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Knights Scout Day Class of 2023

June 3, 2020
Walt Jones
PBR Louisiana

After a long layoff, baseball is back underway in the state of Louisiana. Players and coaches have been looking forward to this for a while and it was good to get back to baseball this past weekend. The Louisiana Knights held their opening weekend workouts and invited our staff over to take it all in. The Knights have multiple teams across the 14U through 18U age groups and we were able to get a solid look at them all over the course of the 4 day event. The organization is Louisiana based but represents several states throughout the southeast. 

We will continue our recap of the weekend by giving a quick report on several of their players. Today we will move forward with the 15U age group. This group of 2023 grads are talented. It's made up of a really talented mix of players many of whom are already on recruiting boards around the southeast. This class is really gifted and when its all said and done, will be one of the top classes in our time covering the state.

Louisiana Knights Class of 2023

Michael O’Brien - John Curtis HS - Tulane Recruit

Currently ranked No. 30 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Left-hander that's made a nice jump in velocity over the course of the last year. O’Brien was up to 85 mph in his live bullpen this weekend while also spinning a 74-75 mph slider with solid depth and flashed feel for a changeup. He was one of the biggest surprises of the weekend as he’s made the jump that many knew was in there. 

Alex Walsh - Alexandria HS

Currently ranked No. 10 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. A 2019 Junior Future Games participant, Walsh was impressive this weekend. The right-handed hitting infielder has shown elite body control and physicality for his age and the frame continues to improve. He has arm strength, big power in the bat and athleticism. This weekend, he was really impressive on the mound where he was up to 87 mph with his fastball and spinning a mid 70’s slider. 

Zach Schoenborn - Parkway HS

Currently ranked No. 15 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Physical left-handed hitting catcher with high-end tools. Flashed power potential and elite level arm strength in last summer’s Junior Future Games. Looks to have a big summer with the Knights.

Reid Snider - St. Louis HS

Currently ranked No. 17 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Another Junior Future Games participant from last summer, the physical right-hander uses a simple swing with a direct path along with a gap-to-gap approach to generate strength in the swing. This weekend was a big weekend on the mound where the right-hander sat 82-84 mph showing big arm strength. It will be fun to watch this youngster harness in all of his top-end potential as he progresses through his career.  

Barrett Newman - Parkway HS

Currently ranked No. 13 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Physical left-handed hitter that was really impressive at last summer’s Junior Future Games. This weekend, Newman stood in well showing feel for the strike zone and flashed solid bat speed with strength. 

Matthew Keller - Zachary HS

 Currently ranked No. 52 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Smaller framed right-handed hitter that just knows how to play the game. Put together several quality at bats this weekend and was impressive on the mound. The right-hander showed advanced command of 3 pitches. He can really pitch. 

Dylan Thompson - Sam Houston HS

Currently ranked No. 8 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Rangy athlete with projection. Stands in the box with a taller, upright stance using a smooth simple load to create solid bat speed. Also, got some work in on the mound where he was up to 83 mph with feel for a 67-70 mph breaking ball.

JR Tollett - Ruston HS

Currently ranked No. 47 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Long frame, solid athlete with projection. Right-handed pitcher with a simple delivery creating deception from a ¾ slot. Sinker/slider guy with the good arm side sink on the fastball up to 80 mph and solid feel and shape on the breaking ball at 70-72 mph. 

JC Vanek - Barbe HS

Currently ranked No. 2 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Vanek had a coming out party at the I10 Border Battle where he quickly established himself as one of the premier players in the 2023 class. The left-handed pitcher flashed a fastball up to 84 on the mound, had a polished outfield workout and took an impressive round of batting practice. Vanek was impressive again over the weekend with a clean delivery on the mound while putting together quality at-bats in the box.

Clayton Pourciau - Catholic HS (BR)

Currently ranked No. 18 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Right-handed hitting catcher that has started to make a name for himself in the recruiting circuit. Solid catch and throw guy with power potential in the bat. Was also up to 79 on the mound.

