2023 Top Available: Infielders

Mon June 6, 2022
Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Cole DeCastro SS / 2B / Desert Hills , UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 13 / POS: 4

 

2022 Season Stats:

G 22 PA 87 AB 69 H 33 AVG .478 HR 0 RBI 17 2B 5 3B 1 BB 15 SO 11 SB 7/8

OB% 575 SLG% .580 OPS: 1.154

** (2 Time 4A All-Region 10) **

3/06/22

DeCastro is as sound defensively as they come at SS in the entire state. A true SS, that doesn’t show flash, but picks everything left to right and comes in on the run well. Reminds me of Pirates SS, Kevin Newman. Steady Eddie with the glove. You hit it to him and you’re out. With the bat, DeCastro works counts and sprays LD’s in all directions with a high contact approach. A 6.9-7.0/60 is plenary for the next level, but what he lacks in pure speed, he makes up for with a high baseball IQ and + instincts for the position. A 2nd Team All-Region and HM All-State player as a sophomore, look for even further steps as he climbs to his ceiling. 


11/21/21

The Future Games alum, is one of the best defensive SS in the state and shows educated feet and a plus feel to receive the ball out front and make plays from all angles. Is as steady as they come and was an All-Region performer last spring. The bat, which is a contact type bat, is now driving the ball with something behind it and it’s evident with his hand speed and bat speeds of 25.8 and 73.6! The EV was 91.2 and the swing has more finish and length out front, which attests to his added strength over the last 3-4 months of hard work! Look for a good spring from DeCastro!


8/15/21

A Future Games and West Coast Games participant, Cole had his best BP to date, as he jumped from the 87 mark in EV to 91.2 and is squaring the ball up on a more consistent basis, the more of these high profile events he has earned. One of the better defensive SS in the state and in the 2023 class, DeCastro shows consistency at SS, and has solid avg range and athleticism to stay in the dirt. Sure handed and smooth, but not flashy, he is substance over flash, and this enables him to make and finish plays vs other MIF’ers in the state. The type that if you hit his direction, you’re out! The leadoff hitter on the 25-5 Desert Hills squad that finished this past spring as our #4 ranked team in the PBR Power 20, Cole hit near .400 with a high contact rate, and was an on-base candidate every time he stepped to the plate with a patient eye and zone recognition. I look for Cole to make additional strength gains over the next 6 months leading up to the 2022 season and will be a catalyst for the “Thunder” for the next 2 years, as he is now drawing college attention. 

 2021 Preseason All-State

     2021 PBR Future Games 

       2021 PBR West Coast Games

 2021 All-State Games

 2022 Preseason All-State

 2022 PBR Top Prospect Games
Jake Olsen - Lehi High School Baseball - Deseret News

Jake Olsen SS / 2B / Lehi, UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 14 / POS: 5

 

2022 Season Stats:

G 32 PA 125 AB 98 R 40 H 42 AVG .429 HR 3 RBI 40 2B 13 3B 3 BB 21 SO 10      SB 15/17 - OB% 528 SLG% 714 OPS: 1.242

5/25/22

Olsen was the ignitor and catalyst of the 5A State Champions. It was the first state baseball championship for the Lehi Pioneers since 1981. Olsen has bloodlines, as his uncle played in the San Diego Padres organization. Olsen had a tremendous junior season, and can really play SS. Features plus hands and feet with solid range and shows a solid avg arm, that projs to plus as he continues to fill out and get stronger. The arm is clean and fluid, and the ball jumps from his hand. Olsen made only 6 errors on the season for a FLD% of .923 and should only improve his consistency aver time. The bat and power potential, along with his SB type speed ahould only continue to improve as he matures and fills out. A big state tourney as his bat and glove spearheaded a unblemished run at the state title. Really excited by this young man, and he is drawing offers now and should be a quality impact bat for someone. Will be attending the PBR Top Prospect Games on July 12th at Pleasant Grove HS. 

 2022 Top Prospect Games

Kaden Hodson 3B / SS / Lone Peak, UT / 2023

Rankings  State Rank: 15 / POS: 1

 

2022 Season Stats:

G 28 PA 106 AB 77 R 23 H 31 AVG .403 HR 4 RBI 28 2B 9 3B 3 BB 20 SO 19          OB% 547 SLG% .753 OPS: 1.300

11/21/21

Hodson has quite a few teams showing attention to his big imposing athletic frame and has only been playing baseball for 5 years. Some rawness to get out of him, but the strides are evident as he has a fluid path to produce power in his corner profile bat. With huge hand speed to get the bat started at 28.6 and bat speeds of 75.2, suggests that future whip and barrel release are in there to post 80+ in time. The EV of 93.6 also suggests that finding the barrel even more will result in some added exit speeds coming off his bat. During the game he squared up a ball for a 2B to LCF and made a nice pick at 3B on a tough in-between hop to get the runner at 1B. 

4/03/21

A tall well defined physical build and looks the part of a player older than his years. Looks to continue to get stronger and continue to project a bit over the next few years. Intriguing sophomore that is off a good early start to his sophomore season through 7 games. Shows avg feet and hands with okay arm strength for his age, and does take an extra step into a shuffle-shuffle to get the ball underway from SS. The bat has a smooth fluid plane and squared it up consistently throughout BP. With 93 mph EV for a 16 year old, that's impressive and something to build from. One thing to correct with his weight transfer at the plate, is his first movement with his front foot after coming to square on his approach to the baseball, is forward. His hands stay back, which helps, but against better pitching, the game will speed up. Does need to get something going back to get even more punch in to the baseball. Intriguing player and one to keep an eye on.  


 2021 Preseason All-State

 2021 All-State Games

  2022 Top Prospect Games

 

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