Prep Baseball Report

PBR ProCase - Uncommitted Prospects


Dan Jurik
Scouting Director - Pacific Northwest

The PBR Oregon/Washington ProCase officially kicked off the 2021 MLB Draft year in the Northwest on July 1st with a collection of prospects in the region going through a full workout before competing in game play. More than 20 MLB scouts were in attendance to get a first glimpse at prospective draftees and uncommitted 2021 prospects. The event included multiple live at-bats from position players and innings from pitchers. 

For a full release on all players and measurables from the event, click HERE

In addition the the 7 prospects mentioned below, there were 2 committed players from Washington at the event as well. Oregon commit '21 3B Aiden Van Rensum (Archbishop Murphy) and Portland commit '21 C Riley McCarthy (Mountain View)

See what National Crosschecker, Shooter Hunt had to say about their performances HERE

For more on the players from Washington, check out our player notes below...

ProCase

uncommitted '21 prospects

Samuel Canton OF / LHP / South Kitsap, WA / 2021

After multiple looks at Canton in game over the last year, this was our first chance to see him show off the physical tools in a showcase setting. He didn’t disappoint. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Canton has plenty of strength throughout his frame and showed an average run tool on the 20-80 pro-scale with a 6.97 on a slower grass track. At the plate, used a simple, balanced set-up with very few moving parts. Lower half begins slightly open and then squares up to the pitcher after taking a short forward stride. Subtle scap load to create separation. Hands stay loaded near back shoulder and remain quiet throughout. Exit velocity peaked at 97 during BP with consistent gap-to-gap approach. Flashed raw power to his pull-side but seems more likely to live more in the middle of the field with his offensive approach. Defensively he profiles well to OF with his speed and athleticism. Arm strength fits best in LF at the pro level but he could handle all 3 spots in college. Multi-sport athlete who moves easily and maintains body control in everything he does. Long, continuous arm path with a low ¾ slot. 

Cole Cramer SS / 2B / Arlington, WA / 2021

Proportionally built at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds. Cramer showed well at the Pacific Northwest Scout Games last summer as one of few underclassmen at the event and has steadily improved all areas of his game since then. Frame is noticeably stronger now. Sure-handed INF who maintains a soft glove while receiving defensively. Should have the versatility to float around and handle multiple INF positions. Shows sound footwork when moving laterally with clean, compact arm action. Accurate ball flight across the diamond. Offensively, stays tall throughout and keeps weight centered in his legs. Uses a low leg lift to shift onto backside before landing in a balanced hitting position. Hands stay tight to body, letting him maintain control of his barrel and stay inside of the ball. Mostly line-drive, gap to gap type approach in BP but has the chance to lift to his pull-side when he wants to cut it loose. Gets full rotational from lower half thru contact into a high, 2-handed finish. 

Levi Gates RHP / SS / Adna, WA / 2021

5-foot-11, 180 pounds with a square frame in his upper half and a lean build. Gates put in a solid workout as a position player and then showed intriguing upside on the mound. As a hitter, showed an aggressive approach in BP & can tap into more power as he continues to get stronger. Creates separation with a high leg kick while hands shift down and back to get loaded. Sits over back leg as he rotates thru contact. Active defender who keeps momentum going throughout fielding process. Short arm path with a high ¾ release. Gates might have a higher ceiling on the mound, where he currently sits 84-86 but has the frame and arm action that project for more velocity down the road. He also showed the aptitude to spin 2 variations of his breaking ball and both should be usable offerings. Pitches with a quick paced, repeatable delivery. Arm path gets extended after hand break then shortens up into release. Aggressive finish out front with plenty of hand speed. Stays tall after release with a strong front side that braces his momentum. Pitches with conviction and an aggressive demeanor.

