoun, Ga.) quite possibly had the biggest knock of the day when he came on to pinch-hit with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The lefthanded hitting Gray used a short, compact swing path and drove an EvoShield pitch into right-center field to plate three runners.

Another Marietta, Georgia based club, the 643 DP Cougars-Sterling, brought a very talented and confident team to Fort Myers to compete for the 16u BCS National Championship. Andrew Jenkins (2019, Atlanta, Ga.) used his multi-talented skills to help 643 to a 3-0 record in early play. He hits from a powerful base and uses and short, compact swing path to consistently drive the ball. Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound rising junior at Pace Academy, is also a very capable right fielder who has a quick first step and a strong, accurate arm. Lastly, Jenkins is the 643 closer. He has a bulldog mentality and the stuff to match. His high riding four-seam fastball was clocked in the 86-88 mph range and was overpowering in the 643 victory over the Pokers-Carolina club. His outing saw him only throw 10 pitches to record three outs, two of which were strikeouts.

Buddy Floyd (2019, Marietta, Ga.) is the scrappy two-hole hitter for 643. He uses a simple approach at the dish with a compact, short and quick swing path and a middle-of-the-field mentality. He tries to spray line drives to the big part of the field and then use his above average speed and instinctive base running ability to cause havoc on the bases.

The 643 three-hole hitter is 6-foot-5, 220-pound Luke Boynton (2019, Marietta, Ga.). The big, rising junior at Walton High School, usually comes to the plate with an opportunity to drive in runs and his disciplined slugger’s approach and solid swing path delivers more times than not. He can drive the ball to all parts of the field with authority.

Another big slugger in the 643 lineup is Sebastian Thomas (2019, Brookville, Ga.). The 6-foot-5, 240-pound righthanded masher has big power. He barely missed a home run in the sixth inning of the 643 game against the Florida Pokers. In the seventh inning of the same game, with the bases loaded, Thomas put the game away with a drive off the left-center field fence some 390 feet away. There is no doubt that with continued experience the plus power bat of Thomas will play at the next level.

Another solid Georgia based team, this one from Warner Robins, is 5 Star-Gilbert. This 5 Star club is stacked with talent and plays sound fundamental baseball. The club’s fine catcher is Will Cialone (2019, Naples, Fla.). Cialone hits in the leadoff spot for 5 Star and does yeoman’s work there. He grinds out at-bats, he sees a lot of pitches and makes pitchers work. He swings out of a slightly open stance and has a short compact swing path. He has a middle-of-the-field mentality and consistently gets his barrel to the ball. Defensively, Cialone, a rising junior at TNXL Academy, is an advanced receiver. He has a confident setup and moves behind the plate like a seasoned vet. He has a quick set to throw, he gains ground well and his throws are consistently on target.

Jack Duffy (2019, Sarasota, Fla.) hits in the middle of the 5 Star lineup. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthanded swinger has gap-to-gap power and can drive the ball with authority. He has quick hands and his swing has slight lift at contact. Defensively, Duffy – a junior-to-be at Sarasota High School – is a very capable first baseman, as he is agile and smooth around the bag and his glovework is exceptional.

Hitting behind Duffy in the 5 Star lineup is his mate on the right side of the infield, second baseman Bryant Rowell (2019, Warner Robins, Ga.). The 5-foot-11, 165-pound, switch-hitting Rowell is a ballplayer. He is a gritty second baseman who can make all the plays. He has exceptional first-step quickness, and his glovework is consistent and reliable. He has a playable arm that can make throws from every conceivable arm angle. Offensively, he has surprisingly solid punch and easy power in his swing. He is quiet at the dish and has a quick trigger. He routinely gets his barrel to the ball and drives it to all parts of the field.

Andre James (2018, Nokomis, Fla.) is the poised and capable third baseman for 5 Star. James, at 6-foot and 184-pounds, is a physically gifted third baseman who has the tools and ability to play the hot corner at the next level. He has excellent lateral movement and a plus arm that is very accurate. At the dish, the rising senior at Sarasota High School is an accomplished hitter. He is quiet and smooth at the plate and has a quick trigger and a flat, middle-of-the field bat path that he uses to hit line drives from gap-to-gap.

