Gavin
Ochoa

Scrimmage - Long Beach State commit; Had quality, if not eye popping stuff in his first competitive spring outing. Facing a club team with some strong senior talent (Aidan Lombardi, Carson Crawford, Shane Moran), he had moments of domination and moments of struggle. He threw just over 50 pitches in this one, though a long 3rd inning got him to that number earlier than it looked like he would. Fastball topped at 92, settled in the 89-90 mph range and aside from some quality change-ups (80-81 mph) early on, it was the only pitch he could feel consistently. The normally reliable curveball (77-78 mph) just wasn't there, as he was rushing from the rubber and he couldn't get his release point dialed in. It's more slider-ish than CB-ish with shorter quick breaking, but he calls it a CB. Some of those talented seniors sniffed out that he only had FB feel and made his outing quite challenging. The change-up did seem to be there when he wanted it but in an early season outing, it was clear he kept on trying to get a feel of the curveball.

Norcal ProCase 2020

Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. The frame is long, wiry, with a high waist and significant room to add muscle mass and strength.  

Delivery: Some effort in the delivery but repeatable. Stays compact and has a natural high-3/4 arm slot. Mechanics are clean.

FB: Heavy pitch with downhill plane, and run. Flashes of east-west command, and can elevate effectively to generate swinging strikes, well-above-average swing-miss. Command at times faltered high and to arm-side.

CB: Landed it consistently in the game portion and can get depth on it. 12-to-6 with good tilt, sharp depth, and looks harder than actual velocity. Able to wrap around right-handed-hitters, but command and control need to be tightened up a tic to hit its true plus potential.

CHG: Arm action on the changeup is superb. Displays extreme dive and tumble with excellent plane. Sells pitch with consistent arm speed that plays off fastball and has a 10-12 MPH velocity separation. Shows ability to land it in the zone for strikes, pitch can also really fall off the table, well above-average swing-and-miss potential.

Summary: Ochoa looked focused and intent on executing his game plan, meanwhile maintaining excellent poise. There is pitch-ability and two legitimate weapons in the fastball and change, both of which project to be plus pitches thanks to plane, arm speed, and excellent movement. The development of the curveball will determine whether he reaches what is a very high ceiling. 

Ochoa was flat out carving up hitters during his live session seen here, and with numerous decision makers in attendance, he has firmly planted his name in the discussion as a legitimate professional pitching prospect. When the 2021 MLB Draft rolls around he will be considered in the top few rounds.

Area Code Tryouts - Under Class Notebook

2/20/19 - vs Drake - Uncommitted but put himself firmly on the map as a sophomore to know in Northern California. The lanky but increasingly strong 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has a quick and loose arm, feel for the ball and a body type that really is the prototypical RHP frame/size. The fastball was 84-87 mph, with occasional comeback life to the arm side. He could be a little better with refining his control and work more in the 84-85 range for that control, vs somewhat maxing out and losing some of the zone. The breaking ball is tight and bites well, 76-78 mph with occasional steep tilt. It could be construed as a power CB but given the velocity and short break I'll go with slider. Had seen a change-up from him in the past, but not in this game. Went 4.1 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 R (1 ER). The stuff is better than that line, but again, he needs to sharpen up the control and not miss to the middle as often... i.e. develop pitchability because he has plenty of raw stuff.

2/10/17 - Lanky 6-foot-2 185-pound frame, loose arm, body has plenty of room to fill in and maintain loose/limberness.  Overhand slot, quicker than normal break of hands at separation creates some deception, given his age and future strength gains which will allow him to repeat his delivery, Ochoa looks to have stuff and deception.  Presently he pitches in the low-80s, peaking around 84, the fastball has some length through the zone and is a pitch hitters have to respect.  He backs up the fastball with a good change-up that is presently an out pitch at the high school level and looks to be a potential plus pitch beyond high school.