Prep Baseball Report

2020 Oregon Rankings


Dan Jurik
Scouting Director - Pacific Northwest

After a full Spring & Summer of scouting HS baseball, travel tournaments, invite-only events and showcases...it’s time to release our first edition of player rankings for the 2020 class in Oregon. This edition of the rankings is not final. It will be expanded upon and re-ordered as seen fit once we begin the 2020 Spring season. 

Since its inception in 2005, the Prep Baseball Report has evolved into one of the country’s biggest and most respected independent scouting services, with a singular focus of providing comprehensive year-round coverage in every state we are in. The mission of the Prep Baseball Report is to scout and promote amateur baseball - high school, junior college and college - and, ultimately, help athletes achieve their dreams of playing baseball at the next level. With more than 150 scouts, we have the largest baseball scouting infrastructure across all levels of amateur baseball in the country.

The Prep Baseball Report is the No. 1 resource for amateur baseball in each state we cover through our variety of events, boots-on-the-ground scouting staff, daily coverage, and multimedia platforms. Our multimedia platforms and events work in tandem, ultimately creating the most powerful source of high school baseball promotion in each state.  While other organizations take a national approach, our goal is to become the authoritative voice on the ground level of each state.

Rankings are based off evaluations by scouting director Dan Jurik as well as additional PBR scouts across the country who have seen prospects from the state at various events.

For the full rankings with the Top 20 prospects, click HERE

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 prospects with reports and video on 3 impressive arms who currently sit at the top of the rankings….

top 10 prospects

Updated on Sep 08, 2019



RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Mick Abel OR Jesuit 2020 RHP Oregon State
2 Dylan MacLean OR Central Catholic 2020 LHP Washington
3 Jaren Hunter OR Sam Barlow 2020 RHP Oregon State
4 Logan Paustian OR La Grande 2020 C  
5 Ian Lawson OR Century 2020 RHP Oregon State
6 KJ Ruffo OR Rex Putnam 2020 C Portland
7 Taylor Holder OR Crescent Valley 2020 RHP Oregon
8 Jake Leitgeb OR Lincoln 2020 C Washington
9 Thomas Dukart OR Lake Oswego 2020 OF Oregon State
10 Cade Crist OR Thurston 2020 C


strong trio of arms at the top

#1  ‘20 RHP Mick Abel, Jesuit, Oregon State commit
If you followed our coverage during the spring and summer, this won’t come as a surprise to you. Abel not only holds down the top spot for the state of Oregon, he also currently sits at #3 overall in our recently updated 2020 national rankings. The combination of size, stuff and projection make Abel the complete package on the mound. His FB has routinely been in the 88-94 range while flashing as high as 96 on the looks we’ve had. His slider, which grades out as plus at times, typically lands between 82-86. Although he didn’t need it during the HS season, he flashed a CH at 83-84 more regularly at some national events. Expect Abel to have an enormous following from the scouting community every time he toes the rubber in 2020.


#2 ‘20 LHP Dylan MacLean, Central Catholic, Washington commit
While Mick Abel holds down the #1 spot in our rankings, it was MacLean who was named the PBR State Player of the Year. The crafty southpaw was relatively unknown coming into the 2019 season but quickly made his presence felt with a dominant junior season. The Washington commit pitches with his FB in the 84-86 range. While not overpowering, the velocity plays up due to his ability to locate in all quadrants of the zone with a high spin rate. The CB has sharp bend and depth at 69-72. CH is especially tough on RHH and shows late fade at 72-74. With his size and lean frame, expect MacLean to add some bulk to his build and will likely come out flashing more velocity as a senior.


#3 Jaren Hunter, Sam Barlow, Oregon State commit
The power-armed right-hander has a strong, durable frame at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds that has stretched out some over the last year. His ability to work in and out with the fastball and control it at the bottom of the zone currently stands out. The ball jumps out of his hand on a downhill plane from a higher ¾ slot. We saw the FB sit 86-89 across 6 innings of work this spring. At its best, the curveball at 66-71 featured some downer action though there was more gradual break to the pitch. Given his strong arm and quick hand speed out front, there may be a chance for a firmer slider to be thrown in the future. Interesting to note: Hunter flashed a CH at 76 mph that he successfully turned over with fastball arm speed and featured some impressive run to the arm side. Given his frame and arm action, expect Hunter to continue seeing velocity gains over the next year.


rounding out the top 1o...

#4 C Logan Paustian, La Grande, uncommitted
One of the ore intriguing catching prospects, nationally, in the 2020 class. At 6-foot, 180-pounds he possesses some natural strength throughout an athletic frame. He presents soft hands behind the plate that combine with loose hips to make him an above average receiver. Fluent footwork and quick transfer allow his stronger arm to show some carry to second base. As a switch-hitter, Paustian exhibits some gap to gap power that stands to increase as he continues getting stronger, and should only help his stock as a prospect continue to soar.

#5 RHP Ian Lawson, Century, Oregon State commit
Athletically built and physically imposing at 6’5 with a projectable frame at 210 pounds. Throws from a ¾ release point with smooth, loose arm action that looks capable of adding more velocity as he gets stronger. Repeats his delivery with steady, consistent tempo and low effort. FB shows late life as it gets into the zone, especially when he places the ball middle-in on a RHH. Topped at 89 and comfortably sat between 85-88 throughout the 7 innings we saw this spring. Also mixed in a slurve shaped breaking ball at 71-74. Didn’t flash great command of the breaking ball on this look, but it’s an above average offering when thrown at its best. CH is a work in progress and came out at 73-74. Overall, Lawson has an exciting blend of present ability but with the physicality to get significantly better in the near future.

#6 RHP/C KJ Ruffo, Rex Putnam, Portland commit
Converted catcher who has flashed low 90’s velocity since he has moved to the bump. Lean, athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. Low mileage arm with some considerable upside left.

#7 RHP Taylor Holder, Crescent Valley, Oregon commit
Holder sat 84-86 throughout 6 innings of work this spring with reports of him being as high as 88-92 at times. FB shows occasional cut action when he spots to his glove side. Cutting action comes as a result of some cross action in his stride at landing. Breaking ball has SL shape to it at 71-76. Understands how to manipulate the offering based on whether he wants to throw it for a strike or bury it when ahead in the count. Throws with sustainable, starter-type effort in his delivery.

#8 C Jake Leitgeb, Lincoln, Washington commit
The Washington commit has an athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Flashed solid receiving ability with clean catch and throw actions. Consistently around a 2.00 pop time between innings. Offensively he sets-up in a balanced, upright stance with feet slightly open to the pitcher. Hitting actions have steady rhythm and tempo. Quick, easy bat speed with slight uphill finish after contact. Stays balanced throughout. Currently has more of a gap to gap approach but the game power could steadily improve as he physically develops and gets stronger.

#9 OF Thomas Dukart, Lake Oswego, Oregon State commit
Dukart, an Oregon State recruit, possesses game-changing speed on the base paths with a chance to be an elite defender in the outfield. A left-handed hitter, the proportionally strong and athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has strong wrists and quick hands that allow his flat path through the zone to produce gap to gap power. Balanced in his approach, Dukart has a high ceiling that he could quickly approach as he gains more experience against high-level competition.

#10 C Cade Crist, Thurston, Uncommitted
Powerfully built at 6-0, 210 pounds. Balanced, athletic swing with the potential to tap into more power. Uphill swing path with high finish thru contact. Creates bat speed with mild leg kick and controlled forward move. Moves well behind the plate with clean catch and throw actions.

 

 

full ranking of top 20 - HERE