As we approach the 2024 UHSAA baseball season, we wanted to take a look at an intriguing quantitative analysis of which four regions, who produced 25 or more next level players in the state, over the past 4 years. We also look at what 9 teams in order have also produced the most next level talent, based off region alignments prior to the 2024 re-alignment of regions and re-classifications.

Since PBR Utah’s inception in October of 2020, the 2024 season marks the 4th HS class we have followed, along with collecting our various data and tech application platforms on players. With a HS baseball player, playing 4 years, the 2024 class were freshman in the inaugural PBR inherited class of 2021. 

We take a deep dive into the four grad classes from 2021-2024, and provide a glimpse into why and who is producing the most talent and what that holds from a prospect development viewpoint in preparing players to reach the next level and hopefully have success. We also want to shed a light on what final piece separates one player from another in the state, when putting top prospect lists together, receiving invites to prestigious regional and national player events, so that when two players are the same or close in tools and production, what type of competition is that player facing in his region playing schedule? Strength of schedule or what type of players a player is competing against is crucial. The various traditional statistics used for 150 years in separating players performance from one player to the next is looked at and taken into account of who those players are competing against and will most likely or not transfer to the college level in being recruited and more importantly having success when a player reaches campus? 

If a player is in a top college producing HS region and the eye test and various movement patterns of the player are broken down into the 5 God given tools, the type of competition the player is facing, for me, is the final separator. If a player is hitting .400 in a region that is producing 40-50 next level players over his 4 years of HS baseball and a similar player of equal ability is doing the same in a region of 20-30 players, I’m gonna lean towards selecting and/or ranking the player with the strongest level of competition above the other, that’s just good evaluation practice. Just because a player plays at a higher level classification as determined by a states governing body, in most cases, domination in size and strength sports such as football or basketball most always sees the higher classification school coming out on top on the field of play. But in baseball, where it’s played by different skill and tool sets, based on what position a player plays and handedness of that player, body types are different and strength profiles are different based on positional profiles. So classification of a school doesn’t determine if that school is adept or has the resources or talent level in its boundaries to get kids recruited to the next level? 

Similar evaluation methods to the strongest competition level is also applied with the following examples when ranking players. Middle infielder over corner infielder, unless that corner guy has huge power that is a separator. CF over corner OF, with the power component once again applied. Catchers of similar tools defensively, a left handed hitting catcher takes priority over a right hand hitting catcher. LHP over RHP. The reason the left handed component takes precedence is simple…the world’s population of left handed humans is only 20%, thus making them a rare commodity and more valued to balance out a roster, pitching staff or hitting lineup. 

A left handed hitting middle infielder of similar skill set to his opposite, who hits right and throws right will receive priority in ranking and team selection or recruiting philosophy as well. R/R in the middle and sub 6' tall is generally "Vanilla", there are 10's of thousands of these players. Unless a player is a sub 7.0/60 yard dash and has God given power, a LHH middle infielder separates himself of similar ability based on normal profile guidelines. The LHH is a rare commodity and takes precedence! Lesson to be learned...? If you believe your son is gonna be on the shorter side height wise, trick him into hitting LH'ed at say 3-4 yrs old, I know from experience!

But boxes must be checked in the recruiting process and needs of schools at certain positions on any given year are fluid, but if all things are equal, what types of hitters are pitchers facing and what type of pitchers are hitters facing? That’s the separator!

Utah HS Baseball - College Production (Top Regions)

2021 - 2024 Grad Classes

Reported Committments: (Entire State)

2021

Commitments: 56 / Division I: 16

2022

Commitments: 81 / Division I: 17

2023

Commitments: 86 / Division I: 21

2024 (Still Developing through Spring)

Commitments: 79 / Division I: 21

TOTAL: 302

Division I: 75

The top 2 Regions (4A Region 10 and 6A Region 4) are supplying 37% of all college commitments and 40% of all Division 1 commitments in the state, as reported to Prep Baseball Report through online website commitment requests by the player, email, text from family, player, coach or social media posts on "X" (Formerly known as Twitter) or Instagram.

