Prep Baseball Report

Rising Stars State Games: West Region Analysis


Rocco Iervasi
Florida Director of Operations/Area Scout

The inaugural Rising Stars State Games took place November 7-8 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, FL. The event featured some of the top 2024-2025's in the state competing for regional bragging rights. Day one featured two showcase workout and two live games. Day two featured four games.

After all the games were finished, the North Region came out on top and captured the Rising Stars State Games crown. If you missed our Stats Story, featuring all the stats from the Rising Stars State Games, CLICK HERE.

This week we will start breaking down every player from the Rising Stars State Games region by region. We started with the North Region and East Region already. Today, we continue with the West Region. Check out complete scouting reports on every player from the West. 

West Region Analysis

Matthew Beckett OF / 2B / J.W. Mitchell, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/2B - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-8, 155-pounds. Medium, stocky frame.
Defense: Fields cleanly off the left foot with a crow-hop gather. Momentum towards the target.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. OF - 79 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Whippy arm action. Stays in line to the target.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced, athletic setup. Short stride to the ball. Level, line drive swing. Gap to gap approach. Uses both sides of the field effectively.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity. Consistently finds the barrel in game.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

Travis Clark RHP / OF / Hudson, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/OF - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Tall, stocky, athletic frame.
Defense: Choppy footwork. Shuffles field towards target. Fields out front.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Long arm action.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced, narrow setup. Leg kick load. Hands stay inside the ball. Uphill path. Creates leverage in his swing. Present bat speed.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60.  

Nick Cucchi OF / 3B / Bishop McLaughlin , FL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/3B - Uncommitted, High instinct player with a lot of upside. Stays on the barrel and has a chance to be a dangerous hitter as he continues to develop.
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Tall, athletic frame. Has started to add physicality.
Defense: OF - Quick first step. Fluid footwork. Fields cleanly out front with momentum towards the target. INF - Twitchy actions with quick feet. Soft hands.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 82 mph. Over the top arm slot. Long to short arm action.
Hit: RHH. Wide balanced setup. Rhythm in the hands. Leg kick load. Level bat path. Twitchy actions in the box. Gap-to-gap approach. Above average bat speed.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity. Ball jumps off the bat. Potential for above average power.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Slow, balanced, tall and drive delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Over the top arm slot. Short to long arm action.
FB: T78, 74-78 mph. Armside run.
CB: 65-68 mph. 12/6 shape. Competitive low in the zone.
CH: 64-66 mph. Fading action.

Rocco DeMarinis 3B / 1B / Plant, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: 3B/1B - Uncommitted, Found the barrel all weekend long. Chance to be an impact bat at the next level.
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Tall, stocky, strong frame.
Defense: Projects as a corner infielder. Average footwork in the infield. Fields out front with a two hand gather.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. 3/4 arm slot. Long arm action. Carry on throws.
Hit: RHH. Wide balanced setup. Athletic base. Short toe tap stride. Repeatable and on time. Easy athletic actions in the box. Level swing. Present bat speed.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity. Power potential to the pullside gap.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Fluid, drop and drive delivery.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 arm slot. Whippy arm action.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Natural run.
CH: 50-56 mph. Slow. Eephus like.

Domenic Fernandez SS / 2B / Berkeley Prep , FL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, Chance to be an above average defender.
Body: 5-foot-7, 120-pounds. Medium, wiry frame. Room to grow.
Defense: Above average defensive actions. Moves well to both sides with a quick first step. Above average hands. Quick transfer out of the glove.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. 3/4 arm slot. Short and quick out of the hand.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic, rhythmic setup. Short stride/leg kick load. Loose hands, level bat path. Gap to gap approach with hard contact up the middle.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60.  

Wil Gregory SS / 2B / Northeast, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-7, 138-pounds. Medium, lean, athletic frame. Room to add strength.
Defense: Fluid footwork. Moves well to both sides. Average hands. Easy transfers out the glove.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Long to short arm action.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, crouched setup. Rhythm in the hands. Big leg kick load. Aggressive line drive swing. Keeps hands inside the ball. Gap to gap approach. Stays balanced and on time.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.  

