3 for 2023
October 2, 2020
Last week we released our 2023 national rankings. The list was updated and expanded to 400 total players. As it stands now, 3 players from Oregon have asserted themselves towards the top of the class and all landed in the national list: Oregon State commits LHP Paul Wilson (Lakeridge) and RHP Drew Talavs (West Linn) plus Oregon commit RHP Noble Meyer (Jesuit).
While this group of Power 5, Division 1 commits leads the pack now, there is tremendous depth in the 2023 class and we fully expect plenty of next level talent to come off the board in the next few years.
While we are still working out our initial list of 2023 rankings, we want to spotlight 3 players from the class who emerged this summer and will likely be permanent fixtures when considering the top players in the state.
3 for '23
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Leo Reeves C / OF / South Eugene , OR / 2023Standing an imposing 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with a wide-set build and room to fill out. Reeves has a great profile as a switch hitting catcher with the chance to hit for above average power down the road. From the left side he starts in a narrow, very upright stance with low, relaxed hands. Creates separation with a leg kick into a lengthy forward stride. At landing, gets into a wide, balanced set-up with hands loaded beyond rear shoulder. Worked mostly pull-side with an uphill path and high finish thru contact. Slightly different set-up when hitting from the right side. Hands start higher and he has a wider lower half to begin. Similar leg lift into stride actions. Barrel is shorter to the zone with more line-drive contact and up the middle approach. Defensively used a one-knee set-up when receiving, allowing his hips to sink low while keeping his torso tall and upright. Staggers his set-up on throws down to 2nd, with left foot further forward. Does a solid job getting out of his crouch for a taller C with a tight, compact release in his throwing motion. Will likely make strides defensively as he gets stronger and his lower half becomes more involved in his actions. Overall, Reeves has a promising skill set right now and could be a prospect who improves his game significantly in the next year or so. |
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Erik Hoffberg RHP / OF / Lakeridge, OR / 2023Lean, lanky frame at 6-foot, 155 pounds. Hoffberg moves very well on the bump with actions that project for a consistent delivery and quick improvement in his raw stuff. Working exclusively from the stretch, he uses a high leg lift while staying gathered on his back side. Has some bend/flexion on back leg as he separates hands and begins to work down the slope. Slight shoulder tilt on his forward move as glove side gets extended and he begins his arm path. Lands with clean direction towards target while keeping a quiet, still head. Shorter stride allows his arm to consistently be on time and keeps him quick/loose throughout. Long, continuous arm action with a whippy finish out front. Throws everything with late conviction. FB spun at an avg of 2059rpm and peaked at 2182rpm. CB was a consistently sharp offering and should be an out-pitch for him as he continues to develop and add seasoning. Consistently spun at 2231rpm with tight, 11/5 shape to it. Does a solid job of killing the spin on his CH to create late fade/run while maintaining FB arm speed. Has the look of a polished 3-pitch mix and is likely to grow into more velocity soon. |
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Parker Guinn C / RHP / McMinnville , OR / 2023Strong, compact build at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds. 2-way prospect who has shown promising ability on both sides of the ball. At the plate, starts with a slightly opened, balanced set-up. Weight is centered while hands stay relaxed and keep barrel flat. Has the same load/tempo that we saw over the winter, using a low leg lift into his forward stride. Short levers in his upper half help him stay tight, compact to the ball. Shows easy barrel speed while staying tall thru contact. Gap to gap type approach. Behind the plate, presents a quiet target with a wide set up in his lower half. Keeps control of a strong glove hand while receiving. The arm strength continues to impress and he consistently puts up pop times between 2.00 - 2.20. Has a short, quick release with plenty of carry out of hand with true ball flight. On the mound, the arm strength translates to a low 80s FB that we’ve seen range between 78-82 and topped at 83. Uses an efficient, quick paced delivery with very few moving parts. Stays tall at leg lift with a short, direct stride as he gets down the slope. Stays tall on his backside and creates some downhill angle out of hand. Tall, upright finish with impressive hand speed out front at release. Spins a tight CB with 11/5 shape and has a reliable CH with arm-side run as it gets to the zone. Overall, Guinn has an impressive skill set to work with and tools that can translate to impact the game in a lot of ways. |
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Fall Prospect ID - Evening Session | OR | 10/09 | Bannerwood Park |
| Fall Prospect ID- Morning Session | OR | 10/09 | Bannerwood Park |