2017 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index

www.sccbaseball.com
Year Established: 2008
States represented: California
No. of teams: 6
Regular season Champion (best overall record): Palm Springs Power (35-3)
Postseason Champion: Palm Springs Power

Player of the Year: Ryan Mota, 1b, Palm Springs (California Baptist/R-JR in 2018)
Pitcher of the Year: Sawyer Gibson-Long, rhp, Palm Springs (Mercer/SO in 2018)


Top 5 Prospects

1. Jacob Rebar, lhp, Palm Springs (Utah/SO in 2018)
Although he didn’t post great numbers (5.72 ERA in 39.1 innings) Rebar got some good on-the-job training as a freshman at Utah, and did manage to strike out more batters (44) than innings pitched, but he also walked too many (29). He improved his command this summer, posting a 52-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 1/3 innings, going 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in the process. Rebar quickly passes the eye test with a strongly built 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame and records outs with a running 88-90 mph fastball that peaks at 92.

2. Ryan Mota, 1b, Palm Springs (California Baptist/R-JR in 2018)
After beginning his college career at San Diego State, where he redshirted, Mota spent the past two years at Riverside City College before transferring to Cal Baptist for his junior year of eligbility. His 6-foot-4, 240-pound physical stature matched his performance at the plate this summer, hitting .404 with 13 homers and 38 RBI in 30 games for the league champions. Mota shows a good approach at the plate and knows how to use his size to create leverage, and can also pitch in a pinch as well.

3. Sawyer Gipson-Long, rhp, Palm Springs (Mercer/SO in 2018)
With a long and strong limbs and a still-projectable 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Gipson-Long enjoyed a very successful summer after appearing in just 11 games spanning 15 1/3 innings in the spring as a freshman. He went 7-0 for the Power with a 1.10 ERA, striking out 52 and allowing just six walks and 22 hits in 41 innings. Gipson-Long has a three-pitch arsenal that includes an upper-80s fastball that peaks at 91 mph and a sharp curveball that serves as his primary out pitch.

4. John Thomas Mauldin, of, Palm Springs (New Orleans/JR in 2018)
An athletic overall outfielder with a strong 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, Mauldin carried a strong spring – he hit .293/.372/.521 with 26 extra-base hits, which included 10 homers – over to the summer for Palm Springs. He proved to do a little bit of everything with a well-rounded tool-set, hitting .374 with 20 more extra-base hits (including five homers) to go along with 35 RBI, 50 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Mauldin was especially lauded for his overall approach to the game and high baseball IQ.

5. Bryan Menendez, rhp, Palm Springs (UNLV/SR in 2018)
Menendez attacks the strike zone, challenging opposing hitters with his lively 89-91 mph fastball that can touch 93. He also mixes in a changeup and creates some deception in his delivery, and may be best used in as a short relief option as he has yet to develop a reliable third pitch. He went 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA this summer in 20 appearances, striking out 30 while allowing just 15 base hits and six walks after recording five saves while serving as the closer for UNLV as a junior this past spring.