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High School  | General  | 3/21/2018

High School Notebook: March 21

Steve Fiorindo     
Photo: Perfect Game

The high school notebook is designed to share notes and video on players that stand out during the high school season and new features will be released regularly. This will include in-game looks, reports, analysis and video from Perfect Game's scouting staff. If you have news on a player in your area that is performing at a high level that we should have eyes on please reach out to Vinnie Cervino at vincent@perfectgame.org. Also feel free to share your video highlights on Twitter @vcervinopg.

High School Notebook: March 7


Matt McLain, SS, Beckman (Calif.)

One of the stronger and more physical prospects in the region, pound-for-pound, is Matt McLain. The strength and physical advancement stand out despite the height, however McLain is one of the more polished offensive prospects in the region with an impressive offensive resume tacked up during his high school career. In a recent look, McLain crushed a hard hit single and launched a home run to left centerfield that was a no-doubt shot. He works the count well and looks to drive the ball to all fields; also he showed off his range on a play up the middle where he fielded cleanly, spun around, and made an accurate throw across. The defensive versatility stands out for McLain as he is a good enough athlete to play all around the infield and the outfield in various looks. He has outstanding instincts on a baseball field and gets out of the box well too posting run times in the 4.15-4.25 second range. McLain should make an immediate impact if he makes it to campus at UCLA, but is also a very polished draft prospect in his own right. 


Gabe Briones, C, Martin Luther King (Calif.)

A 2019 Southern California commit, Briones already shows some of the more advanced defensive skills out of anyone in the class. He's an extremely strong and physical prospect with lots of strength and size throughout the lower half of the frame. The arm strength plays well as he is aggressive with keeping baserunners at bay with multiple backpicks to first base. Briones also popped a 1.89 second time in game to nail a runner easily trying to advance and he shows good flexibility and athleticism behind the dish. The offensive skills flash with a patient approach and barreled a hard hit ball during this look. 





Jacob Billiu, RHP, Martin Luther King (Calif.)

A loose-armed righthanded pitching prospect who plays on Briones' team, the projectable arm flashed an intriguing four-pitch mix during this look. The uncommitted prospect stands at around 6-feet tall with lots of room ont eh frame for additional strength. He worked in the 86-88 mph range with the fastball and topped out at 89 mph early on while mixing in two distinct breaking balls: a curveball in the low-70s and a slider in the 74-76 mph range. The slider is the better pitch currently, with tighter rotation and a little bit better feel for it than the curveball. Billiu flashed a changeup with some action to it at 79 mph, only flashed it but did rack up a strikeout on the pitch. There's still lots of projection and room for strength on the frame and the arm speed and looseness of the arm action indicate he'll be throwing harder in the near future.


Trevor Cadd, OF, Martin Luther King (Calif.)

Trevor Cadd is a pretty physical prospect with good size, 6-foot-3 and 170-pounds, with lots of strength and size to be added to the frame. The Cal State Fullerton commit has solid tools across the board. He plays centerfield for his high school team but projects as a corner profile draft-wise. Cadd looks to drive the ball with authority but will work the oppo gap as well. Most of the strength comes to the pull side and will have more to come upon physical maturation. Cadd currently possesses above average arm strength and could develop into a nice right field profile if he gets to school for Fullerton. 


Chandler Champlain, RHP, Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)

Creating some early buzz in the Southern California region is Chandler Champlain, who has quickly established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the area for the 2018 draft. Champlain is a Southern California commit with a large frame and lots of strength and physicality to the build. He gives you a Roger Clemens vibe in terms of body size and delivery. Champlain has a lively fastball, which worked up to 95 mph in the first inning and sat mostly 89-92 mph for the duration of the outing. The velocity dips just a hair from the stretch and gets life on the fastball when working to either side; flashes arm side run when working arm side and gets cut on the fastball when working to the glove side. Champlain goes to the curveball often with traditional 12/6 shape. The pitch is very sharp and is a swing-and-miss offering. The pitch was up to 78 mph with lots of tilt and depth; Champlain also flashed a changeup to a lefthanded hitter with slight sink and fading action. This look was during a lightly misted day, which could have affected his velocity, however it was a strong showing nonetheless. 


