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2009 Top Prospects

Matt Davidson  3B - 2009 - Yucaipa, CA
Southern California

Though he did not have the type of results with the bat that we expected to and have seen before, his power potential and future with the bat is very apparent. He played well defensively at 3rd base and also has major D1 ability on the mound as well. Davidson has a chance to be a very high draft pick in 2009, particularly if he settles in as a 3rd baseman.

Jiovanni Mier  SS - 2009 - Pomona, CA
Southern California

Mier is talented all-around player in terms of feel and instincts for the game, not to mention his outstanding ability. He has good present day stuff (87-89 mph and a good breaking ball) on the mound and a body and arm action that promise more velocity to come. Mier is also a high level defensive player and flashes potential with the bat to match.

David Nick  MIF - 2009 - Cypress, CA
UCLA

He has high ability, skill level, and polish as a hitter, baserunner, and defensive player. His feel and instincts for the game are rare for any player, let alone a rising junior. It is hard to imagine that there is a more polished player or better pure hitter in his age group. Though he played very well at shortstop, Nick likely will push to 2nd base in the future.

Nick Berhel  RHP - 2009 - Benicia, CA
Southern California

He has a lively and loose arm with an athletic delivery and looks to have a very high ceiling on the mound, even as a 6’1” RHP. He sat in the 87-89 mph range on back to back days and was the only pitcher to touch 90 mph in the event. His breaking ball flashes as an above average pitch and once he gains more consistency of it, watch out. With some more physicality, Berhel could be sitting in the low-90s.

Andrew Susac  C - 2009 - Roseville, CA
Oregon State

The top defensive and offensive catcher in the event, Susac rates with the top catchers in the nation in his age group. He banged the ball in the gaps with power and also unleashed a couple of sub 1.9 throws to 2nd base in game situations, including a 1.81 toss to get one would-be runner. He plays with energy and life in his body and plays hard.

Jonathan Singleton  1B - 2009 - Lakewood, CA
Long Beach State

The top power performer in the showcase was this left-handed slugger. His home run on day two of the event was the only ball to leave spacious Arrowhead Credit Union Park. He is a physical presence in the box and his power plays today, with the chance to also hit for solid average. Singleton is also solid around the bag at 1st base.

Jeff Gelalich  OF - 2009 - La Verne, CA
UCLA

This toolsy outfielder is on the verge of really breaking out. He is a left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and arm that will play in center or right field. His baseball instincts are apparent when he is on the bases and in his outfield routes. As he gets stronger and continues to develop look for Gelalich to gain more and more attention as one of the top players in Southern California.

John Altobelli  SS - 2009 - Newport Beach, CA
Oregon

Altobelli is an outstanding player who can hold his own in comparison to most ’09 middle infielders. He does everything on the diamond well and has a complete all-around game. He is a coach’s son and plays with a steadiness and savvy that is apparent. His tools do not stand out when graded individually but taken as a whole he grades out well as a baseball player.

Joel Thys  C - 2009 - Auburn, CA
Sonoma State

Both Thys and Susac were on the same team and both are outstanding young catchers. Thys is a switch-hitter and showed promise with the bat, particularly from the left side. On the field he has a very strong presence and looks like a natural leader. He has good catch-throw skills, receives very well and also brings those intangibles to the position. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate him.

Keenyn Walker  OF - 2009 - Salt Lake City, UT
Central Arizona CC

Walker is one of those players that a scout is drawn too, because of his athleticism and body type. His 6.59 60-yard time was the fastest at the event and he showed above average arm strength. He is a switch-hitter and though his swing has some length, Walker made good adjustments from at-bat to at-bat and ended the event with two straight hits from the left side. The more he plays, the better he will get.

Brooks Pounders  RHP - 2009 - Temecula, CA
Southern California

Pounders wowed us in January at the California Underclass Showcase and though he only touched up to 87 mph, he once again showed a true power slider that is a very special pitch. His velocity should return to the 88-89 mph flash we saw in January which will make his outstanding secondary stuff that much better. Fastball command is an issue that needs to be worked out.

Corey Black  MIF - 2009 - San Diego, CA
San Diego State

He is a true utility player and showed well in the outfield, infield, behind the plate and on the mound. Black has a plus arm and routinely made hard line drive contact to all fields. Chances are his velocity on the mound (86) would have been higher had he not been worn down from all the throwing at all the positions before pitching. He topped at 92 mph from the outfield.

Nolan Arenado  SS - 2009 - Lake Forrest, CA
Arizona State

His physical bat stood out as one of the best in the event and he showed the hands, feet, and arm that will make him an above average defensive 3rd baseman when he moves there full-time sometime in the near future. He played well at shortstop but his physical build and foot speed will move him.

Christian Walker  3B - 2009 - Limerick, PA
South Carolina

His versatility as a strong-armed/soft-handed 3rd baseman and solid catcher really adds to his present day ability with the bat. Walker is quite physical and made a lot of hard contact, with some natural lift in his swing that suggests good power potential.

Clay Cederquist  1B - 2009 - Fresno, CA
Fresno State

Young left handed hitters with projectable bodies and a very visible instinct for hitting are not to be ignored. Cederquist fits that description. He has a lively, whippy swing with some present day pullside power and plays all phases of the game aggressively with passion from the first pitch to the last.

Evan Brock  RHP - 2009 - Chino Hills, CA
UC Irvine

Though he is a fringy 6’0” right-hander, Brock has good stuff and a quick, easy arm that cannot be ignored. He has good feel of a downer curveball with hard bite and depth to go with his 85-87 mph fastball. The upper-80s are not far down the road for him.

Billy Wardell  LHP - 2009 - Oakley, CA
UNLV

He is a twitchy young athlete with a good arm and athleticism. His fastball sat at 85-86 mph, topped at 87 and was complemented by a tight breaking ball that he threw with feel. He competes well and attacked hitters from the first pitch.

Jonathan Meyer  RHP - 2009 - San Diego, CA
Clemson

The best breaking ball belonged to Meyer. His 73-75 mph slider is an “out-pitch” and his 82-84 mph fastball has good sink. As he gets stronger, look for Meyer to creep toward the upper-80s with the fastball and upper-70s with that slider. Right handed hitters looked very bad against him.

Ryan Wilkins  RHP - 2009 - San Diego, CA
San Diego State

Though he has a high effort delivery and violent head action, Wilkins’ stuff rated well. He needs to command his 84-86 mph fastball much better but he did show good feel of a sharp 74-78 mph breaking ball and mid-70s change-up.

Haden Hinkle  RHP - 2009 - Madera, CA
Uncommitted

Hinkle passes the eye test and was intriguing in his first outing with a low-80s fastball but mid-upper 70s slider. He really got our attention on day two when he went up to 85 mph with the fastball and 77-79 mph with the slider. Stay tuned. The fastball velocity jump could come at any time for him.

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2010 Top Prospects

Tony Wolters  IF - 2010 - Vista, CA
San Diego

Wolters is a gamer with high skill level. His left handed bat is advanced for his age and his feel for playing defense is already outstanding. He looked very comfortable in the game and looks like he may be one of those players that can slow the game down and impact each game he plays.

Trent Zaks  MIF - 2010 - Cypress, CA
UC Irvine

Zaks is yet another outstanding infielder from Cypress HS. His feel for the defensive side of the game and advanced hitting approach favorably resemble his high school teammate David Nick at the same stage of development, though he is not quite the runner or pure athlete that Nick is. He is a winner and skilled ballplayer.