A standout on the bump for the Warner Robins based club is Brandon Dumas (2018, Orange Park, Fla.). The 6-foot-2, 175-pound rising senior at Ridgeview High School uses an experienced pitcher’s poise and confidence to pound the strike zone with a consistent three-pitch mix. His whippy three-quarters arm angle is very deceptive and his consistent mechanics allow him to pitch with pace. His fastball, that had solid arm-side run, was clocked in the 83-86 mph range. His curveball, that he masterfully added and subtracted velocity on, was anywhere from 62-67 mph. His changeup, which he did not show much, but is a solid third pitch, was in the mid-70s.

Miami-based Elite Squad North is another in a long line of outstanding clubs from the Elite Squad organization that makes the trip across the state to play in many PG events. This club, like many of the Elite Squad entries, is full of talented players. Aiden Burr (2019, Wellington, Fla.) is the very talented Elite Squad left fielder and leadoff hitter. Burr is a tough out. He obviously understands his role at the top of the order as he takes pitches, works counts and he competes on every pitch. He uses a short quick swing to put the ball in play and then presses defenses with his above average speed. Burr is an instinctive and aggressive baserunner. Defensively, he is a sound outfielder who has quick actions, a solid glove and a playable arm.

University of Miami commit, Daniel Labrador (2019, Miami, Fla.) is the Elite Squad’s big bopper in the three-hole. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound future Hurricane is a very strong, very talented hitter. He understands the strike zone, he sees pitches deep and he uses outstanding leverage to drive the ball from gap-to-gap with authority. There is no question that his advanced ability with a bat in his hand will play at the next level.

Ramon Molina (2019, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) is the gifted receiver for the Elite Squad nine. His skills behind the plate are more than capable of helping Molina make the jump to the collegiate level. He is a heady receiver who understands how to sequence pitches and present the ball for the umpire. He has exceptional footwork and blocking abilities. He is quick to set, gains ground like a pro, and gets his throws off rapidly and consistently. His pop times were routinely in the 2.0-second area and below. Offensively, he carries a solid ability to the plate. He has quick hands and gets his barrel to contact routinely. He has plus power and can drive the ball to all parts of the field.

Jason Neff (2019, West Palm Beach, Fla.) is a future University of Richmond Spider. The slick-fielding shortstop for Elite Squad has all the tools necessary to have a very successful career in college and possibly beyond. He has outstanding footwork and exceptional movement in any direction. His glovework is professionally ready now and his throwing ability is above average. At the plate the rising junior at Palm Beach Central High School has a middle-of-the-field mentality. He is short, quick and compact to contact and hits to all parts of the field. He is also an accomplished base runner who is fearless.

– Jerry Miller



Matt Tyson (2019, Zolfo Springs, Fla.) is one of Cigar City Baseball’s best players with good reason. His large 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame is already physically imposing, and Tyson possesses good skills with the bat in his hand. He starts from a wide, slightly open stance that transitions into a small leg lift used as a timing mechanism. Tyson’s hands are direct to the ball once his bat is in motion, and his swing plane suggests line drives will be commonplace. He does get good extension out in front, and this will help Tyson tap into his power potential when hitting the ball to the left side of the field. Bat speed is already present, and more should come as Tyson matures physically. There’s a lot to like about Tyson’s bat, and his work at third base should allow him to continue playing the hot corner for years to come.

Tyson’s teammate, Patrick Hicks (2018, Lakeland, Fla.), pitched a fantastic game by going seven strong innings while striking out 11 batters and only walking one. He was around the zone all game, and he rarely fell behind hitters. When you combine his flawless command and his upper-70s fastball that flashes good arm-side run, you get the makings of a good pitcher. His righthanded motion entails a medium arm circle through the back before coming to a three-quarters arm slot. His arm speed is still developing and that will only help to sell his low-70s curveball. It currently features moderate depth with late break.

Hicks also hit from the six-hole and collected one hit. He sets up to swing from a narrow stance with a high hand set. He utilizes an exaggerated leg lift as a timing mechanism while also generating more power. However, outside of his leg kick, Hicks struggles to engage his lower half through the rest of his swing. He’s reliant on his power to the pull, but when he does time the pitch well, the ball jumps off the bat. Hick’s arm on the mound is more polished than his bat, but he has interesting two-way potential.

