PBR Utah 2023 Top 10 Rankings
March 31, 2021
2023 Top 10 Prospects
 |
Tyler Ball RHP / 3B / Skyridge, UT / 2023The Stanford commit, who plays for a very good HS coach, who was a former BYU recruiting coordinator for over a decade. Features a large strong athletic build, that’s tapered into a lower ½ that’s getting stronger and filling out. 16 years old and 602 195.Tyler has a classic side step to start a synced up med kick to a solid overall operation. Really uses his legs while featuring a drop/drive delivery from a HTQ loose, live arm stroke. Gets good ext out front and finishes pitches. The FB 87-91 shows control to move the ball in/out to all 4 quadrants. Delivery and feel to have command in time. The CB 76-78 takes on some TQ SLV type action and needs more depth, but he is 15. The CH 78-80 shows feel to sink, while maintaining arm speed. Will be fun to watch him grow and mature over the next 3 years. |
 |
Grant Scholzen SS / 2B / Hurricane, UT / 20233/31/21 Scholzen started the season 0-6 with 2 BB in the 1st weekend of the year, hitting in the 3 hole, but a move back to his customary leadoff spot, ignited his bat, as he has gone 11-22 over the last 2 weekends, to get to an even .393 batting avg. Known for his bat, Grant is providing leadership at the SS position as a sophomore, and is talking to a number of 4 year schools, and should be in demand even more, once the summer comes and coaches can get back on the recruiting trail! 3/6/21 A strong game player that’s the best pure hitter in the ‘23 class. A small lean, yet ripped athletic build w/proj size and strength as he matures. Pound for pound type strong. Shows a fluid smooth LH stroke, that’s performed at a high level vs older competition, in and out of state. A LHH middle INF’er with strong D1 interest from a handful of schools on the west coast over the past year. Baseball bloodlines, with his father a former MLB scout/MiLB player and his uncle a former MIF in the Rays system. A quick twitch energetic leadoff/2 hole hitter with an advanced approach to hit for his age. A LD hitter with quality takes, works a count, in looking for a FB, to spray barreled up balls line to line. At the Preseason All-State event he was 4th in "On Plane Efficiency" (Blast Motion). 2021 Varsity Stats: Hits in the Leadoff spot G 11 AB 28 R 7 H 11 AVG. .393 RBI 5 2B 1 3B 2 BB 8 SO 4 |
 |
Brexten Starley C / 1B / Crimson Cliffs, UT / 2023Starley, the top power bat in the ‘23 class, had as good a BP as I’ve seen from him. I have known Starley since he was 8-9 yrs old, as he lived in my hometown and has played with my son since they were young. But it’s his bat that gets your attention and not the connection to me, which does give me more time to evaluate him and provide a strong track record for colleges to follow up on. The bat is live, with a smooth fluid fast stroke. Brex shows bat speed and natural lift into a whippy high two hand finish. A class best and 3rd highest overall event exit velo of 95.5. Strongly built with a powerful linebacker type build, the sophomore C/1B will be a strong recruit for any D1 program. Any program that hasn’t started conversations with him, better hurry, as he is not only gonna be a name in Utah, but the entire region as well. 2021 Varsity Stats: Cleanup Hitter G 10 AB 21 R 7 H 7 AVG .333 RBI 5 2B 2 BB 8 K 5 |
 |
Billy Bird LHP / 1B / Timpanogos, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 4 / POS: 1
A 6-3 200 with a MLB LHP build. A youth phenom and had some issues with his left elbow, that didn't require surgery, yet didn't throw in a live game for over a year. Has made 4 appearances since President's Day weekend. Just rounding back into form, but does flash some very intriguing potential with a FB 82-87 and sits right now at 84-85 and I fully expect by the end of summer to see him touch 88-89. Big upside and just needs time and experience as he gets further from his health issues. Has a chance to be a stud!
