By John Cackowski
State Director 

The State of Colorado is starting to become a hotbed for recruiting. Out of state colleges have always looked at our state as an undiscovered country, but now colleges across the nation are starting to recognize the talent that does live in our state. Last week a lot of Colorado players and families across the state celebrated the early signing period. Here's a look at some pictures tweeted out over the last week. To check out our current commitment list Click Here

Bo Weiss, RHP (North Carolina), Quinton Cotton, OF (Grand Canyon)
Travis Marr, RHP (Clemson)   
Rank:
Weiss (No. 1, No. 29 Overall)
Cotton (No. 5, No. 163 Overall)
Marr (No. 7, No. 167 Overall )
Club Team: Weiss and Marr (Slammers Holzemer), Cotton (High School Team)

 

Bo Weiss: Back at No.1 is RHP and North Carolina Commit Bo Weiss of Regis Jesuit HS. Weiss also plays for Slammers in the summer and fall.   Weiss has had a recent run of domination since last July. His fastball has increased to a consistency of 92 mph, and recently has touched 94 in the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter, FL. Weiss has been showing arm-side life at times. His curveball was mostly soft, sitting in the low 70s, but it flashed sharpness and good 11/5 shape at 73. Weiss’ best secondary pitch has been his changeup, which he shows good feel for. It features arm-side run and looked like a fastball out of his hand, sitting at 80-81. Weiss has cleaned some mechanics up, and looks to be a force on the mound in Colorado this spring.

Quinton Cotton: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. Bats and throws right. Impressive looking athlete. At the plate has no wasted movement from a balanced athletic stance. Load is smooth and stride is short. Bat speed and lower half are explosive. Has line drive gap to gap power that produced the 2nd fastest exit velocity at the tryout at 91 mph. Shows power potential. In the outfield displays confidence with good actions. Throws from a high 3/4 arm slot at 84 mph with good carry. Ran a 6.80 60 time. Was the most athletic looking player at the tryout. High 2016 player to follow in our state.

Travis Marr:  6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Marr had a good fall, flashing a fastball that touched the low 90s, but sat 87-89 in Jupiter. He stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and works from a 3/4 arm slot. He pitches aggressively and works both sides of the plate well. His fastball has arm-side run. His curveball has tight, late break and his changeup is deceiving has he maintains the same arm action as his fastball.

Jake Eissler, RHP/3B, ThunderRidge
Rank: 3
Club Team: Slammers Holzemer
Commitment: Texas Christian
Scouting Report: Currently ranked No. 3 in the 2016 class and committed to TCU. 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B. Eissler had to impressive outings in the Junior Sunbelt Classic. In his first start against Arizona Eissler went 4 innings only giving up 4 hits leaving the game tied 2-2. Fastball touched 88 mph. In his second start in the tournament on 3 days rest he only went two innings due to the coaches taking care of his arm against Mississippi. In this start Eissler gave up 1 unearned run, but fastball reached 90 on a few occassions. Eissler made the Junior Sunbelt All-Tournament Team. During the tryouts for the team, Eissler registered a 7.21 60 time. At the plate, the right-handed hitter produces solid contact. He uses a smooth load, short stride, and explosive lower half.  90 MPH exit velocity, top 3 at the tryout.  Shows good pull power and good control to the opposite field gap. Not much movement in swing. Lets hands do the work. Did not pitch at the tryout. From third moves towards ball well, fields out in front. Had highest position velocity at the tryout at 93 mph which could be one of the top corner velos in the country.

Maverick Handley, C, Mullen High School
Club Team: Slammers Holzemer
Rank: 4 (No. 94 Overall)
Commitment: Stanford
Scouting Report: Highly physical 2016 prospect, shows advanced strength, 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-handed hitting catcher and middle infielder. Handley was one of the most eye-catching prospects at the event. Hitting from the right side he showed easy explosive bat speed. Posted exit velocity of 90 MPH from the tee. Hit from a balanced stance, lower half worked well, good balance throughout. Advanced bat speed, impressive whip through the zone. Ran a 4.35 home to first.  Defensively showed soft hands behind the plate, highly agile, high flexibility. Arm played at 77 MPH from the crouch, over the top slot, with accuracy and carry. Recorded event best 1.78 pop time. Handley is physically impressive, it is obvious to see he puts in hard work and should progress at a steady pace. The right-handed hitting catcher is a the top catcher in Colorado. 

