Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Underclass Showcase West: Class of 2017 Evaluations



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Preseason Underclass Showcase West


We would like to thank all who participated in PBR Michigan’s Preseason Underclass Showcase West. This was a great opportunity for 2016, '17 and '18 prospects to be put on college radars. Many players impressed during their individual workouts at the showcase. Below we have the complete statistical results from the event as well as the top performers across various different categories. 

In the coming weeks, we will be adding and updating profiles for each of the players in attendance, including complete analysis and video.

Interested in attending a PBR Michigan event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

For now, please take a look at the statistical results from the event by clicking here.

Also please take a look at the Top Tools Breakdown Article, which highlights the top performers using 10 commonly used criteria for analyzing prospects, by clicking here.

Preseason Underclass Showcase West: Class of 2017 Evaluations


Top Pitcher:
Brenden Lovell, RHP, Vicksburg, 2017

Top Position Player: Logan Sharp, 3B/RHP, Greenville, 2017

Alex Crump, C/2B, Northview, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-8, 140-pound prospect. Good flexibility giving above average blocking and receiving skills. Pop time of 2.13-2.19. Soft hands on the infield with good footwork. Threw 70 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.31 60-yard dash. Quick stride with good weight transfer in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 82 mph.

Alex (AJ) Janssen, OF/RHP, Gull Lake, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 165-pound prospect. High-¾ arm action with a drop and drive delivery. Fastball was 80-83 mph. 11/5 curveball with gradual break at 66-68 mph. Changeup with good arm-side sink at 70-73 mph. Plus actions in the outfield with footwork and glove. Accurate arm throwing 85 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash. Narrow stance creating good leverage on the baseball in a middle to pull approach at the plate. Bat speed registered at 82 mph.

Ben Burrows, MIF, Grand Rapids Christian, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect. Showed good range at shortstops with good footwork, fields the ball deep. Threw 68 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.44 60-yard dash. Top Tap stride from the left side of the plate, keeps hands inside the baseball well in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 63 mph.

Brady Paganelli, SS,Grandville, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-9, 135-pound prospect. Showed good actions at shortstop with footwork and glove, creates good angles to baseball setting up accurate throws. Threw 77 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.16 60-yard dash. Open to even stance, quick hands getting off his backside well through his swing. Bat speed registered at 77 mph.

Brendan McAree, 1B, Hesperia, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 155-pound prospect. Hands and footwork work well at first base. Recovering from arm injury did not throw. Ran a 7.62 60-yard dash. Closed off stance from the left side, gets off backside well through swing in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 72 mph.

Brenden Lovell, RHP, Vicksburg, 2017
Scouting Report:
6-foot-3, 165-pound prospect. Big time projection in a quick ¾ arm action. Shows loose athletic arm with clean mechanics. Fastball has plus life at 83-87 mph. Slider with hard late break at 69-71 mph. Changeup has good arm-side sink at 75-78 mph. Split-finger with good downward action at 73-75 mph.

Brett Bujdos, MIF, Forest Hills Northern, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-9, 155-pound prospect. Hands work a well out in front of body fielding the ball at shortstop. Threw 76 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.65 60-yard dash. Open to even stance, short compact swing in a middle to pull approach. Bat speed registered at 81 mph.

Brett Johnson, OF/RHP, Rockford, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-9, 155-pound prospect. Quick ¾ arm action with clean mechanics. Fastball was down in zone with good command at 73-74 mph. 12/6 curveball at 60-64 mph. Changeup with some sink at 64-65 mph. Good actions in the outfield with footwork and glove. Accurate arm throwing 77 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash. Gets good separation and off his back side well in a pull approach at the plate. Bat speed registered at 77 mph.

Bryce Gargus, C, South Haven, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 165-pound prospect. Wiry frame with excellent flexibility behind the plate. Sway well when receiving and excellent reactions to blocking the baseball. Pop time of 2.37-2.55. Ran a 7.88 60-yard dash. Open to even stance from the left side of the plate, loose athletic swing creating good leverage on the baseball in a middle to pull approach. Bat speed registered at 74 mph.

Bryce Davis, RHP/1B,Sparta, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 177-pound prospect. High-¾ arm slot with long levers. Fastball has life at 80-85 mph. Curveball with late break at 65-67 mph. Changeup backs up well with sink at 71-71 mph. Soft hands with good footwork around first base. Threw 75 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.32 60-yard dash. Loose athletic swing in a middle to pull approach. Bat speed registered at 88 mph.

