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Throwback Thursday - WA Summer Showcase '21 Grads

April 2, 2020
Dan Jurik
Scouting Director - Pacific Northwest

Continuing our look at uncommitted prospects across the state, today we're looking back at the 2021 grads who attended our Washington Summer Showcase. 

For more information on a player, click their name to be taken to their profile page

Full event roster and statistical release from event here

2021 grads

Jacob Kaepernick LHP / 1B / Sehome, WA / 2021

Rankings  StateRank: 42 / POS: 4

6-foot-1, 195 pounds with a mature frame and a sturdy lower half. Uses a narrow, tall stance in the box with feet just outside of shoulder width. Has some bat wiggle to create rhythm and timing. Hands quiet down with their movement and load beyond back shoulder as he takes forward stride. Swing has depth in the strike zone and covers a lot of plate. Mostly line-drive contact in BP but has the ability to lift to his pull-side gap. High, one-handed finish after contact. Defensively, has the actions to be a quality defender at 1B. Moves well around the bag with clean, fluid footwork. Maintains consistent body control throughout fielding process. Soft glove hand when funneling in. Loose, whippy arm action from low ¾ slot. 

Ayush Krishnappa SS / OF / Tesla STEM/Redmond , WA / 2021

5-foot-10 with a lean, wiry build and length in his frame. Switch-hitter with polished actions on both sides of the plate. As a RHH, has a narrow, upright stance. Short forward stride with a controlled hand load. Easy, compact swing with a slight uphill path. Has a slightly wider base in his stance as a LHH. Stride and load keep the same tempo. Barrel has a higher finish thru contact with a ‘handsy’ type swing. Showed off some defensive versatility by working out in the OF and at SS. In the OF, works with a deliberate tempo and shows sound footwork/actions. Uses short, direct strides. Loose, easy arm action from ¾ release point. In the INF, keeps the same tempo and speed of play while fielding. Keeps body control throughout while displaying feel for a quality glove hand. Hands work freely on the exchange, especially on his double play feeds. Same ¾ release point as the OF but with shorter, more compact arm action. 

Caden McCann LHP / OF / Woodinville, WA / 2021

5-foot-10, 155 pounds with a proportional frame and sloped upper half. Starts in an upright stance, slightly open with his lower half. Creates some rhythm with his barrel before getting into his forward move. Steps back into a toe-tap before using forward stride to gain ground and create separation against his hands. Lowers hands to just below shoulder height, allowing swing to get on plane early. Showed the ability to lift the ball down in the zone to his pull-side. 2-handed finish thru contact. In the OF, showed active footwork and consistent tempo in his actions when approaching the ball. Comes thru with momentum behind him and glove hand out in front of his outside leg. Exchanges into throwing motion then gets directly into crow hop. Full, continuous arm path with high ¾ release.  On the mound, worked exclusively out of the stretch during bullpen. Slight bend on backside as he gets to leg lift. Drop and drive type of action while working down the slope. Keeps shoulder plane level at landing, allowing him to create downward angle from his high ¾ release point. Arm action shows full extension after hand break and then gets more compact when getting to release. Aggressive finish out front with all of his offerings. 

Paul Noone OF / 1B / Mercer Island , WA / 2021

6-foot-1, 165 pounds with a lean frame and projection left. Sets up in an athletic, balanced stance with upper & lower half aligned with pitcher. Hands start slightly below rear shoulder and push back into a loaded position as he uses leg kick and takes his stride. Fluid, clean swing with easy bat speed. Showed feel for the barrel and flashed developing pull-side power. Loose, one-handed finish thru contact. In the OF, takes long, athletic strides when covering ground. Uses a hip hinge to keep chest over the ball when funneling in. Stays tall with lower half and quickly gets into side shuffle for throwing motion. Short, bent arm action with ¾ release. Shows similar feel for footwork and body control at 1B. Quick actions when coming off of the bag to field the ball. Keeps weight and glove hand centered when funneling ball in. Consistent exchange with same compact arm action as OF. 

Sheehan O'Connor SS / OF / Eastside Catholic, WA / 2021

Square upper half with long, projectable frame at 6-0, 170. Slightly open stance in the box with bend in his lower half. Drifts into forward move after low leg lift. Hands start in strong hitting position and use a subtle, quick load before beginning swing. Stays balanced with weight centered at landing. Keeps bend in arms, which allows barrel to stay inside of ball and create a compact swing. Level path thru the zone with 2-handed finish thru contact. Defensively, shows smooth and controlled footwork in the INF. Actions should allow him to handle multiple positions on the dirt. Plays with a deliberate tempo and avoids getting rushed. Keeps control of glove hand throughout with quiet funneling actions. Clean, whippy arm path. Ball flight shows consistent accuracy out of hand. 

Jack Rhea C / Eastside Catholic, WA / 2021

Rankings  StateRank: 52 / POS: 11

5-foot-10, 165 pounds with a strong, compact frame. In the box, feet start just outside shoulder width while staying tall with a relaxed barrel. Adjusts posture to a more athletic, slightly crouched stance as he puts his forward move on the ball. Hands create some rhythm with short, quick load. Keeps control of the barrel throughout and has a feel for consistent, hard contact. Creates bat speed with minimal effort. Gap to gap power ability. Advanced receiver behind the plate at C. Hips stay below the ball and allow him to keep target compact. Noticeable strength in his glove hand. Moves easily out of the crouch position from a slightly staggered stance. Quick exchange into high ¾ slot. Short arm action. Stays behind ball all the way thru release and kept all his throws on the bag to 2b. 

Kobe Sandstrom 3B / OF / Ferndale , WA / 2021

5-foot-8, 195 pounds with a stocky upper half and present strength. Sets up in a narrow, upright stance in the box with weight slightly pre-shifted onto backside. Low leg lift to get into stride. Hands stay loaded near back shoulder with a subtle move to get loaded prior to landing. Has strong, short levers in his upper half which keep swing tight/compact. Barrel shows quickness when working into the zone. Flat, level finish thru contact. Defensively, uses a wide, balanced set up with a quick pre-pitch hop prior to his first step. Short, quick footwork when moving laterally. Stays low throughout. Showed a quick exchange when opening up glove-side on double play feed. Adjusts alignment with side shuffle as he begins throwing motion. Full arm path into high ¾ release. 

Benjamin Wiljanen RHP / OF / Eastlake, WA / 2021

Rankings  StateRank: 70 / POS: 20

Tall, long-limbed frame with projection left at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds. At the plate, uses an upright, narrow stance with feet aligned to pitcher. Slow, controlled forward move out of leg lift.  Hands stay quiet and relaxed, uses more of a scap load to launch his swing. Stays tall thru contact with a smooth barrel path. Swing shows some whip as he finishes thru contact. Generates gap-to-gap type power with leverage against a strong front side. On the bump, throws with a sound, deliberate delivery. Controls his frame at leg lift while keeping weight over back foot. Long, clean arm path from a high, over the top release. Creates steep downward angle on the ball out of hand. Shorter stride length for his height with slight cross action at landing. Considerable extension out over front leg at release. Showed feel for 3 pitch mix.