The following is directly from the scouting notebook of Butch Baccala from the Area Code Underclass Games.
Chase Cotton, RHP (2028) — Whitney High School (CA) | 6-0/195
The legend of Chase continues to grow as he dominated with stuff, pitch ability, and mound confidence. Great body tempo and speed thru his delivery to release. Great feel for making baseball move 4 ways. Fastball was 92-95 mph with 2291-2413 spin rate.
Ability to control and command both sides of the plate with pitches, then he starts playing with the hitters with an 82-84 mph CB that spins 2450-2550 and moves top to bottom. Then when he wants to get cute, he throws another 60 pitch his changeup 77-82 2040-2280 spin rates.
His equipment continues to get better, and right now this ’28 pitches with three 6’s, potentially 6 control and command, and to put the cherry on top, pitches with 70 pitch-ability on a grading scale of 2-8. Some good prospects here, but he may be the leader on the board.
Brandon Williams, RHP(2028) — Franklin High School (CA) | 6-4/210
My first look ever at Williams, and when I tell you the mind can go berserk watching this player’s mound ability and projection. It may not get better than this. Frame, Body projection in the future, and the artillery this RHP carries in his arsenal, you can only think Aircraft Carrier. Potential No. 1 starter. Fastball 93-95 mph with 2445-2604 spin rates. Curveball was 76-80 mph and 2413-2695 spin rates, and the baseball disappears. Has great levers in his throwing actions. To say it will end up being an 80 fastball with a 70 curveball from a scouting perspective is in no way a reach.
Nolan Taylor, RHP (2028) — Northfield High School (CO) | 6-4/190
Weapons and pitchability with a body type that should eventually be an innings eater. Loved his four-pitch mix; his ability to dance all over the strike zone with finish and swing-and-miss life stood out. Fastball was 90-93 mph with 2500 and above spin rates. Pitched with both a CB 71-73 mph and 2291-2370 spin, and then, for good measure, here comes my slider at 80-81 mph with 2350 spin. Has throw-off-timing pitch versus LHH in sinking darting changeup that spins 1810-1975. A strong D1 package. Body, stuff, and strike-throwing ability will get MLB scouts’ attention.
Luke Esquivel, LHP (2028) — Southlake Carroll High School (TX) | 6-3/195
Right away, I went with the Chuck Finley comp. Nasty, tough to see, explosive plate life and challenges strike zone and pitching to contact. Good luck. Chance to be a high-strikeout starter type. Fastball worked 90-93 mph with 2300-2400 spin rates. Slider was dashing and darting with finishing life at 78-80 with 2500-2800 spin. Then he threw in his ‘take timing off’ pitch to righties at 77-79 mph and 1800-2000 spin on his changeup. Really liked his mound demeanor and the intangibles involved in becoming a major league starter. Big-time D1 prospect as well as MLB prospect.
Carter Unger, RHP (2028) — Kewaskum High School (WI) | 6-3/185
Strapping strong frame, Midwest strong and projectable. Really loved his 3/4 slot and how he really got downhill on the baseball; 90-93 FB with 2500 and above spin rates. Power curveball that had teeth thru the strike zone at 78 mph with 2650 spin, and his slider that was 78-80 with 2650-2755 spin. All the equipment is there, ability to fire strikes, and projection oozes off his body for the future. Power 4 D1 ability.
Lucas Letts, RHP (2028) — Sierra Canyon School (CA) | 6-3/210
Strong, sturdy frame. Carries good weight thru thighs and upper chest. Arm worked fast and clean. Power actions thru the baseball, and the ball pushed bats back and was heavy. Fastball today at 90-93 mph with spin rates 2200-2350. Curveball was fast at 75-78 with 2350-2430 spin, and he could place the ball with tight, top-to-bottom break. Changeup showed action and fade and projectable pitch for the future. Liked his future projection. Strength huge factor here. Pushes bats back.
Jude Huff, LHP (2028) — Magnolia West High School (TX) | 6-3/185
Went with an Al Leiter comp. Everything out of his hand had life and finish. Levers really worked, and showed some snap, crackle, and pop with his slider. Fastball was 89-93 mph, spun 2200-2450. Slider was a potential out pitch at 77-78 mph, spinning in the 2300-2400 range, and he got swing-and-misses and freezes. Liked how his ball finished and fastball showed good riding life. D1 scenario at this evaluation time.
Cullen Scott, RHP (2028) — Melissa High School (TX) | 6-3/220
It would be very dangerous to leave out the best pure arm I watched today. Fastball was 96-100 mph — yes, 100 mph, he touched twice. Spin times 2360-2600. It was impressive that a 16-year-old can be sitting 96 and then says, ‘I’m gonna uptick my stuff and reach 100.’ He did, saw it with my own eyes. Who doesn’t want 100 mph arms? Pitched more with his changeup today than he did with his slider. It’s an easy, strong, deliberate delivery that shows some arm side sink. Wanted more swings and misses with stuff, but hitters’ adrenaline starts to pump as well. Will be fun to see where it goes next two years,s but the best pure arm I’ve seen all year.
T0mmy Driver RHP (2029) — Ballston Spa (NY) | 6-5/192
You want to talk about some very uncomfortable at-bats for hitters? Then, your answer would have been Mr Driver. Just an absolute giant on the hill, and an uncomfortable, wide 3/4 slot and massive sink to go with a FB up to 95 mph with spin at 2200-2350. It was all of plus life armside and right at RHH hands. Slider was short with sweeping type break — yes short — and the spin and speed at 80- 82 mph with 2450-2600 spin readings. Good control of delivery.
James Fenton, RHP (2028) — Metuchen High School (NJ) | 6-4/195
Oh boy, this guy had my blood pumping. Absolutely loved his stuff. His stuff has life. His feel for changing speeds and, most importantly, his ability to miss bats. Fastball was 92-94 mph with spin readings from 2260-2400. Showed ability to speed the ball up and throttle down, and I graded his slider as a 60/70 pitch at 79-81 mph with a spin rate finish of 2500-2573. He showed a changeup. But I watched a pitcher whose two big weapons were enough. Pitching with a future 7 is not a bad place to start.
Notables
Mason Little, RHP (2028) — Gulfport High School (MS) | 6-0/190
Gavin Chakar, RHP (2028) — The Stonybrook School (CT) | 6-3/190
Anthony Frausto III, LHP (2028) — Davenport High School (TX) | 5-11/200
Ty Pohl, LHP (2028) —Â Evansville North High School (IN) | 6-3/195
Jimmy O’Connor, RHP (2028) — Nazareth Academy (IL) | 6-1/185
Cole Albert, RHP (2028) — Vermillion Catholic (LA) |Â 6-5/175
Evan Hedlund, LHP (2028)– Casteel High School (AZ) | 5-10/170
Robert Hayward II, RHP (2028) — St John’s Bosco (CA) | 6-5/200
Matthew Prior, RHP (2028) — Saint Augustine High School (CA) |Â 6-4/185
Collin McGowan, RHP (2028) —Â Battle Ground High School (WA) | 6-5/215
Transitioning into leadership, he served as Vice President of Scouting for Program 15 Sports and the Future Stars Series and National Director of Scouting for Prospect Wire. Since 2019, he has served as President and Owner of Athlete911 Baseball.
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