Caleb Balgaard, SS, Howell, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect. Shows plus actions with footwork and glove, has great length laterally in his slender frame. Long arm action throwing 79 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.12 60-yard dash. Shows projection to be a big time power hitter, mechanically generates a lot of bat speed in a middle to approach. Bat speed registered at 94 mph.

Camden Blood, MIF, Hamilton, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 150-pound prospect. Clean actions with footwork and glove at shortstop. Long arm action throwing 73 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.13 60-yard dash. Toe tap stride, hands load down in pull approach at the plate. Bat speed registered at 85 mph.

Carsie Walker, RHP/SS, Saugatuk, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot, 160-pound prospect. High-¾ arm action in a max effort. Kept fastball down in zone well at 80-82 mph. 11/5 curveball with some life at 69-71 mph. Changeup has some sink at 72-73 mph. Showed well at shortstop with his footwork and glove. Threw 80 mph across the infield. Ran a 60-yard dash. Early stride creating good separation  in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 78 mph.

Chris Kincaid, RHP/2B, Wayland Union, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-7, 133-pound prospect. Quick ¾ arm action. Fastball was 70-73 mph. 11/5 curveball with slurve action at 63-64 mph. Changeup with some sink at 69-72 mph. Soft hands with a short arm action throwing 70 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.60 60-yard dash. Hands load down, has good plate discipline in a pull approach at the plate. Bat speed registered at 74 mph.

Connor Gifford, OF, Grandville, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 170-pound prospect. Loose, athletic actions in the outfield with his footwork and glove. Threw 70 mph across the infield. Threw 75 mph from the outfield. Ran a 6.90 60-yard dash.  Short stride, gets separated well in a pull approach. Bat speed registered at 79 mph.

Connor Goulet, RHP,East Grand Rapids, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 150-pound prospect. High-¾ arm action with good extension down the slope of the mound. Plus control of fastball at 74-75 mph. Curveball showed good action at 62-63 mph. Changeup has good arm side sink at 65-69 mph.

Drew Olszewski, 2B/RHP, East Kentwood, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 133-pound prospect. Short ¾ arm action. Fastball has some arm-side run at 73-74 mph. 11/5 curveball with late break at 63 mph. Changeup showed some sink at 65-69 mph. Soft hands with quick footwork, threw 70 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.60 60-yard dash. Good separation creating good leverage on the baseball in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 73 mph.

Ethan Graber, 2B, Byron Center, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 150-pound prospect. Soft hands with exceptional footwork. Low arm slot throwing 69 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.13 60-yard dash. Narrow stance, creates good separation in a pull approach. Bat speed registered at 75 mph.

Gage Balkema, SS, Hesperia, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-7, 180-pound prospect. Good feel with footwork and glove at shortstop. Accurate arm throwing 72 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.52 60-yard dash. Good separation and plate discipline in a pull approach. Bat speed registered at 78 mph.

Hayden Cross, MIF, Haslett, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-8, 145-pound prospect. Showed good clean actions at shortstop with his footwork and soft hands. Quick footwork allows for his quick transfers getting rid of the baseball. Threw 74 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.16 60-yard dash.Good balance at the plate with good weight transfer from backside to frontside, creates good leverage downward on the baseball in a middle of the field approach. Bat speed registered at 79 mph.

Hunter Ashmus, RHP/1B,Mattawan, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect. ¾ arm action getting downhill well with the slope of the mound. Fastball was 72-74 mph. Curveball has gradual break at 64-66 mph. Changeup has arm-side sink at 62-65 mph. Showed soft hands at first base with good footwork around the bag. Threw 65 mph across the infield. Ran a 8.07 60-yard dash. Gets good separation at the plate with plus strength in his bat to the pull side. Bat speed registered at 76 mph.

Jacob Hansen, SS, Grand Haven, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, Good actions with his footwork and glove. Short arm action throwing 73 mph across the infield. Good flexibility with quick blocking skills and good receiving skills. Pop time of 2.28-2.42. Ran a 7.50 60-yard dash. Open to even stance from the left side, good weight transfer in a pull approach. Bat speed registered at 78 mph.