The Elite Squad 16u Prime is exceptionally talented, and the player that really pops out is Mykanthony Valdez (2019, Davie, Fla.). He’s already incredibly physical at 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, and his size shows in his ability at the plate. Valdez’ bat speed is incredible, and he has the power to match. He sets up to hit from an even, balanced stance. His hands rest around the letters. His natural upper cut allows him to do major damage as he can consistently drive balls to the outfield and farther. The ball absolutely jumps off his bat when he makes contact, and he has power to all fields. Valdez’ bat speed, power and ability to make contact all give him the upside to be a tremendously talented offensive player. Although Valdez served as the team’s designated hitter, his physicality and raw athleticism should give him a baseline for playing third base. Valdez is definitely someone worth watching.

Tyler Nejaime (2019, Weston, Fla.) got to pitch an inning, and he did well to keep the opposing team for scoring. His tall 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame is typical for pitchers, and that helps him on the mound. His delivery is smooth and without effort as he works to a high three-quarters arm slot. He occasionally doesn’t land in line to home, or he will fall off the first base side of the rubber. However, he was able to consistently throw strikes with his low-80s fastball. His curve and changeup are still developing, and his arm speed slows a little when these pitches are thrown. However, his ability to throw strikes consistently will give Nejaime plenty of time to develop as he ages.

Dylan Goldstein (2019, Southwest Ranches, Fla.) was another standout from Elite Squad 16u Prime. The first baseman’s large 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame give him plenty of range in the field and good power at the plate. He sets up to hit from a wide open stance with a low hand set. As he loads, he coils his front hip before uncorking and unloading on the pitch. This helps to engage his lower half and generate lots of power. His natural uppercut will also allow him to unlock his full power potential. Currently, Goldstein gets good carry to all fields, and he showed he can make consistent contact. His footwork at first base was solid, and he demonstrated a natural ability to pick balls that skipped in front of the bag. Goldstein has plenty of tools to succeed now and in the future.

Tyler “T.K.” Knierim (2019, Weston, Fla.) is a more projectable hitter at ‘only’ 6-foot-3, 187-pounds. He sets up to hit from a tall stance with a high hand set. He utilizes a small leg lift to better time pitches. His line drive swing plane suggest he’ll make good contact, and his solid bat speed will help this as well. However, there is some noise in his swing that could affect his timing. His work in the outfield should help him stick on the field if his bat should suffer. He’s a quick runner, which helps him cover a lot of grass, and his throws are always online. Knierim is an extremely projectable young player, and he already shows good tools that are needed at the next level. Knierim has a verbal commitment to Duke University.

Connor O’Hara (2019, Davie, Fla.) spent the day behind the plate catching for Elite Squad 16u Prime. He showed good athleticism while catching with good footwork to gain ground when throwing down to second. This, paired with a strong arm, allowed O’Hara to secure a pop time under 2.0. With the bat, O’Hara starts from a tall, even stance with a high back elbow set. A small leg lift begins his load. His swing is currently an upper half affair without much help from his legs. He’ll need to work on this in the future to fully unlock his power, but his bat speed helps him currently to drive the ball to the gaps. O’Hara’s defensive profile and his swing are very promising.

Brandon Auerbach (2018, Parkland, Fla.) is a projectable and athletic 5-foot-8, 165-pound shortstop. His athleticism and smaller size make him a natural fit for the demanding defensive position. He’s a good runner and that helps his range to both sides. His hands are soft and adaptable to bad hops, and his throws are strong and online to first. His ability in the field make him a lock to stay at short. At the plate, Auerbach sets up to hit from an even stance with his bat resting on his shoulder. His mechanics are clean and repeatable. As he strides he moves his hands further back to create a longer bat path and extra torque. There is some present strength at the point of contact, but Auerbach’s bread and butter is his ability to make contact. He finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk.

Kevin Heinrich (2019, Coral Springs, Fla.) is a tall righthanded pitcher at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. There’s still plenty of projection left in his lean frame, too. He works from a side-step delivery with a little bit of crossfire at the point of release. He lands online to home and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. His delivery has good tempo, but he has a slight pause at the height of his leg kick. His fastball consistently worked in the low-80s, and he was able to command the pitch to both sides of the plate. His slider, in the high-60s, featured good, late bite. This is clearly his best pitch, and he should utilize the weapon by throwing it more often. However, Heinrich is an aggressive pitcher that likes to attack hitters and get ahead in counts, which helps set up his slider later in at bats.