Cole Mckissock, SS, Air Academy
Rank: 23
Club Team: Slammers Holzemer
Commitment: Stanford
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting SS/3B. We love McKissock's skills. Cole hits from a tall slightly open balanced stance, short stride with slight leg kick, and lets hands do the work in the swing which is simple, bottom hand dominant with one hand finish. Has fast bat speed and registered an 89 MPH exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 83 MPH across the diamond from short, ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  McKissock can play any infield position. Might project as a 3B, but can handle SS, 2B, 3B, and even 1B in a pinch due to skills. Athletic and showed good feet during defensive portion of the event.  Ran a 6.96 60 time. 2016 player to follow.

 

Tyson Zanski, C, Grand Juction
Rank: 20
Club Team: Gene Taylor
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-handed hitting C/3B.  At the plate he hits from a tall balanced stance with a high leg kick for timing.  A level swing patch produced several line drives over the course of batting  practice.  Good lower leg drive produced an 86 MPH exit velocity off the pitch.  He was best on balls middle in and to the left center gap, but did show good power to the opposite gap at times.  Behind the plate he has quick feet and quick arm that produced throws of 78 MPH.  He was consistently at 2.05 on pop times off the pitcher.  Receiving pitches, he has soft hands and a quite body.  Moves well on balls in the dirt away from him.  He ran a 7.59 60. 

 

Tommy Gillman, SS (Texas AM) and Taylor Dye, RHP (Colorado Mesa)
Rank:
Gillman (No. 10, No. 263 Overalll)
Dye: (No. 32)
High School: Columbine

Tommy Gillman: 5-foot-10, 170-pound switch-hitting shortstop.  Hits from a wide base with a short stride and simple approach from both side. Left-handed swing is fluid, short to the baseball, with several line drives to the opposite field gap during batting practice. From the right side Gillman has one handed high finish with good extension, hands go right to ball with short stride. Same approach from left but stands taller.  Gillman shows more bat speed from the right side then the left then the right. Was 90 mph exit velo off tee from right, and 82 mph from the left off the tee.   Defensively, threw 83 MPH across the diamond from short, loose, ¾ arm slot with accuracy and more in the tank arm strength wise.  Possesses plus fielding actions for the middle infield, with a good feel for when to use full arm. Good actions.  Hands are soft, quick footwork, ranges well both up the middle and in the hole, solid body control on run through ball.  Ran a flat 7.00 60 time. Gillman is as versatile player there is in Colorado. Was chosen for the Junior Sunbelt Classic Team.   

Taylor Dye: 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-handed pitcher with projectable frame.  Motion is smooth with level shoulders and square landing to the plate.  Easy effort and a long quick arm produced fastballs from 83-85 MPH with late sink in the zone.  Over the top arm slot allowed for a 67-70 MPH curve with 11/5 gradual break and lived down in the zone.  Change was thrown at near FB arm speed, 69-73 MPH with good sink.  All three pitches were thrown for strikes at this event. Threw faster then last time we saw him in August. Also looked more smooth to the plate.

Tyler Smith, SS, Grandview
Rank: 35
Commitment: Ohio University
Scouting Report:

6-foot, 170 pounds. Bats and throws right. Smith is a very athletic looking MIF who has good skills. Athletic stance with smooth load back, toe tap approach, level swing through zone with bat speed with good extension through the ball. Power potential. Had 82 mph exit velo at tryout, but in past events as high as 89 mph. Gap to gap power. Has good skills and some flash in the infield. Strong enough arm to play SS. Threw 82 mph across the infield. Ran a 6.94 60 time, one of the best times at the tryout. Smith is a player to follow in 2016. Made the Junior Sunbelt Classic Roster.