Kyle Luckham, RHP, El Dorado (Calif.)

One of the early risers in terms of draft stock has been Kyle Luckham who, after missing some of the bigger national events during the Summer circuit, has gained some helium early this spring. He has a projectable pitcher's frame with room to add strength with an already very strong lower half. The delivery works well as he can repeat the mechanics and he has a very quick arm. The Cal State Fullerton commit attacks hitters with a three pitch mix. The fastball worked in the 89-92 mph range and he bumped a couple of 93s and 94s. The fastball has exceptional life, with lots of arm side run and sink which allows the fastball to play even better than the velocity. He controls the fastball well, but could perhaps improve the command with a bit more balance. The breaking ball varies from a slurve-like offering to a big slider. He wears out the arm side corner with the pitch and expands effectively for chases. The changeup is a pretty good pitch too and he throws it often for a high school pitcher and really trusts it. Luckham keeps the changeup low with fading and sinking life and repeats his arm action well on the pitch. He has a true three pitch mix and this was an extremely good look at the righthander. 


Victor Vodnik, RHP, Rialto (Calif.)

A Cal State Northridge commit, Vodnik previously opened a lot of eyes at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter and looks to take that draft momentum into the spring. Vodnik is around 6-foot, but very well-proportioned with good strength on the frame. The arm is big, has been seen up to 96 mph in the past, but powered through the competition very well. Vodnik struck out eleven batters in five innings while allowing no hits. He works more on the first base side with a direct stride to the plate. He loads the lower half well with a short arm stroke through the back. The fastball worked primarily in the 88-91 mph range while bumping a couple of 92s and 93s on the gun. Vodnik mixed in a curveball up to 80 mph with short downer action and flashed a changeup at 83 mph. 




Brandon Dieter, SS/RHP, South Hills (Calif.)

PG All-American Brandon Dieter is one of the more polished and accomplished high school pitchers in the country. The fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range and he touched 90 and 91 mph with good arm side run to the pitch. He moved the fastball all over the four quadrants, running the pitch in on both left and righthanded hitters. Dieter used the fastball well to change the eye level and set up his offspeed pitches, especially the changeup. The pitch is a plus offering with fade and sink in the 79-81 mph range. The Stanford commit throws the changeup with confidence to both righthanded and lefthanded hitters and doubles up on the pitch often to rack up a lot of swing and miss. The curveball worked mostly in the low-70s and settled in to be a weapon, both as getting it over the plate for strikes and utilizing it as a swing and miss offering. Lots of competitive energy and likely one of the few guys you would want to have the ball for your team in a big game. Dieter had a quiet day at the plate, but is a legitimate draft prospect as a shortstop as well when he is not pitching for South Hills. 


Ethan Rivera, IF/C, Ayala (Calif.)

The one mistake from Dieter came to Ethan Rivera and he launched a home run deep to the pull side. He has a solid, athletic build and his future home is likely behind the plate although he is buried a bit on the depth chart. Rivera gets high praise for his receiving skills and arm strength, pretty advanced for a 2020 graduate. The righthanded hitter played first base during this look and shows a knack for barreling baseballs. Rivera's pop also showed as he was able to take a high fastball deep and should continue to get looks from high-level colleges. 


Joseph Naranjo, 1B/LHP, Ayala (Calif.)

A junior and Cal State Fullerton commit, Joe Naranjo has a physical build with a strong foundation. He DH'd during this look and has a very polished, advanced approach at the plate. Naranjo has slective aggression and can turn hard on baseballs. The pitch recognition and approach are very professional, as he showed a solid adjustment mid-at-bat to barrel a changeup and pull another one for a hit to the pull side. There are some similarities to former Southern California stand out Nick Pratto in the field and at the plate while moving around the bag well and shows the ability to pick the ball in the dirt. Quiet at the plate with a smooth, leveraged swing to bring about big power. 
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