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Prep Baseball Texas JC Notebook #2

February 12, 2024
Brandon Gowins
Texas Scouting Director

Tyler, TX - This past weekend Tyler JC hosted the Tyler Spring Tournament where we saw some of the top JUCO teams in the nation compete head-to-head. We saw multiple Top-150 prospects across this weekend. Below in our second JC notebook of the spring, we take a look at the standouts from the weekend.

Iowa Western

Fr. Virot Siharath - RHP - The RHP from Ontario got the opening day start for the Reivers on Friday in Tyler. The 5 '10 freshman showed a big fastball that ranged from 90-94 with good carry. It played well at the top of the zone. It had good spin and was north of 2500+ rpm’s. He also threw a tight breaking ball that has a chance to be a s/m offering. He didn’t command it great but when he did, it flashed above average. Siharath is a good athlete on the mound with big arm talent.

Fr. Noah Scott - RHP - The best relief outing on Friday out of the 4 games belongs to Scott. The 6’4 frosh from Colorado showed high end stuff that played up with his strike throwing ability. His fastball sat 90-92 with ASR. He had good command of his heater, being able to get both sides of the plate with it. He generated a lot of weak contact and got plenty of defensive swings. He followed up the fastball with a changeup that has plus potential. He really killed the spin on it, and it played like a split. The bottom really fell out and it dive bombed out of the zone. He also showed a useful slider as well. Overall, a really good day for Scott.

So. Jaxon Sorenson - 3B - Liberty commit - Sorenson is how you imagine your cleanup hitter looking. Standing 6’4 225, the Liberty recruit is an intimidating figure in the batter’s box. Sorenson got his year started with a rbi 2B he smoked down the RF line. For the size, the LHH Sorenson showed good body control in the box, and a repeatable swing that should generate a lot of loud contact. Sorenson also showed good feet and a solid glove at the hot corner.

So. Brayden Smith - MIF - Oklahoma State commit - The leadoff hitter for Iowa Western is Smith, and the future Ok State Cowboy took quality ab after quality ab on Friday. The LHH had multiple hits in the first game and seemed to be on every pitch he swung at. He had good strike zone awareness and didn’t expand the zone. He had some clutch 2 strike swings and consistently is putting pressure on the opposing team. He is the catalyst to a dangerous lineup for Iowa Western.

Tyler JC

Fr. Colton Cross - RHP - The Frosh Righty got the start for the Apaches in Game 1 on Friday. The East Texas native showed high end stuff, displaying a 4 pitch mix that has S/M potential. The fastball sat 90-93 with some hop at the end. He was more control over command but the fastball can navigate a good lineup multiple times through. He also had a good feel for spin. Cross threw two different breaking balls, a curve in the mid 70’s and then a hard slider in the low 80’s that he could rip over 2700 rpm’s. He flashed a firm changeup as well. As the season goes on, Cross is going to win a lot of games for TJC.

So. Danny Valadez - RHP - Valadez got the start in game 2 for Tyler and was extremely sharp. He matched Blinn pitch for pitch and gave the Apaches a chance to eventually win the game. His fastball sat 90-92 for the duration of his outing and he really leaned on a quality changeup as well. He sprinkled in a tight slider as well that showed late life. Valadez showed the ability to go deep into a game against one of the most potent lineups in the country. A really impressive outing.

Fr. Troy Johnson - OF - Johnson eventually had the walk off sac fly in game 2 for Tyler’s win over Blinn, but Johnson’s athleticism really stood out all day. Johnson can really run, and it was evident the first time he got out of the box. He has game changing speed from the right side and can really defend in the Outfield. He shows a good swing and has a chance to really cause havoc at the top of Tyler’s lineup.

So. Douglas Bauer - RHP - Bauer was electric for the Apaches out of the pen. The 6’4 righty showed a heavy fastball in the 91-94 range. He threw it with confidence and showed good command to both sides of the plate. He followed that up with a hard slider that he got multiple swings and misses with. He also sprinkled in a split that he really killed the spin on and buried at the bottom of the zone. He was a big reason Tyler was able to win the nightcap against Blinn.

McLennan

Fr. Gavyn Jones - LHP/1B - Oklahoma commit - Jones is our #2 ranked player in our PBR Juco Top 150, and it is easy to see why. He is uber athletic on the mound, making you believe he will be able to repeat the mechanics long term. He is still working on the command, but when it is right, it is low to mid 90’s from the left side right underneath the RHHs hands. He can really get to the glove side when he is on. He compliments that well with a slider that can generate s/m to both sides of the plate. Jones is going to have to be more efficient if he wants to go deeper into games, but the stuff is undeniable.

Fr. Phoenix Meza - INF - The swing of the day belonged to Meza. With MCC down 4 to Blinn, Meza delivered a grand slam over the LC wall on a day where the ball wasn’t traveling at all. Meza has serious bat speed from the right side, and even though he isn’t the biggest guy, he can impact the baseball. He had multiple good ab’s on the day, and also played a high end shortstop. Meza is part of a talented left side of the infield for The Highlanders, and they are also the catalyst at the top of the order. A really good night for the talented freshman.

Fr. Mac Rose - C/1B - Rose continues to rise up the MCC lineup early in the season, and it is easy to see why. The LHH has been on the barrel early in the season and delivering hit after hit. He had multiple hits on Friday night, and they were all loud. Rose has loose hands in the box with good rhythm. He is always on time, and he does a good job of staying Gap to Gap with his approach. Rose is another freshman that looks to be ready to contribute at a big level for McLennan.

Fr. Clayton Freshcorn - RHP - Freshcorn has been really impressive. He was lights out in the fall and has continued that trend this spring. Friday wasn’t his best outing, but the RHP still shows loud stuff. His fastball sits in the 91-94 range and it can play up in the zone or down. He isn’t the most imposing figure, standing 6’ and pretty slight, but Freshcorn has a quick arm and an efficient delivery. He also throws a tight, short slider that he throws with confidence giving him a quality 2 pitch mix out of the pen.

Fr. Lucas Kelly - RHP/INF - Kelly came in to close out the game for the Highlanders and got the job done. Kelly came out with a high energy 91-94 with a power slider. Kelly comes right at you, and he seems to have the mindset of a back of the bullpen guy. He had to navigate the top of a tough Blinn lineup and looked the part. Kelly is just another high end arm for MCC, and as the season goes on and roles more defined, the HIghlanders have the makings of an elite bullpen.