DFW Preseason I.D.: Quick Hits

PLANO, TX - The talent in Texas always amazes our scouting staff and we were fortunate to see a ton of high end players on Saturday at the DFW Preseason ID. Here is a quick look at what we saw this weekend. Be on the lookout for a ton more content this week, with player reports rolling out next week.

2020 RHP/OF Jalen Davenport (Klein Collins HS) topped out at 90 on the bump, working mostly 86-89 with a short arm stroke and a plus changeup at 75-78 mph. The right-hander also ran a 6.92 60-yard dash.

2020 OF Homer Bush (Southlake Carroll) has a ton of upside in an athletic, long-limbed, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. He started the day with a 6.58 60, and left the yard during BP, posting a top exit velocity of 87 and throwing 86 from the outfield.

2020 SS Dylan Mach (Aledo HS) is a shortstop that college coaches will want to see this spring. He ran a 6.73 60 and posted a 90 mph exit velocity. The actions on the infield are solid and he has the present arm strength that could allow him to stay on the left side of the infield. Really liked the way he picked the ball at second base during the catcher workout.

Looking forward to following 2020 RHP/3B Cade Medlin throughout this spring at New Diana HS. At 6-foot-2, 187-pounds, the right-hander has a clean arm swing and the ball comes out easy at 82-85, tickled 89 once. The slider has good shape with short, late break at 73-75, and the changeup came in at 74-75 mph.

2020 LHP Kenton Weiland (The Woodlands HS) has improved his off speed offerings since last year. Throws a sharp curveball with short, downer break at 71-73, and his slider had more lateral “cutter” movement at 73-76. Works from a ¾ slot with some effort that creates deception on his fastball at 81-83 mph.

There were a ton of hitters that had impressive rounds of BP, launching balls around the yard and over the fence, including 2020 OF/1B Joel Shea (Frisco Memorial HS), 2020 1B Hunter Reid (Plano Senior HS), 2020 1B Cole Latos (Allen HS), 2020 C Haydn Hammerschmidt (Lampasas HS), 2020 3B Austin Eaton (Lone Star HS), 1B Harrison Hess (Midlothian Heritage HS), 2020 3B/1B Barrett Rose (Wakeland HS), 2021 C Creed Willems (Aledo HS), and switch-hitter 2020 OF/3B Russell Etheridge (Guyer HS)

Colleges still looking for athletic left-handed hitters need to know about uncommitted 2019 SS/OF Ryan Davenport (Dripping Springs HS). He still has room to fill out his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, with loose hands at the plate and a balanced line drive approach through the middle of the field.

2021 LHP/OF Alan Benhardt (Frisco Independence HS) has a high-waisted frame at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. The left-handed hitter took a solid round of BP, his barrel stays in the zone a long time, and he showed good feel for the barrel. He threw 86 from the outfield where he plays through the ball with athletic actions and an accurate arm stroke. On the mound, he pitched at 80-83 and mixed in a short breaking curveball at 69 mph, with a 74-75 mph changeup.

2021 RHP Nick Greaney (J.J. Pearce HS) has a ton of upside with his 6-foot-7, 240-pounds frame. The right-hander sat 81-84 with a clean arm swing.

2021 RHP Camron Montz (Marcus HS) has an athletic delivery with a loose arm from a ¾ slot. His fastball topped out at 84, pitching at 80-82, and he showed feel for a 70-72 mph slider and a changeup that has quality action at 72-75.

2021 SS Reece Parrott (Newman Smith) impresses every time we see him. Shows high end feel for the infield, and the swing works, allowing him to be on time and on the barrel with lots of room for error as the barrel stays in the zone a long time.

We have been a big fan of 2021 OF Jacob Stephens since we saw him last spring as a freshman starter for Plano West HS. Stephens ran a 6.82, and posted a top exit velocity of 93 and threw 89 from the outfield. The right-handed hitter has a short stroke with pull side pop.

In that same class at Plano West is 2021 RHP/OF Nicholas Moore, who has an athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame. The right-handed hitter has a simple swing that he repeats with ease, showing strength in the barrel with sneaky pop (91 exit velo). On the mound, he has a loose arm swing with an 83-85 mph fastball. Breaking ball has good shape at 70-71, and the changeup looked like a plus pitch that he threw with same arm speed at 72-74 mph.

2020 C Ryan Blackwell (Amarillo HS) has a strong frame at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. He ran a 7.16 60, threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 2.06-2.16. The right-handed hitter has quick hands with pull side pop, using an athletic leg kick to generate leverage.

Odessa Junior College got a good one in 2019 Collin Horton (Keller HS). The right-hander sat 87-89, and showed a plus changeup with good arm side depth at 78-80. Throws a 12/6 curveball at 70-73 mph.

2020 C Jackson Duke (South Grand Prairie HS) has a polished skill set for an uncommitted catcher and should be added to a number of recruiting boards. Duke threw strikes to second base with pop times ranging from 1.86-2.11. He has a quick exchange with good rhythm in his footwork to go with a durable 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame. The right-handed hitter has an aggressive hack with loose hands that keep the barrel in the zone a long time and posted a top exit velocity of 96 mph.