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2021-2024 Commits (Post CoVid) Above 25 Commits

1. ~ (4A) Region 10  ~ St. George metro, into Hurricane and Cedar City (7 Teams)

Snow Canyon (14), Dixie (13), Crimson Cliffs (12), Pine View (10), Desert Hills (5), Hurricane (2), Cedar (1)

State Awards

2021 4A State Champions - Snow Canyon 

2022 4A State Champions - Crimson Cliffs ~ Runner Up - Snow Canyon

2023 4A State Champions - Crimson Cliffs ~ Runner Up - Snow Canyon

2021 UHSAA 4A Player of the Year - Mason Strong, C, Snow Canyon (BYU > U Oklahoma)

2021 4A Playoff MVP - Landon Frei, SS/2B, Snow Canyon (Utah)

2022 Gatorade Player of the Year - Luke Anderson, OF/2B, Snow Canyon (BYU)

2022 Prep Baseball Utah Player of the Year - Luke Anderson, OF/2B, Snow Canyon (BYU)

2022 Deseret News "Mr. Baseball" - Luke Anderson, OF/2B, Snow Canyon (BYU

2022 4A Player of the Year - Trey Evans, OF, Crimson Cliffs (CSN)

2022 4A Playoff MVP - Beau Sampson, LHP, Crimson Cliffs (Salt Lake CC)

2023 4A Player of the Year - Petey Soto, SS, Crimson Cliffs (Utah Tech)

Commits by Year

2021 = 9

2022 = 18

2023 = 17

2024 = 16 

TOTAL 57

Division 1 = 16

JUCO = 41

2. ~ (6A) Region 4 ~ Northern Utah County, including Corner Canyon (6 Teams)

American Fork (18), Pleasant Grove (12), Lone Peak (11), Westlake (4), Skyridge (5), Corner Canyon (4)

State Awards

2021 6A State Champions - American Fork ~ Runner Up - Pleasant Grove

2021 Gatorade Player of the Year - Fisher Ingersoll, SS/3B, American Fork (TCU)

2021 6A Playoff MVP - Fisher Ingersoll, SS/3B, American Fork (TCU)

2022 6A Runner Up - American Fork

2023 6A State Champions - American Fork ~ Runner Up - Skyridge

2023 Prep Baseball Utah Player of the Year - Ryder Robinson, SS/2B, American Fork (TCU)

2023 Gatorade Player of the Year - Ryder Robinson, SS/2B, American Fork (TCU)

2023 6A Player of the Year - Ryder Robinson, SS/2B, American Fork (TCU)

2023 Deseret News "Mr. Baseball" - Tyler Ball, RHP, Skyridge (BYU)

Commit by Year

2021 = 10

2022 = 14

2023 = 15

2024 = 15

TOTAL: 54

Division 1 = 14

Division 2 = 2

JUCO = 38

3. ~ (6A) Region 3 ~ South/West Salt Lake City

Riverton (15), Bingham (13), Mountain Ridge (8), Copper Hills (7), Herriman (1), West Jordan (1)

State Awards

2022 6A State Champions - Riverton

2022 6A Player of the Year - Sam Beck, SS/RHP, Riverton (BYU > USU-Eastern)

Commit by Year

2021 = 7

2022 = 7

2023 = 14

2024 = 17

TOTAL: 45

Division 1 = 11

Division 2 = 1

JUCO = 33

4. ~ (5A) Region 8 ~ Northern Utah County and So. Salt Lake City

Jordan (9), Orem (8), Timpanogos (6), Lehi (3), Alta (2), Mountain View (0), Timpview (0) 

State Awards

2022 5A State Champions - Lehi 

2022 5A Player of the Year - Maddux Madsen, RHP, Lehi (Boise State Football)

2022 5A Playoff MVP - Jake Olsen, SS, Lehi (Salt Lake CC)

