Utah Diamond Notes: Week 5

Stinson shows a power/speed combo as he has been on the 6.8-6.9/60 range, the 60 yrd dash, and clocked in at a 6.82 in Atlanta and put up a .400+ BA with 7 HR’s during the ‘22 spring season. Showing an EV of 99.8 this last year, Stinson was a little off that, but barrelled balls to all fields during BP and an 84 OF velo for good measure. With a lean athletic build that portends to added weight and strength at maturity, it’s easy to see 100+ EV’s in his future and a high 80’s arm from the OF over the next two HS seasons. Stinson plays at a very good HS program, coached by former MLB hitter, Chris Shelton, so colleges know he will be schooled in the game the right way. I look for even bigger things from this young man moving forward and one colleges should definitely take notice of quickly!

Stinson, a standout at a couple of previous PBR Utah events, has only continued to solidify his attention with us, as he has posted solid data with an EV high of 99.8 with solid hand and bat speed. A quick bat with a 45 degree load, and starts with his bat turned into his load, while rocking back for leverage and gets his foot down soft at foot strike. Stinson, an everyday player as a freshman on a talented, but young Cottonwood roster, will look to build upon his success as a sophomore for Coach Chris Shelton (former big league 1B) and the Colts. Stinson has also posted 6.9-7.2/60 times and should only increase that as he continues to gain physical strength and maturity. 

Drake has been through a lot this past season w/Tommy John surgery, after injuring his elbow last November and worked his tail off to come back at the end of the HS season, to take a few AB’s and was able to hit all summer. He has now progressed to easy tosses across the diamond from 3B. Took a good BP at the West Coast Games and proceeded to get a couple of hard knocks in the game play portion of the event. Features an unorthodox style to hit, as he carried his hands at his right oblique w/a bat waggle. Get his hands loaded at a 45-degree angle in sync w/a big leg kick. You wouldn’t think he could time up velocity with this approach, but he does! Strong w/a hand speed max of 25 mph and 83 mph bat speed, that generates EV’s of 100 mph! The defense is most likely suited for 1B, but playing 3B will keep him athletic and enhance his profile, yet the bat plays at both corners. Colleges need to take a closer look at Drake and the bat has impact potential. 

A strongly built corner INF w/a 100 mph top EV, Piersall has a unique way of hitting, as he carries his hands low and then brings them up and back into the load phase, incorporating a high knee kick and then uncoiling the spring to power through the baseball with a fast bat, and elevating the ball into a high one hand finish. The hand and bat speed have jumped since we last saw him in June at the Top Prospect Games, to 25.1 and 80.7 at the All-State Games. Drake has worked really hard and put himself in the conversation now for the short list for next year's PBR Future Games!

Drake is a tall lean streamlined build with height and weight above his years. Plenty to project on here. With the bat, his metrics were really good for a 15 year old kid. He put up some 94 mph exit velos which is better than any ‘24 in our events. There are some tweaks he can make to fine tune his mechanics. He shows hand and bat speed above his years and takes a direct path and shows strong hands and a firm strong top hand. The load and timing can sync up better with his lower 1/2 and increase his metrics. But he does exhibit a strong hitting profile for a young kid. Defensively at 1B, he shows soft hands and fields out front and is confident to his backhand. The arm will continue to improve as he matures, yet this kids body projects to mature and gain added weight and strength. Makings here to be developed.