Trhea Morse (2019, Alvin, Texas) is an extremely young, projectable shortstop at just 5-foot-9, 174-pounds. There is still lots of room for Morse to add strength and size to his frame. He works well in the infield at shortstop as his motions are fluid and he moves through the baseball well. He has good present arm strength as well. Morse sets up to hit from a slightly open stance with a low hand set. He gets his swing started with a small toe tap for timing. His line drive swing plane and opposite field approach should allow Morse to make plenty of contact and hit for a high average. When he pulls the ball, Morse flashes power and natural lift. With his current skills and the vast amount of physical projection remaining, Morse is an impressive young talent.

On the other end of the physical spectrum is 6-foot-5, 190-pound Christian Muniz (2019, Homestead, Fla.). The big-bodied Muniz showed good actions in the field at third base, as the exchange from the glove to his hand is deliberate, and his arm speed is well above average. He has good reactions too, and that always comes in handy at the position known for getting scorchers. At the plate, Muniz sets up from an even, wide stance. He starts his swing with a small leg lift that helps his timing. He fires his hands at the ball, and he shifts his lower half into the point of contact. His natural uppercut and big side scream big power potential. If he can learn to really control the barrel he has all the tools and physical presence to be a big power hitter.

Jaren Potts (2018, Orlando, Fla.) is just as big and just as powerful at 6-foot-3, 212-pounds. His righthanded swing starts from a tall, slightly open stance. He begins movement with a leg kick whose duration isn’t set in stone; it varies from pitch to pitch. This helps to engage his lower half as he strides towards the ball. Potts has good present bat speed and strength at the point of contact. His uppercut tendencies also lend themselves to hitting a majority of the balls in the air. Luckily, Potts has the body and strength to make sure they’re driven far over outfielders’ heads, especially to pull. His work at first base was also impressive. He managed to dance nimbly around the bag showing good footwork, and he has a good feel for fielding ground balls. Potts may not have as high a ceiling as Muniz, but Potts’ future is still bright.

– Kyle Zweng



Speed kills with 5-foot-6, 130-pound Kyle Bearden (2019 Spring, Texas) who affects the game by giving 100 percent on the basepaths and in the field. Bearden turned groundball outs to the left side into infield singles, and along with his knack for good jumps from first base, swiped a few bags. His speed allows his to cover center field well, and when placed at second base, made a few dazzling plays to the backhand and glove side.

Southpaw James Wilson (2020 Davie, Fla.) unleashed the full package while clicking on all cylinders on the mound on Wednesday. Wilson was at his best setting up shop outside against righthanded hitters and in on the hands on lefties. He hurled his fastball consistently at 76-79 mph, touching 80, and flashed signs of a developing changeup at 66 mph. Wilson is a competitor on the mound and showed his high I.Q as far as situational pitching goes. The southpaw is not afraid to back hitters up, and when he grows into his adult body will only progress on the bump.

Coming up on 15 years old, infielder Jayden Solorio (2020 Whittier, Cal.) turned some heads at the plate and up the middle of the field on defense. His situational awareness in the field, soft hands and verbal communication led to more then a few outstanding plays. At the plate, Solorio consistently displayed good plate discipline leading to a .500 OBP during the tournament.

Switch-hitting middle infielder Dwanye Maduro (2020 Clermont, Fla.) was a defensive standout in the six-hole for Power Baseball 16u. Maduro, who is also a rising sophomore, has a college-ready arm, plain and simple. Groundball after groundball he showcased his ability to get centered on balls on the ground and deliver accurate and in-time throws across the diamond.

Another standout shortstop, Mason Kolbe (2019 Bradenton, Fla.), has more than enough tools to get him to the next level. His ability to place his barrel on the middle third of the plate allows him to slap balls away to the opposite field, and drive pitches on the hands into the pull field. Hitting well over .500, Kolbe is a threat at the plate, as well as he is a middle infielder. The range he put on display, as well as his accurate arm, gained the attention of more than a couple.

Behind the plate and swinging the stick, catcher Gerardo Rodriguez (2020 Miami, Fla.) put his entire toolbox out on Broadway. Rodriguez has a very good build at 5-foot-10 and closing in on 200-pounds, and his nukes in the gap and ton of lift-and-pop showed just how strong he is. His arm strength and high baseball I.Q., both calling games and on the bases, shows that he could be ready to make an impact at a D-I program.

– Reginald Woods
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