Prep Baseball Report

AZ Athletics Scout Day: Outfield Analysis


Jordon Banfield
Arizona Scouting Director

PBR’s first travel organization scout day in Arizona took place on November 12 at Sunrise Mountain HS in Peoria. This week we begin our positional analysis from the event, continuing with the outfielders.If your organization is interested in hosting a PBR Scout Day please reach out to [email protected] or DM @PBRArizona on Twitter.

2019 Tate Childers (Mountain Ridge) took home the top spot after showing off interesting tools across the board and a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that is easy to dream on. 2020 Brock Arnold likely projects best on the mound or at 1B but also worked out in the outfield and showed off an impressive LH swing. 2019 Adam Baratta's bat speed and unsigned senior Caden's Albertson's blazing 6.66 60-yard dash round out our list. There was very little separation after the top two prospects with every outfielder in attendance showing tools to contribute at the college level.

TOP Outfield PROSPECTS

Tate Childers OF / 3B / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2019

Possessed the best looking frame at the event; standing 6-foot-3, 185 -pounds with plenty of room to continue adding strength, Childers has a chance to become a physical specimen. A solid athlete (7.01 60-yard dash), Childers is easy to dream on as he continues to refine his game. Made lots of loud contact (91 mph exit velocity) despite some crudeness in his swing, hitting with a high back elbow and uphill path. Throws from outfield with low effort and better carry than 83 mph velocity would indicate. 

 

Brock Arnold 1B / OF / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2020

Lean 6-foot, 160-pound frame with plenty of room to add strength as he matures. Two-way prospect is a strong follow as LHP and 1B and one of the top prospects at the event regardless of class. On the mound Arnold works with a compact delivery, explosive lower half and generates plenty of arm speed from a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 75-77, T78 flashing good downhill plane. There’s plenty more velo to come as he adds mass and strength to his frame. Sweeping 2-8 breaking ball showed consistent rotation at 63-66. Showed advanced feel for fading changeup with good arm speed at 71-73. At the plate, hits from tall, open setup with leg-kick trigger. Creates very little separation, using only a small negative move with his hands. Shows solid bad speed and makes an aggressive move with his lower half as he looks to lift the ball with a high two-hand finish. 79 mph exit velocity will increase rapidly with physical maturation. Defensively, his athleticism currently profiles best to 1B where he moves well and registered 76 mph infield velocity. Also worked out in outfield where he threw 78 mph. 7.58 60-yard dash with good running form. Has a chance to become a high-level prospect with significant increase in physical strength. 

 

Adam Baratta OF / 3B / St. Mary's, AZ / 2019

5-foot-11, 180-pound frame with present strength. Stood out offensively at the event, showing impressive bat speed and making lots of loud contact to the pull side. Hits from wide, balanced setup with a flat bat path and some natural loft. There is some crudeness to the swing, but the combination of strength and bat speed make him an intriguing offensive prospect. 90 mph exit velocity. Opens up very early on throws from outfield, turning in 81 mph OF velo and 7.34 60-yard dash; could also profile to 1B.

 

Caden Albertson OF / 2B / Sunrise Mountain, AZ / 2018

5-foot-11, 150-pound frame. Albertson started off the event by putting his elite speed on display with a 6.66 60-yard dash. That is his carrying tool and will give him a chance to play at the next level. Defensively, his feet work well in the outfield and he’s able to get solid carry on his throws with a clean arm action and 84 mph outfield velocity. Offensively, some continued development is needed as there isn’t a ton of strength in the swing; 79 mph exit velocity. However, with some physical maturation and a bat path that keeps the barrel in the zone longer, his speed will give him a chance to become an offensive contributor. 

 

Best of the Rest (alphabetical order)

 

Jarett Kellerhals OF / 3B / Sunrise Mountain, AZ / 2019

5-foot-11, 150-pound frame. Shows some hitting ability with simple LH swing and slight uphill path. Could stay on plane more consistently with wider base, currently hitting from narrow setup with virtually no stride.79 mph exit velocity. 7.08 runner in the 60. Worked out on the infield and in the outfield, profiling better as an outfielder where his feet work well and he gets good carry on his throws with 84 mph velocity. 

 

 

Garrett Olson C / RHP / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2020

5-foot-10, 145-pound frame with high waist. Two-way prospect shows good skills as pitcher and catcher. On the mound sat 74-75, T76 working exclusively from the stretch using a high ¾ arm slot, short stride and low effort delivery. 65-57 mph changeup with late fading action is most advanced secondary pitch. Also mixed in developing 62-64 mph breaking ball that he tending to leave up in the zone. Defensively showed good, quiet receiving ability behind the plate and turned in a best pop time of 2.2 with 69 mph velocity. The LHH uses a toe-tap trigger and does an excellent job getting on plane with the pitch, generating consistent hard contact during his round. 7.38 60-yard dash.

 

 

 

Andrew Talamante OF / Brophy College Preparatory, AZ / 2019

5-foot-9, 165-pound frame. Solid athlete turned in the second best 60-yard dash on the day with a time of 6.87. His uphill bat path produced some solid contact, but as it flattens out his speed will come into play more moving forward. Creates solid base at foot strike then shows tendency to get narrower through swing. Has enough physical strength to improve on 77 mph exit velocity. Feet work well in the outfield; short arm action and high slot produced 78 mph velocity.