By John Cackowski
State Director

With our recent 2016 rankings update reaching 150 players, there were many players that moved up, and also were new to the list. Below is a look at some of the top risers and newcomers after the fall baseball season. Our next update will come after the Preseason All-State event on 2-28-16 at Slammers South Facility. 

 

RHP Tanner Johnson (Garden City CC) and RHP Christian Manmano (Uncommitted, Legend HS) both shot up the rankings after impressive showings this fall with improved velocity and off-speed stuff bumping them into the top 30 in the state.

Manmano jumped more than 20 spots after he showcased sharp stuff at the Unsigned Senior Games, and bringing a mid 80's fastball throughout the fall. At 5-foot-11, 160-pounds, Manmano has some room to grow with a delivery that should allow him to maintain his stuff for long stretches. Manmano has shown reliable control of the zone with multiple pitches and an improved curveball that keeps hitters off balance.

Johnson was not only impressive on the mound with a fastball that sits between 84-85 mph jumping 25 spots from his previous ranking. Previous to this fall we’ve seen his fastball sit in the 79-80 range in the state playoffs last spring with the projectability for more, it was just a matter of when. Early this summer we saw Johnson throw 90 mph from right field, then this fall we saw his fastball sit around 84-85 in games with a nice change with fade at 72-73.

Inside the top ten, RHP/1B Travis Marr (Clemson) jumped four spots to No. 7 in the state. It’s only four  spots but with the level of talent at the top of this class it speaks volumes to how well Marr has thrown the baseball this fall.

New to the list at No. 50 is RHP Dane Kapande (Uncommitted, Evergreen HS) At 5-foot-10, 165 pounds Kapande is a little bit of an unknown in our state that will for sure be noticed this spring. First time we saw him in the Slammers Labor Day Tournament we we came away impressed. Pitching against a good Atlanta Braves Scout Team,  Kapande was blowing his 87 mph fastball by the hitters from a very deceptive delivery. Has a quick motion to the plate from a high 3/4 arm slot. Ball jumps on your fast. Curve ball has good tilt with 10/5 shape. Attacks hitters with fast pace.

Also new to the rankings at 53 is RHP/1B Gaven Gifford (Uncommitted, Brighton HS) Gifford showed up on the PBR radar this fall with a massive frame at 6-5, 230 pounds. In one game this fall in the Slammers Memorial Day Tournament Giffford struck out 14 batters in 6 innings sitting at 87 mph. Gifford is a legitimate  prospect for someone at the next level.

Rounding out our top risers is LHP Zach Sundine (Central Arizona) who moved up 20 spots cracking the top 58 in the state. Sundine could be one of the better LHP in the state this spring for Grandview HS.

CLICK HERE for complete Colorado 2016 Rankings.