2028 Fab 5 Rankings
December 17, 2024
2028 "Fab Five" Rankings
The rising freshman class of 2028 is off to a great start in the Beehive State. Though the depth beyond 5-6 players is shallow at this point, that is to be expected when most incoming freshmen have yet to see the forest for the trees in attending events to get on the radar for future underclass and uncommitted national events, they should be a part of. It’s imperative that young players take part in creating a baseball resume of success vs their peers in a showcase setting, as to feel comfortable being “on the stage”, where they can create some hype and buzz early, so that evaluators can get a handle on upcoming classes to build a follow list for future years.
Five such prospects are receiving recognition and one at the #6 spot in Trigg Cloward from Salem Hills HS, is one that easily could have been among the 5, but we decided to keep it a round number and go with a “Fab Five” flavor to start out with.
Leading off the initial look to the 2028 class is 3 premier advanced for their age type prospects in two players who were honored with representing the state and #TeamUtah at the prestigious Prep Baseball Future Games. Along with those two outstanding talents, we also have a 15U USA National Team rep from the state, who could challenge for the top spot, once he attends and participates in our statewide event circuit. Once that occurs, he will find himself squarely on “future” Future Games and ProCase rosters moving forward.
With the initial release, we decided to release a small list vs a top 10, and go with a more complete and comprehensive list of players that myself as the state director felt strongly in honoring with this release…with that said we present the “Fab Five” 2028 Top Rankings list.
Brown Report:
11/04/24
Update: Won the Power Showcase National 15U Home Run Derby with a max EV of 106.1 and a Max Distance of 461'
Brown continues to turn heads at each event, as the only ‘28 at this past July’s Future Games, Austin put up another big showing in BP at our signature fall invite event. As we tracked batted ball metrics with Trackman, a couple of swings went by the wayside, and didn’t make the data board, but they were both visually detected by all in attendance. The smooth easy LHH stroke with plus raw power, produced a subjective 400+’ as he rocketed 2 balls out of Snow Canyon to deep RCF, with one ¼ of the way up the light pole and the other clearing the RCF scoreboard, that drew oohs and awes! During game play, Brown smoked a ball for a HR on a line, over the wall in deep LCF for another explanation point, to his strong event. The Wasatch product will once again go back to LakePoint next summer and is eligible for a 3 year run at Prep Baseball’s signature national recruiting event.
8/07/24
The youngest position player at the Future Games and eligible for 2 more years to attend. Looks the part of a ballplayer, as he is 6-1 185 and L-L. The body is lean and strong with broad shoulders and long limbs to continue adding size and strength over the next 4-6 years with natural growth and development. The key will be the gym and what he does to take it beyond the natural format. Blessed with pure God given raw power, that’s solid avg now and 55 on the MLB grading scale. Projects to 60 easily with a chance for 70, which is well above average on the scale. The ball jumps off the bat when he catches it right with back spin and carry. Can leave the park now from straightaway CF to the pull side and in time as he continues to develop, the focus should be on driving the ball as hard and far as he can to the back side of the field as well. Does need to utilize his lower half in his approach to and through the ball, as he uses his upper half at this point, due to his natural strength and is so young and just trying to gain an understanding of how his body should move and work through his swing. Tracks the ball and reacts to balls off the bat defensively in an advanced manner vs his peers of the same age. The arm is a 45 now, which is just below avg, but the arm works and shows online carry to the target on a hop to project a 55 or solid avg arm and will be able to play RF and profile nicely and corner power bat. Has the ingredients to project into a definite D1 hitter and wouldn’t surprise me if it develops beyond that as well. It’s in his court to have that carrot and chase it with hard work and determination, because the ingredients are there.
Brown Video:
12/17/24
Jeremiah is a promising incoming freshman baseball player who stands out with his impressive physical attributes and remarkable skills on the field. At 6'2" and 185 lbs, he possesses a blend of power and agility that makes him a significant asset to any team. Comes from a bloodline family of next level players, as his father Andy Hall played 2B/3B at Cal Poly SLO in 1995-1997 and was a 16th Rd selection and played 3 years in the Cardinals organization. His uncle Billy Hall also played at Cal Poly SLO in 1993 and the two own South County Hit Factory in Payson, UT
Pitching: Fastball: Consistently clocks at 88-91 mph in the fall of 2024
Control: Demonstrates good command of the strike zone with the ability to locate.
Secondary Pitches: Developing a strong repertoire of secondary pitches to complement his FB.o
Defense: Exhibits excellent defensive skills with quick reflexes and a strong arm. Very versatile, capable of playing multiple positions effectively, providing flexibility for a coaching staff.
Hitting: Consistent hitter with a knack for making contact and getting on base.
Power: Hit multiple HR’s in the fall - Baserunning: Strong baserunner with good speed and instincts on the basepaths.
