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2024 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hits

June 16, 2023
Shea Sbranti & Jason Ferrari
Arizona Scouting Director

On Tuesday June 13th, Prep Baseball Report Arizona hosted the 2024 Top Prospect Games at the Milwaukee Brewers complex. The Top Prospect games is an invite only event to all prospects in the 2024 class. Giving the players the chance to showcase their skills in front of the PBR Arizona Staff using state-of-the-art technology on field. 

Today, we’ll start by giving you the Top Performers from the Top Prospect Games, which we like to call Quick Hits. In Quick Hits you will be able to see how these players tested and were evaluated by the PBR Arizona Staff throughout the showcase. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more post event coverage.

FULL EVENT COVERAGE

Jacob Croxford OF / C / Liberty , AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 63 / POS: 16

One of the top performers at this years 2024 Top Prospect Games was uncommitted outfielder Jacob Croxford. Croxford stood out defensively early on showing athleticism with the glove and an event high 90 mph arm. At the plate Croxford has a tall stance with a quick bat that produced consistent hard contact to the gaps and an EV of 98 mph. Croxford is a high follow for the Arizona staff as he has made some big strides this spring leading into his summer season. 

 

Cesar Montoya C / C / Tolleson, AZ / 2024

Uncommitted prospect and Tolleson high school catcher Cesar Montoya had a great day on both sides of the ball at the 2024 Top Prospect games starting with the defensive portion behind the dish. Montoya showed off a rocket of an arm at 81mph with true flight translating into a 1.88-1.92 pop time. At the dish Montoya has a simple toe lift load and direct path producing a 92.8 max EV. 

 

Bryan Lorenz 1B / 3B / Northwest Christian, AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 75 / POS: 7

The uncommitted corner infielder was one of the top prospects to show up on Tuesday Morning and had the big swing of the day driving one half way up the net behind the left field wall. Lorenz has a confident glove in the field with a strong arm across at 84mph with athleticism. At the plate the right handed hitter showed of some strength putting a couple balls over the left field wall with a max EV of 97.3. Lorenz was put on the PBR map this spring during the high school season and is a high follow for the Arizona staff. 

 

Brendan Burke C / 3B / Desert Vista , AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 4

Future games representative and top uncommitted catcher in the 2024 class Brendan Burke had a great showing in Tuesdays Top Prospect Games. Burke showed high level actions behind the plate with a 76mph arm and 1.88-1.95 pop time. Throughout the spring high school season Burke showed to have a high level baseball IQ for Desert Vista. At the plate Burke has a simple light lift load with good feel for the barrel. We look forward to following Burke as he goes into his senior season at DV. 

 

Jose Simon-Aguirre OF / C / Salpointe Catholic , AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 40 / POS: 8

At the plate and on the field Simon-Aguirre showed strong athleticism and versatility within his game.Out of the box flashed a strong run tool and ability to move well on the base paths. Defensivelydisplayed a strong arm with clean mechanics. At the plate created plenty of power within his swing anddemonstrated a consistent ability to utilize his upper and lower half within each swing. Flashes plenty ofpower potential. Showed plenty of tools on the field and at the plate.

 

Kyle Pettigrew 3B / Desert Mountain, AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 14 / POS: 1

Pettigrew flashed plenty of tools on the mound and field with high levels of athleticism and build. On themound flashed a fastball ranging from 85-87 with late ride into the zone, while showing spin ratesaveraging from 2100-2200 rpm. The slider showed sweeping movement with some vertical depth, whilecreating swing miss inside and outside of the zone. On the mound shows clean mechanics with fluidmotions. At the plate showed quick hands and the ability to consistently create line drive contact.Pettigrew produced some of the highest exit velos on the day with the peak exit velocity of 99.9 mph.Overall Pettigrew showed plenty of strength at the plate and ability to compete on the mound, withplenty of projectability within his game.

 

Wyatt Schottel LHP / OF / Cactus Shadows , AZ / 2024

On the mound Schottel flashed a four pitch mix with a fastball ranging from 84-86 with solid tight spinaveraging 2200 rpm and upwards of 2350 rpm. The fastball flashed strong late ride into the zone. Theslider showed slurve type movement as well as a sweeping action. Schottel shows plenty of physicalgrowth to be had on the mound with his tall lanky frame but demonstrated athleticism while flashing astrong fastball.


 

Gunnar Penzkover CF / RHP / Northwest Christian , AZ / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 37 / POS: 1

Penzkover on the mound showed high levels of athleticism and the ability to throw multiple pitches forstrikes. With a fastball ranging from 84-87 and topping out at 88, it showed plenty of arm side run andthe ability to create swing miss. The slider flashes tight spin with late depth and a strong command forthe zone while creating whiff. Penzkover fields his position well and shows plenty of confidence on themound.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Top Prospect Games: Class of 2025 AZ 06/12 Brewers Spring Training Fields - Phoenix, AZ
Top Prospect Games: Class of 2024 AZ 06/13 Brewers Spring Training Fields - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Open AZ 07/11 Scottsdale Stadium - Scottsdale, AZ
PBR Junior Future Games NATIONAL 07/25 LakePoint
2023 PBR Future Games (Arizona Invite) AZ 07/26 LakePoint Sports - Cartersville, GA


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