Donovan LaSalle - Barbe HS

Currently ranked No. 21 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Barbe HS has another big time bat. The right-handed hitting outfielder wasted no time showing his ability with the bat. He looked prepared and ready to go in the opening weekend of the summer as put together several quality at bats and found the barrel consistently. 

Jake Larocca - Barbe HS

Currently ranked No. 6 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Another 2019 Junior Future Gamer, was 80-82 mph on the mound this past weekend which is down a tick from last summer where he was up to 84 but is to be expected after such a long layoff. Didn’t show any signs of the layoff with the bat though. The right-handed hitter stepped in and put good swings on the baseball during live at bats and showed the ability to consistently square up the baseball in batting practice. Looks to continue his trend of being a premier bat in the 2023 class. 

Jake Rizzo - Dunham HS

After seeing Rizzo once last fall in a workout setting, he did not disappoint this weekend. The big physical left-handed hitter had big presence in the box flashing real strength in the swing. He also worked on the mound where he was up to 81 mph with solid command at the bottom of the zone. 

Alex Ainsworth - Catholic HS (BR)

Another impressive right-hander that can really pitch. Worked mostly in the mid 70s while moving the fastball in and out to both sides of the dish and mixing in a mid 60s breaking ball with late downward bite and fastball arm speed. This young strike thrower will be fun to watch over the upcoming years. 

Dyson Fields - Ruston HS
Currently ranked No. 27 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Physical, athletic right-handed hitting outfielder with big tools and developing skills. Has shown big power potential in a physical right-handed swing with advanced bat speed. He was also up to 81 mph on the mound with feel to spin the breaking ball. 

Bryce Leonard - Ascension Catholic HS

Currently ranked No. 22 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Athletic right-handed pitcher with advanced arm strength for his age. Was up to 86 mph over the weekend with solid command while spinning a couple of really good breaking balls at 71 mph. Will be a fun one to watch as he continues to develop.

Brooks Leonard - Ascension Catholic HS

Smaller framed right-hander that can really pitch. Worked in the mid 70’s with his fastball and nothing is straight. Also, flashed the ability to spin a really tight breaking ball with fastball arm speed and had feel for a nice changeup.

Cole Cranford - Catholic HS (BR)

Currently ranked No. 19 in Louisiana’s 2023 class. Cranford was really impressive on the mound over the weekend. The right-hander worked up to 84 mph with a slight crossfire delivery and quality command of the zone. He's also a talented infielder that will be a lot of fun to track this summer.

Dru Beatty - Doyle HS

Smaller framed infielder in the 2023 class. Stood out this weekend with a short compact swing during live at bats. Flashed quick twitch in a solid left-handed swing with bat speed and feel for the barrel. 

Jack Stowers - St. Pauls Episcopal HS (AL)

One of the more impressive catching workouts of the weekend. Long, rangy frame with big time projection. Solid setup behind the dish with a wide base and solid athleticism. Average receiving skills with a high ceiling while playing with high-energy and bouncing around. Solid right-handed bat with power potential could be a big riser this summer. 

Mason Johnson - Berwick HS

Athletic frame with solid build. Right-handed pitcher with a short compact arm circle into a ¾ slot. Worked up to 79 mph with hard arm side action on the fastball while showing the ability to spin the baseball on a 68-69 mph breaking ball. 

Reise Thomas - Florence HS (MS)

Average frame with some projectability. Left-handed pitcher works from a ¾ slot with lots of arm side action on the fastball. Velocity was up to 80 mph with feel to pitch. Also put a few good swings on balls during live at bats.

Jake Jones - Benton HS (AR)

Strong framed switch hitting catcher. Stood in the box and put together a couple of nice at bats while showing solid receiving skills behind the dish. Was really impressive on the mound where he was up to 84 mph while flashing a power slider at 76 mph.

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