Prep Baseball Report

Top Performer Spotlight: 2020 OF/3B/P Nick Kresnak


Blaine Clemmens
Northern California Director of Scouting

As we head into the fall/winter season we are publishing "Top Performer Spotlights" on players who stood out at past PBR California events, PBR officially scouted events and tournaments, and/or the summer circuit. In this edition we'll take a look at 2020 OF/RHP Nick Kresnak, who was a standout at numerous events and tournaments all summer, including Bay Area World Series 2018, a PBR officially scouted showcase. Kresnak is highly ranked in the 2020 class and is still weighing his options for college.

We first saw Kresnak in the early part of the 2018 high school season, in a great cross-section game last February 24th, between Acalanes and Vacaville HS (eventual winner of the SJS D1 title). Kresnak pounded the ball that day (2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI) and then came in from the outfield to pitch in a big situation with the game on the line. He was up to the task for 3.1 innings, giving up one hit, punching out seven while walking two, as Acalanes eventually won the game 7-5 in 8 innings. Both teams were loaded with D1 talent and Kresnak stood out as one of the better players. 

Let's take a closer look at 2020 Nick Kresnak of Acalanes HS, in Lafayette, CA. Acalanes will be one of top teams in the Bay Area this coming spring.

Nick Kresnak

Class of 2020 / 3B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2020
  • Primary Position: 3B
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: Acalanes
    State: CA
  • Summer Team: Zoots
  • Height: 6-1
    Weight: 200lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Pitching
86
Max FB
(07/11/19)
83 - 85
FB
68 - 70
CB
70 - 74
CH
Pitching
Max FB
85
FB
81 - 83
CB
66 - 69
CH
72 - 73
Position
7.02
60-yard
83
INF Velo
(05/31/19)
93
Exit Velo
(06/09/19)
4.46
H-1st
Position
60-yard
7.37
INF Velo
82
Position
60-yard
7.34
INF Velo
82
Exit Velo
93
Position
60-yard
7.33
INF Velo
83
Exit Velo
88

Scouting Report

QUICK TAKE

Kresnak is a talented player, whether hitting or pitching. Though he is a quality pitcher and can certainly compete at a high level on the mound with his stuff and above average pitchability, it is his offensive talent that draws Kresnak the most attention. He's a strong young player with tools and skill and to use a phrase I was told years ago by a scouting director, he has 'usability of the ability' and frankly, so many talented players just simply don't. He's played a lot of outfield in the last year as the starting 3rd baseman at Acalanes was a senior who is now at Fresno State. Will be interesting to see if he stays in the outfield or makes a move back to 3rd base this spring.

SCOUTING REPORTS

8/10-8/12/18: Medium, long frame with strength in upper/lower half and showing tight waist; physically mature with limited growth potential. Simple, balanced stance with limited hands movement during controlled load; compact, quick turns while keeping his hands tight to the body and showing his strong, lofty wrists with current pull power. Showed off power in batting practice regularly driving balls into the pull gap and over the fence. Average runner uses quick, longer stride to get down line (4.5, 4.6 home-to-first). Defensively played solid average in corner spots with fringy average in CF; willing to dive and make spectacular plays in both spots and can track down balls hit over his head. More athletic than build shows with ability to open hips and track down ball into gaps. Below average arm that has flashes of average on throws when needed; caught runner at 3B who was trying to extend double from CF with throw that had carry through the cut man. Pitched in two outings showing a simple delivery with controlled step/turn on the mound allowing his hands to break upon average knee lift. Arm was clean out of glove and gets to 3/4 with average arm speed. FB 83-85 MPH was straight in both outings; ability to pitch at the upper half of the zone and get lots of weak popups. CB 65-66 MPH showed slow spin with limited depth from a 12/6 break; has the ability to change the shape when needing to have the pitch have more bite through the zone. CHG 71-73 MPH with late sink and run to the arm side off the fastball path; able to be used for easy groundballs and for swing and miss when set up properly. Finished with 3 innings pitched and 3 strikeouts while giving up no hits, a walk and hitting a guy.

7/14-7/15/18: Solid and sturdy frame with present strength and wider shoulders; firm build with rounding in shoulders. Wide, even hands at plate with very quick and tight turns showing ability to create loud line drives into both gaps; bat has some loft with more power coming. Showed off ability to drive ball in games with extra-bases against off-speed pitches driving 2B and 3B into RCF. Average runner (7.02 60-yd Dash, 5.03T on 2B) being better underway and ability to turn it up when needed; ranged well glove side in outfield to track down balls. Average arm in OF showing carry to bases through cut man. On the mound shows a simple delivery with hands staying at the shoulders and average knee; quick compact arm before high-3/4 release. Fastball 82-85 showing small arm side sink but mainly pitching to top half of the zone with life. curveball 65-69 with 12/6 actions and 2-level break showing flashes of above average depth. Change-up 70-71 with small arm-side sink; limited depth, but keeps hitters off fastball as they come out of same tunnel and path to plate. Both off-speed pitches play up when he is attacking in upper half of zone for strikes and swing/miss.

6/1/18-6/3/18 @ BAWS 2018 - Tall stance with toe tap timing mechanism. Utilizes toe tap to get hands to turn barrel into zone with ability to keep hands tight and pull ball into deep gap; possibly more power available. Middle approach in game with ability to keep hands back and drive. Slightly above average arm in outfield with ability to develop. Ran better in game than in batting practice. Ability to hit and hit with power are certainly present, imposing presence at the plate with hitterish feel. On mound showed compact, easy arm actions as hands stay tight to the chest. Excellent finish out over the front knee allowing for excellent angle down through the zone. Fastball 83-85 with short run arm side and showing life at the plate on the pitch. Curveball 67-68 with 12/6 shape and above average depth of the pitch. Showed an ability to spot curveball over plate for easy strikes or to break through the zone for swing and miss.

2/24/18 - Uncommitted. Physical young player who at 6-foot-1 200-pounds has strong arms and hands with a strong lower body, brings a noticeable presence to the field. Balanced stance with even feet slightly wider than shoulders, high hand set, quiet small load, compact swing with strength and bat speed, works through contact and can drive the ball to all fields (3B over centerfielder's head) and gets excellent extension, strong top hand on pitches up in the zone, good 2k approach. Demonstrated situational hitting ability by getting a pitch to lift and driving in a run with F8 late in tight game. Ran bases well with very nice BID read, runs bags hard and takes no plays off. Playing right field his soph year, has strong arm that tracks well and throws stay online, good read on hard hit ball to his right and toward gap. Good high school pitcher with very good fastball command, particularly to the glove side, showed steely nerves and ability to compete in tough spots, has feel of both curveball and changeup, slight cross-body stride but repeats quite well. 



UPCOMING EVENTS