|
 |
Petey Soto Jr. SS / OF / Crimson Cliffs , UT / 2023A slick fielding INF at 5-9 145, has a lean, even proportion frame with abv avg athleticism and can play all 9 spots on the Diamond. Soto can handle 3 INF spots along with CF and makes all look as if it’s his primary spot. A quick twitch live lower allows for graceful defensive actions and his feet/hands have a chance to play abv avg in time. His hands are smooth/quick and he plays from the ground up, while syncing his hands and feet, in getting off strong accurate throws across the diamond. The arm is avg by MLB standards now and will definitely be plus in the near future. A 60 yard dash time of 6.94 should improve even more over the next few years, as he fills out and continues to add size and leg strength. The bat has some Latin type flair in that he can be a free swinger and then also grind out an AB and spray LD’s to all fields. With a young immature body now, Soto can lift it out to the pull side when he squares it up. A conventional RH even props square stance, he gets quality separation and takes an aggressive, but lengthy pass at the baseball, with a fast bat. It will be fun to see where the versatile, athletic, flashy INF takes his game in the future. 2021 Varsity Stats: Leadoff Hitter G 10 AB 31 R 8 H 8 AVG. 258 HR 4 RBI 9 2B 1 BB 4 SO 11 |
| |
Ryder Robinson SS / 2B / American Fork, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 6 / POS: 3
Only a sophomore, but hitting in the leadoff spot for undefeated and #4 ranked American Fork. The brother of CSI masher, Crew Robinson, and the son of former CSI All-American and Cardinals farmhand, Darek Robinson. Ryder is 6-1 165 with huge feet and hands and projects to be 6-2, 6-3 and around 200 Lbs when all is said and done. A switch hitter like his father, he has a feel to hit and knack of getting on base and scoring runs. He’s also a very smooth defender with a slow internal clock. Makes the game look easy on the defensive side of the ball. Could easily make a jump in the not to distant future. Colleges jump on this kid! 2021 Varsity Stats: Leadoff Hitter G 7 AB 19 R 12 H 6 AVG. .316 RBI 5 BB 2 SO 1 SB 2 |
 |
Cole Kershaw 1B / 3B / Jordan, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 7 / POS: 2
An XL frame with big features thruout. Country strong kid that has three years of HS baseball left. When looking at him, it’s hard to believe he’s this young. He’s a man child and his hitting ability and future power projs leaves you wanting to see him every 3-6 months to see his progression. Offensively the LHH 1B, who I call the “Baby Bull” features an even props square stance with a high back elbow and waggles his bat for rhythm, he then rocks into his back hip and picks his front foot up and sets it down into a soft short stride. At foot strike he positions the bat vertically into a dead hand position and needs to get better separation, yet fires the bat with a short compact powerful stroke that’s geared to pull. He finishes balanced and in the center of his body. His bat speed at 76 MPH is fast and quick and he finds the barrel, and the ball jumps with an EV high of 99. On the defensive side at 1B, he shows soft hands and fields out front, yet bends at the knees. He does have to gather and takes an extra step to position himself to throw. With reps and instruction, he has time on his side to improve, yet the bat draws your attention and he should provide power and run production for his team. The bat is one to keep an eye on. 2021 Varsity Stats: Cleanup Hitter G 7 AB 21 R 10 H 13 AVG .619 HR 2 RBI 9 2B 4 BB 7 SO 2 |
 |
Jacob Faust OF / RHP / Olympus , UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 9 / POS: 2
A two way player with 3 years of developing and has a solid ceiling and while it’s too early to tell whether he’s gonna be a bat or an arm on the mound, he does possess next level college ability with the bat and the arm. As a hitter, he stands upright with a slight crouch and his feet together and open, and brings his front foot back to square, then loads the bat at a solid 45 degree angle. He does drift with his hips somewhat, but keeps his hands in the ready position and fires the hands inside the baseball and shows a fast bat for his age at 72.7 mph, with a 95.06 EV. What’s intriguing is that he also ran a 6.94/60 and touched 83 with a semi quick arm from the mound. Definite one of the top ‘23s in the state. |
 |
Crew McChesney OF / RHP / Lone Peak, UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 8 / POS: 1
Another new player that jumped on the scene and one that will be in the top 10 rankings for the ‘23 class when our rankings come out within the next month. A quick twitch CF with above average athleticism and not only are some of the metrics and measurables elite for a sophomore, but he also passes the eye test and his hitting mechanics are there to be an above average college level hitter. Tied for the top spot with an event best 6.55/60 yard dash, while showing a fluid fast arm from the OF, topping out at 87 mph, which was tied for 4th. The bat will take him far and his exit velo of 88 is solid for his age, but the way he moves in the field and the ability to swing the bat will take him far in this game. Really like this one! |
 |
Myles Topham RHP / 1B / Cedar , UT / 2023Rankings State Rank: 10 / POS: 2
An athlete with a proj build, loose arm and loose wrist to finish pitches and only a sophomore, lends itself to proj nicely into a solid arm at the next level. Topham has the type of frame and build to highly proj on, at 6-3 185, as his grandfather is a JUCO Head Basketball Coach, and has been in the same role at the D1 level as well. Lean and athletic, the arm speed and quality of the arm stroke, lends itself to further development and future velocity to come. With a med to high kick of delivery, Myles needs to repeat his delivery better, as he tends to misfire and can pepper the K zone, but is raw and with further quality coaching, he should be able to improve vastly. With a FB 82-85 (Spin 2064) at the Fall Prospect ID event, he shows the arm speed to be a 90 in time guy by his senior year. The CB 68-72 has more sweep and horizontal action over depth and just needs some tweaks to getting his fingers on top of the baseball, which will aid in his CB development. Recently in a preseason tourney, Myles touched 88 with the FB and is starting to project. G 3 GS 3 W 0 L 2 ERA: 2.62 IP 10.1 H 4 R 6 ER 3 BB 11 17 March 30th vs. #2 Ranked - Desert Hills IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 3 BB 6 SO 12 |