2023 Top 10 Prospects + More (Spring Edition)
February 23, 2023
Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been scheduled starting Feb 27th, and rosters are soon to be set. The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Monday March 6th. Jeff Scholzen (Utah Scouting Director) begins the 2023 season coverage with our annual preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in the state in our team previews.
PBR Utah will also be publishing its state “Power 25” rankings that will be updated every Monday once the season begins. Throughout the season, PBR Utah will be pumping out coverage, highlighting individual players, games, rankings, scouting reports and naming players/pitchers of the week, every Tuesday as well. PBR Utah looks forward to getting out there this spring to see some great baseball.
This is the class of players, that I have seen the most and for the longest period of time, as I have had a horse in the race, and because of that horse, have seen this group of players, since they were 9-10 years old.
This class made up the first #TeamUtah roster in July 2021 for the state's first venture into the prestigious PBR Future Games. That group will be hard pressed to be passed talent wise, as the state was untapped from a recruiting standpoint outside the state, and so all the top players were what the event was all about...that being, the top uncommitted college recruited event in the country for rising sophomores and juniors.
I look forward to scouting and reporting on this special group this spring, as the season kicks off, two weeks from now, at all the Southern Utah (Washington County) high schools for over half the state, in the 1st three weeks of the opening weekends of the season.
2023 Top 10 Prospects + 5 more to know (Pre-Spring Edition)
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Ryder Robinson SS / American Fork, UT / 2023
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Brayden Marx RHP / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2023
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Crew McChesney OF / Lone Peak, UT / 2023
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Cameron Nielson SS / Cottonwood, UT / 2023
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Grant Scholzen SS / Hurricane, UT / 2023
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Petey Soto Jr. SS / Crimson Cliffs , UT / 2023
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Cole Kershaw 1B / Jordan, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 7 / POS: 1
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Malik Harris RHP / Juan Diego Catholic , UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 8 / POS: 2
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Steele Murdock RHP / Herriman , UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 9 / POS: 3
10/03/22
Murdock has burst on the scene with some impressive showings of late. Since his junior '22 season, where he was ineffective on the mound, he has completely turned the corner and is a different kid. This summer, Murdock attended the PBR Top Prospect Games where his FB showed 84-86 T87 and sat 85-86. The SL was 75-78 and took on some hybrid SLV type action w/depth. Since that day on July 12th, Murdock has been 87-91 T92 sitting 87-90 and the CB is 74-75, but the best secondary pitch has been a very effective biting SL 78-79. Murdock recently went up against a local JUCO and pitched very well, missing bats and racking up K's. The delivery is flexible and loose w/added tweaks and overall physical maturity, he could reach the mid 90's in 12-18 months. He shows proper glove side direction and is using his front side much better, which pulls his backside through more effectively. The arm path is HTQ to OH with his shoulders tilted to clear the path for the arm. The arm accelerates through the slot and shows a loose wrist out front to finish pitches. Is getting close to committing, as he has a few schools showing real interest and we should here some good news real soon. Side note as a hitter, Murdock put up a 99.3 EV in BP, during the Top Prospect Games and was the highest clocked OF arm at 92 mph!. |
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Cole DeCastro SS / Desert Hills , UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 10 / POS: 5
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Prospects 11-15
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Tyler Ball RHP / Skyridge, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 11 / POS: 4
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Ryker Schow OF / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 12 / POS: 2
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Austin Laycock RHP / American Fork, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 13 / POS: 5
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Maddax Peck RHP / Bingham, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 14 / POS: 6
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Billy Bird 1B / Timpanogos, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 15 / POS: 2
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RELATED NEWS
JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)
Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report after serving 9 years as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout.
With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.
Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship.
A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization from 1991-1992.