Cameron Hoiland OF / LHP / Kentridge, WA / 2021

2-way prospect with a diverse skill-set capable of impacting the game in a lot of ways. Hoiland has an athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with wide, sloped upper half. He impressed earlier this year on multiple looks indoors, showcasing next level arm strength and bat speed. The tools were even more evident in the outdoor setting of the ProCase. Hoiland runs well in the OF with long, easy strides. Speed should play best at a corner spot. Throws have plenty of velocity (89 mph) and accurate carry. Offensively, sets up in a square stance with his weight balanced. Uses a toe-tap style load to shift his weight back while maintaining upright posture. Hands push back slightly as he loads. Barrel has early depth into the zone, with an on-plane efficiency average of 71% across his rounds of BP. Average target goal is 70% per Blast data. Showed best contact to his pull-side gap. Avoided casting his hands or getting around the ball. Creates easy bat speed & will likely add more power to his offensive game. On the mound, we didn’t see Hoiland at his peak velocity but he still attacked the zone with a solid 3 pitch mix. The arm action gets shorter, more compact than when he’s in the OF, which allows him to consistently be on time with his delivery and tempo. When projecting on the pro side of things, the value and ceiling as a position player will likely win out but there’s still plenty of current ability on the mound to be productive.

Jack Johnson 3B / RHP / Archbishop Murphy, WA / 2021

Strong and stocky at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds. Johnson has continually gotten more physical over the last year and it continues to show in his overall game. Defensively he should be able to find a home at a corner spot. We’ve seen him primarily at 3B and RF and the arms strength will play from either. Defensively he stays balanced and keeps a steady pace with his actions. He moves well and isn’t hindered by his stronger frame. At the plate, he continues to show above avg raw power. The set up has always been quiet and there’s very little movement needed to initiate his swing, which allows him to trust his hands and accelerate the barrel thru the zone quickly. He stays short to the ball with extension after contact. Ball shows consistent backspin when he elevates to his pull-side. Exit velocity peaked at 100 mph in BP. The strength in his lower half helps him hold posture/balance all the way thru contact. Continues to show he’s one of the more powerful remaining uncommitted bats in the state. 

Zach Toglia 3B / 1B / Gig Harbor, WA / 2021

6-foot-3, 200 pounds with length in his frame and plenty of pound for pound strength. Toglia profiles well to the hot corner with his combination of offensive power and arm strength. Defensive he’s a solid athlete (7.09 in the 60) and could possibly fill a corner OF spot if needed. But he currently handles 3rd well as he stays light on his feet with a clean exchange from his glove hand into throwing motion. Uses a slight hop in his pre-pitch set-up that keeps him in an athletic position for his first move. Short, bent arm action with a high ¾ release. Offensively he stays wide with his lower half and uses a step back, toe tap type load before taking a forward stride. Slight bend at the waist to keep front side aligned with pitcher. Hands start near back shoulder then load down and back as he gets into his landing. Easy bat speed that produced a peak exit velo of 98 during his rounds of BP. Toglia also really impressed with his hitting ability in-game, notching multiple extra base hits once we got into live ABs. 

Blake Wittman RHP / SS / Newport, WA / 2021

6-foot-1, 180 pounds with a projectable build and proportional frame. Wittman has a clean, efficient delivery with some polish to his 3-pitch arsenal. Using consistent tempo throughout, he shows subtle hand movement that syncs up with his leg lift. Slight coil into his back hip as front knee gets just above waist height. Pushes off back leg with some flexion but avoids collapsing or getting too steep with his shoulder angle. Full extension in his arm at takeaway into a tighter arm path at release. Throws from a high ¾ slot and repeats release on all of his offerings. FB sat mostly 81-82 on this look with more likely to come as he gets consistent reps throughout the summer. CB shows sharp bend thru the zone with depth and consistent 11/5 shape. Has the look of a quality offering and he throws it with conviction. CH impressed during bullpen session, showing arm-side fade while staying in the strike zone. Overall, Wittman has present pitchabilty and will likely continue to improve his pure stuff as he gets stronger over time.