Jacob Seling, RHP, Grand Ledge, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-4, 170-pounds. Quick arm action with long levers, high-¾ arm action. Fastball has plus life at 76-81 mph. Curveball is a plus pitch with late break 64-67 mph. Changeup has arm-side sink at 71-72 mph.

James Ruotsala, 3B/1B, Forest Hills Northern, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Soft hands with good action approaching the baseball at third base. Threw mph across the 71 infield. Ran a 7.80 60-yard dash. Raises hands on load, gets good weight transfer in his swing with great plate discipline.  Bat speed registered at 83 mph.

Jarrod Melle, RHP, Lowell, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-3, 205-pounds. Short, ¾ arm action with great deception in arm slot. Fastball has plus life at 82-84 mph. Cutter has plus bite at 76-77 mph. Changeup with arm-side sink at 74-76 mph.

Joel Richardson, MIF/RHP, Climax, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. High-¾ arm action with clean mechanics. Commanded fastball well at 68-72 mph. 11/5 curveball with gradual break at 63-64 mph. Changeup with arm-side sink at 64-69 mph. Soft hands with good range at shortstop. Threw 70 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.61 60-yard dash. Narrow stance with good separation in a middle to pull approach at the plate. Bat speed registered at 72 mph.

Josh Waalkes, RHP, Grandville, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect. ¾ arm slot from the right side. Fastball has some big time sink and run at 80-82 mph. Curveball has a hard late break at 71-72 mph. Changeup has some sink at 74-76 mph. Shows big time competitiveness on the mound and has a high ceiling.

Landen Cebra, MIF, Edwardsburg(IN), 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Solid footwork and soft hands at shortstop. Threw 68 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.82 60-yard dash. No load in a pull approach with good plate discipline. Bat speed registered at 69 mph.

Logan Sharp, 3B/RHP,Greenville, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect. High-¾ arm slot with clean mechanics. Fastball was down in the zone at 80-82 mph. Curveball showed good movement at 68-69 mph. Changeup had some sink at 73-75 mph. Hands work well out in front of body at third base, creates good rhythm in his foot for strong throws. Threw 82 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.97 60-yard dash. Open to even stance, generates power in a pull approach with excellent weight transfer. Bat speed registered at 87 mph.

Nate Stephens, C, Lowell, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 188-pounds. Above average flexibility, plus receiver and blocker behind the plate. Makes effortless movements when receiving the baseball. Pop time of 2.11-2.18. Ran a 7.47 60-yard dash. Wide toe tap stride, generates good bat speed in a compact swing to the pull side. Bat speed registered at 83 mph.

Nathan Roede, 3B/OF/C, Byron Center, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 198-pounds. Works hands in front of body well fielding the ball at third base with good footwork. Threw 78 mph across the infield. Clean actions with footwork and glove in the outfield. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. Narrow stance with good receiving skills behind the plate. Pop time of 2.21-2.43. Ran a 6.86 60-yard dash. Gets good weight transfer through his swing, shows strength with some pop in his bat. Bat speed registered at 86 mph.

Noah Bloye, OF/1B, Byron Center, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot, 160-pounds, Plus athletic actions in the outfield with footwork and glove. Extremely quick transfers getting the ball into the infield quickly. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. Ran a 6.80 60-yard dash. Open to open stance with good weight transfer in a middle to pull approach. Bat speed registered at 82 mph.

Noah Throop, RHP, Gull Lake, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. High-¾ arm action with good command all of three pitches. Fastball had good arm-side run at 71-72 mph. Curveball had gradual break at 61-63 mph. Changeup showed plus arm-side sink at 64-66 mph. Good projection in his body will be a player to follow and watch develop in the coming years.

Nolan Petroelje, RHP, Hudsonville, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-3, 192-pounds. Quick, athletic high-¾ arm action. Gets downhill with effortless fluid mechanics. Plus command of fastball with life at 83-85 mph. Changeup has plus arm-side sink at 74-75 mph. Knuckle curveball with tight spin and late break at 69-72 mph.

Sean Hoey, 2B/RHP, West Ottawa, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. ¾ arm action with clean mechanics. Great command of fastball at 77-79 mph. Curveball with gradual break at 61-63 mph. Split finger with plus sink at 65-74 mph. Showed solid footwork and soft hands at shortstop. Threw 75 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.53 60-yard dash. Open to even stance with quick hands in a compact swing. Bat speed registered at 76 mph.

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