2023 5A State Champions - Timpanogos ~ Runner Up - Lehi

2023 5A Player of the Year - Billy Bird, LHP/1B, Timpanogos (Utah)

Commits by Year

2021 = 5

2022 = 5

2023 = 16

2024 = 2

TOTAL: 28

Division 1 = 8

JUCO = 20

The TOP 10~Individual HS College Production (6 Northern Utah, 4 Southern Utah)

1) American Fork (18)

2) Riverton (15)

3) Snow Canyon (14)

4) Dixie (13)

4) Bingham (13)

5) Crimson Cliffs (12)

5) Pleasant Grove (12)

6) Lone Peak (11)

7) Maple Mountain (10)

8) Pine View (10)

2023 TOP 10 Division 1 Signees who faced the toughest competition on the field within their region during their HS Career!

It goes without saying, that players who are D1 commits, who come from teams with very few college commits, and play in a top producing region, will face the stiffest competition overall! You can see in the below top 10, that these players who were placed in the Top 10 prospect lists, were placed there before I came up with these lists above. All were perceived from my experience and background as a scout and my knowledge of the state, through decades of doing research projects of this sort as a scout, unlike many who just had pre-conceived judgements on talent, was in actuality being used and quantitavitely studied by myself for years. But with the database used by Prep Baseball and filling in the gaps of those potentially missed through correspondance with coaches to get these lists as thoroughly complete as one can get, is informative not only to parents, players, HS coaches, but also as a guideline for college coaches to follow, and have at their disposal to make as sound a decision as possible on potential next level recruits! Bottom line, is if you don't play at a TOP producing HS, you better be very talented and play for a very reputable travel team in the summer and fall, and play againt GOOD competition, in the right tournaments, and above all else, perform when recruiters are at your games and bearing down!

• 8 of the Top 10 were end of season, TOP 10 PROSPECTS (Future Games/West Coast Games or Super 60 alum *)

1. *(55) Grant Scholzen, MIF, 5-9 170, L-R (Hurricane HS ~ U of the Pacific)  
2.  (49) Tyler Ball, RHP, 6-1 195 (Skyridge ~ BYU) Deseret News "Mr. Baseball"
3. *(45) Petey Soto, SS, 5-11 160, R-R (Crimson Cliffs ~ Utah Tech) 4A Player of the Year
4. *(45) Aaron Morris, RHP, 5-10 170 (Crimson Cliffs ~ Utah Tech)
5. *(44) Cayson Bell, RHP, 6-1 200 (Dixie HS ~ BYU)
   
6.  (42) Crew McChesney, CF, 5-11 180, L-R (Lone Peak ~ BYU)
7. *(40) Brayden Marx, RHP, 6-0 185 (Pleasant Grove HS ~ Hawai'i)
8.  (32) Maddax Peck, RHP, 6-2 185 (Bingham ~ BYU)
9. *(36) Ryder Robinson, MIF, 6-2 195, B-R (American Fork ~ TCU) 6A POTY, Gatorade POTY, PBR Player of the Year
10. *(21) Billy Bird, LHP/1B, 6-3 200 (Timpanogos ~ Utah) 5A Player of the Year

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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, 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. Currently 2019 (14th Rd) draft pick, RHP-Paxton Schultz from Utah Valley U, is currently in AAA with the Toronto Blue Jays, and is a phone call away. 

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, and also recruited and coached World Series RHP-Ryan Jensen of the San Francisco Giants, who would finish with a top 5 finish for NL Rookie of the Year. 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 27, Miranda 24, McKenzie 22 and the couples only son, Grant Scholzen 18, who is a freshman 2B at D1 WCC school, the U of the Pacific (Pacific Tigers) on scholarship. After Heidi's passing in 2014, Scholzen married Cami Macias Scholzen, a widow herself and the same age as Heidi and the couple have now been married 8 years. Between both families, Jeff has 3 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren (8 total) and 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.