Gabe Haught C / 3B / Sunlake, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Stocky, strong frame.
Defense: 2.20-2.25 pop times. Leaves the crouch early at time. Average blocker and receiver.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Low 3/4 arm slot. Average arm strength. Long, whippy arm action.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup. Medium stride to the ball. Uphill bat path. Loose hands. Hard contact out front. Could use the lower half more in the swing.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

Cole Huddleston SS / 2B / Palm Harbor University , FL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-8, 135-pounds. Medium, athletic frame. Room to add strength.
Defense: OF - Fluid footwork. Clean, easy transfers out the glove. INF - Gets low behind the ball. Soft hands. Moves well to the forehand at 2nd base.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 79 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Whippy arm action. Carry from the outfield.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, open setup. Quiet hands. Short stride to the ball. Level bat path. Whippy swing. Up the middle approach. Uses the lower half well.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Up tempo, drop and drive delivery.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 arm slot. Whippy arm action. Balanced release out front.
FB: T77, 73-77 mph. Competitive around the strike zone. Induces soft contact.
CB: 59-62 mph. 11/5 shape. Thrown well low in the zone.
CH: 61-66 mph. Same arm speed as fastball. Fades in to righties. Thrown for strikes.

Aden Knowles RHP / OF / Jesuit, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/OF - Uncommitted, Extremely high upside on the mound. Low spin rate fastball that misses bats.
Body: 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. Tall, lean, high waisted athletic frame.
Defense: Average actions in the outfield. Fields out front with a quick release out the hand.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Low effort, above average arm strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced, athletic setup. Medium stride. Lets the ball get deep. Hard contact up the middle. Easy actions in the box. Gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Up tempo, tall and fall delivery. Reaches balance point.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 arm slot. Low effort arm action.
FB: T85, 82-84 mph. Sinking action. Competitive low in the zone. Misses barrels.
CB: 66-69 mph. 11/5 shape. High spin action across the zone. Above average pitch.
CH: 74-76 mph. Diving action toward righties.

Ruben Ledo RHP / 1B / Tampa Catholic , FL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP- Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-8, 130-pounds. Medium, lean, high waisted frame.

Delivery: Balanced, drop and drive delivery. Gets extension downhill.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 arm slot. Long to short arm action.
FB: T77, 75-77 mph. Natural armside run.
CB: 64-67 mph. 12/6 shape. Tumbling action.

Zane Pestalozzi OF / 1B / Jesuit, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/1B - Uncommitted, Toolsy player with a chance to make a big jump as he continues to get stronger.
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Tall, physical, athletic frame.
Defense: Athletic actions in the outfield. Can play all three positions. Fluid footwork. Fields out front with momentum towards the target.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Long to short arm action. Quick out of the hand.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup. Wide base. Short stride to the ball. Line drive swing. Projectable gap to gap pop. Quick, loose hands in the box.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity. Projectable gap to gap power.
Run: 6.84 runner in the 60.  

Julius Pfau SS / 2B / Berkeley Prep, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, A lot to like on this toolsy middle infield. Has a chance to have three above average tools.
Body: 5-foot-8, 140-pounds. Medium, lean, athletic frame. Room to add strength.
Defense: OF - Fluid footwork, athletic actions. Fields cleanly with momentum towards the target. INF - Twitchy, athletic actions. Quick first step. Above average hands in the infield.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. OF - 89 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Loose arm. Above average arm strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup. Quiet hands. Short stride to the ball. Twitchy actions on contact. Loose hands with above average bat speed. Aggressive gap to gap swing with intent.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity. Gap to gap approach. Twitchy, athletic actions on contact.
Run: 6.96 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Balanced tall and fall delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Over the top/high 3/4 arm slot. Long, loose arm action.
FB: T82, 78-82 mph. Cutting action at times.
CB: 69-72 mph. 11/5 shape. Tight spinning action.

Guillermo Rivera C / 3B / Wesley Chapel , FL / 2024

Positional Profile: C/3B - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot, 151-pounds. Tall, wiry frame. Room to add strength.
Defense: 2.25-2.38 pop times. Average actions behind the plate. Fluid out of the crouch. Moves well to block the dirt ball.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. High 3/4 arm slot. Short arm action. Accurate to the bag.
Hit: Switch. Tall, Narrow setup. Short stride to the ball. RH - Level, line drive swing. Twitchy actions on contact. LH - Uphill bat path. Creates leverage in the swing. Attacks the pull side.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60.  

Alexander Sotiropoulos SS / RHP / Tampa Prep, FL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Tall, lean, high waisted athletic frame.
Defense: Soft on his feet. Quality first step. Fields out front with a two-hand gather.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. 3/4 arm slot. Short to long arm action.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup. Leg kick load. Level bat path. Can get long at times. Gap-to-gap approach. Above average bat speed.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity. Power potential to the pullside.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Up tempo, tall and fall delivery.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 arm slot. Long, loose arm action.
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Natural armside run.
CB: 62-66 mph. 11/5 shape. Spinning action.

 

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