Achievements: Selected to the 2024 15U USA National Team
8/07/24
The youngest and only ‘28 arm at the Future Games as he has bloodlines like a handful of Team Utah members, as his father Dax played his college baseball at Texas Tech and Grayson College for Tim Tadlock. Holmstead finished things off in the mound on day 3 for Team Utah with some flashes of his youth and also for what is to come moving forward. The lean athletic righty at 6-2 175 has the frame to get to 200 Lbs over the course of his upcoming HS career, yes upcoming as the and and build have 4 years of exciting development to go and it will be interesting to see where this plays out as the high kick to a tucked compact delivery can pump the FB up to 90 mph and worked at 86-88, although he dropped a tick after the 1st inning in the heat and humidity of Atlanta. But one thing is certain: you don’t see many rising freshmen with this kind of arm strength. The arm slot is a LTQ variety and can feel like it’s coming at your front hip if you’re a RHH and has low riding run and sink below the belt and arm side run up, that can get in on RHH’s. The CB does need attention as it can flatten out and due to the arm action, it must be a sweeping type effect as he gets around the pitch. When he catches it right it takes off and sweeps across the plate with a reaching type reaction from the hitter. The CH has fade and limited use as is the case with a young arm like this, however there’s a lot to like in his size, deceptive slot and upside with twitchy athleticism to see a sinking low to mid 90’s FB in his future. Will return to Atlanta next summer as a two-way RHP/OF and will be fun to see his development over the next 4 years!
The incoming freshman from Lehi HS, earned an early invite to Prep Baseball’s signature national event next summer, as a young MIF headed to the Future Games. Welch has impressed at such events as the Rising Stars ID and played significantly up against older competition at last summer's Top Prospect Games. The 14 year old twitchy MIF, has a fluidity and grace to his plus movement patterns at SS and has projectable plus hands and feet, to go along with an 84 MPH arm, that's online and accurate. The arm and glove actions are advanced for a 2028 grad and at the plate, features a conventional classic RH stance. Welch gets separation with his hands and front side at foot strike. A LD bat with backspin to the gaps, will only be more of a threat as he continues to grow, progress and fill out with maturity. College coaches need to mark this name down to follow next summer as he will be eligible for two years at LakePoint!
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SCOUTING DIRECTOR (BIO)
Scholzen comes to Prep Baseball after serving 9 years as the "Four Corners" Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in the same capacity as the "Four Corners" Scouting Supervisor (UT, WY, So-ID, Las Vegas, AZ, CO, NM and El Paso). Scholzen received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout with the Angels.
With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the following MLB players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole, Andy Burns and Paul Sewald to name a few.
During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen also served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate in the Pioneer League, the Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles, which earned Jeff two more championship rings.
In Scholzen's 20 year scouting career, he was credited with the signing of 6 MLB players starting with:
Brandon Wood, SS, Angels 2003, 1st Rd ~ Efren Navarro, 1B, Angels 2007, 50th Rd ~ Donn Roach, RHP, Angels 2010, 3rd Rd ~ Tyler Wagner, RHP, Brewers 2012, 4th Rd ~ Payton Henry, C, Brewers 2016, 6th Rd ~ Ryan Aguilar, 1B/OF - Brewers 2017, 31st Rd ~ Scholzen also had an additional 3 players added to various clubs 40 man MLB rosters over the years.
2019 (14th Rd) draft pick, RHP-Paxton Schultz from Utah Valley U, is currently in AAA (Buffalo Bisons) with the Toronto Blue Jays, and former 40 man Brewers rostered RHP (Utah Tech) just recently returned from Korea and signed with the NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks and is in AAA with the Reno Aces.
Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach in the country, when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship. Scholzen also recruited and coached World Series RHP-Ryan Jensen of the San Francisco Giants, who would earn a top 5 finish for NL Rookie of the Year in 2022. Scholzen and Jensen had the unique opportunity, to be on opposing sides of the ledger, when Scholzen's Angels and Jensen's Giants squared off in the 2002 MLB Fall Classic.
Scholzen also had the pleasure of coaching Jensen's roommate and back up catcher, Kyle Turner who has worked in professional/major league baseball for 24 years. Kyle currently is in his 14th season with the big league Kansas City Royals and serves as the clubs Head Athletic Trainer. Turner was instramental, while a young player for Scholzen at Southern Utah, in introducing Scholzen to his first wife, the late Heidi Dalton Scholzen, who passed away in December of 2014. A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization in 1991.
Scholzen was married to his late wife Heidi for 20 years and their union produced four children - McKyla 28, Miranda 25, McKenzie 23 and the couples only son, Grant Scholzen 19, played 2B/3B at D1 WCC school, the U of the Pacific (Pacific Tigers) on scholarship, in 2024 and transferred to Salt Lake CC.
After Heidi's passing in 2014, Scholzen married Cami Macias Scholzen, a widow herself and the same age as Heidi and the couple now have been married 9 years. Between both families, Jeff has 3 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren (8 total). The Scholzen's reside in Hurricane, UT in the bottom left SW corner of the state, near the most iconic and scenic national parks in the country.