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Tournaments  | Story  | 5/16/2023

14u Iowa Invitational Scout Notes

James Benson (2027, Lemont, Ill) got Top Tier Americans off to a hot start on the mound, working 4.1 no-hit innings. Benson works from a chest-high leg kick before a longer arm action. Slow movements as he pushes from the back leg to work downhill, before creating some arm whip from a high three- quarters release point. Controlled delivery that was able to throw off hitters’ timing. The left-handed pitcher showed off the fastball, averaged 73 for the start and peaked at 76, to run up counts before breaking off a good 1-7 curveball with loose spin and depth. Benson was able to show off the swing and miss upside racking up eight strikeouts. Did show some control issues allowing four walks but showed composure not letting them derail the start. Lanky 6-foot-6, 190-pound frame with more velocity in the tank.

Johnny Louise (2027, Willowbrook, Ill.) continued the hot start for Top Tier Americans offensively, ending the game 2-for-3 with a run scored. Louise starts from an even stance before sinking into the back hip and creating torque. Hands work directly to the ball with an uphill plane in the swing that works under the ball well to create backspin. Quiet operation and shows comfortability in the box. Has a sturdy 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame that has strength at present with power upside as he continues to mature and fill.



Ahyvance Taylor (2027, Des Moines, Iowa) was a force in the leadoff spot for the Iowa Stars 2027 collecting three hits, including two doubles, in just eight at-bats this weekend. Taylor starts from a wide base before a small toe tap. Has a quiet operation in the box with no excess movement before firing hands through the zone with some whip to the barrel. Continues to show power upside with present strength in the large 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame. Impressed with a good eye at the plate working counts until he found a pitch that he could do damage with. Shows good speed on the bases and the ability to stretch hits into extra bases.

Nicholas Gnutek (2027, South Elgin, Ill.) was a force at the top of the Athletes HQ lineup going 4-for-8 during the tournament that saw Athletes HQ finish as the runners up. Gnutek starts from a wide base before a front heel lift activates the lower half and gets the timing before letting the hands come through and get the barrel on the ball. Has a longer swing that keeps the barrel in the zone with a slight uphill bat path. Gnutek impresses with a high contact bat and a good feel for his strike zone with a willingness to work counts to get on base. Ended the tournament with three walks and an OBP of .692 to only one strikeout. Shows good speed and base running instincts once on base collecting six stolen bases. Shows some gap-to-gap power upside as the thin 5-foot-7, 113-pound frame continues to fill and add strength.

Cooper Sanders (2028, Lino Lakes, Minn.) showed a ton of upside in his four inning start for Complete Game 14U, collecting eight strikeouts. Sanders works from a belt-high leg kick before getting downhill on the mound with a longer stride and a good lower half. Uses an inverted-W arm action before creating good arm speed as he delivers from a high three- quarters arm slot. Sanders showed a good fastball, 78 for the start and reached 81, that he used to attack high in the zone. Showed ability to get hitters to chase and expand out of the zone with the fastball but also ran into issues throwing it too much into the zone allowing four earned runs on two hits. As the mechanics solidify and strength is added to the young 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame control should improve and allow the fastball to play up with more consistency. He also flashed a curveball.

Alec McClinton (2027, West Des Moines, Iowa) was dominant in the middle-of-the-order for the Iowa Stars 2027, collecting three hits, including a double and driving in five RBI over the tournament. McClinton starts from an even stance before a toe tap stride lets him get on time before hands work directly to the baseball with some uphill plane in the swing. McClinton showed good bat-to-ball skills and the ability to use the whole field with runners in scoring position. He moves well for the compact and sturdy 5-foot-6, 150-pound frame that has room to grow and develop. Shows some power upside with some quickness to the hands and good turns from the lower half to generate torque in the swing.

Edgar Perez (2027, Urbandale, Iowa) showed off the tools and upside for the Iowa Stars 2027 collecting three hits, including a double, and driving in three runs. Perez starts from a wide base before a toe tap gets the lower half activated and lets the strong and quick hands whip the barrel through the zone. He shows good bat speed with some uphill plane. Perez has a strong and athletic 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with more power upside as the frame continues to grow and fill. Also showed upside on the mound running the fastball up to 74.

Cooper Schaefgen (2027, Ixonia, Wisc.) showed off the power upside in the middle-of-the-order for the Hitters 2027 Navy. Schaefgen went 3-for-9 with a double and triple while collecting four RBI. He starts from an even stance and shows no wasted movement before a toe tap gets him on time and primed for the swing. Good hands work directly through the baseball with good connectivity to the lower half creating leverage and bat speed with a natural uphill plane on the swing. Has a quiet operation in the box with strength in the 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame. Kept barrel in zone well and showed the ability to impact the ball to all fields. Showed smooth hands and good instincts defensively at third base. Louisville commit.

Charles Wronski (2027, Bayside, Wisc.) with a dominant start for Hitters 2027 Navy going five innings of two hit baseball. Wronski works from a chest-high leg kick before a short arm action from the ear with a three- quarters arm slot. Attacked hitters well in the zone with control to both halves off the plate. Used the fastball that was 75 and topped out at 78 with some arm side life that worked well on the inner half to produce weak contact. Only allowed two hits and one run in the start. Mixed in a slider with 11-5 shape and downer action that showed some swing and miss traits collecting nine strikeouts. Athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame that projects well going forward.

Jack Spielmann (2027, Janesville, Wisc.) showed good top-of-the-order potential offensively for the Hitters 2027 Navy, collecting two hits and four walks to zero strikeouts during the tournament. Spielmann starts from a narrow stance before a long stride gets the lower half involved and allows for the weight to transfer through contact. Shows good hands in uphill plane swing with good sink and leverage created from back hip with ability to get on plane with pitches well. Gap-to-gap power upside as the athletic 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame continues to add strength and fill. Showed the ability to get on base, with an OBP of .778, and coming around to score for Hitters 2027 Navy with three runs.

Joey Escobarete (2027, Chicago, Ill.) was one of the toughest outs of the tournament from the leadoff spot for Hitters 2027 UDC. He collected six hits with a double and triple to go with two walks, seven runs scored and three RBI and three stolen bases. Showed off the hit and speed tools and impressed with the ability to get on base, get to scoring position and then score runs. Escobarete starts from a wide base before a toe tap for timing gets his quick hands primed to catch the baseball with a flat bat path. Good bat-to-ball skills with barrel control and ability to use the whole field. Worked long at-bats with an impressive feel for his zone at the age and was able to do damage with mistakes. Has huge upside as a leadoff hitter as the 5-foot-7, 125-pound frame continues to fill and mature with some gap-to-gap power upside.


Andrew Talbert (2027, Byron, Ill.) had himself and BennieBoys Gold a weekend helping lead the offense all the way to the Championship victory. Talbert showed good two-way upside with a compact and athletic 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame with plenty of room to fill. In the box he was a force at the top-of-the-lineup with hit, power, and speed on full display going 7-for-12 with two doubles, two triples, and a rocket over the left-field fence to top it off. Talbert ended the weekend with an OPS of 2.021 and seven RBI and runs scored on his way to being named the Iowa Invitational MVP, including a 3-for-3, with a double and triple, performance in the Championship game. He started from a wide base before a toe tap let him sink into the back hip creating torque that he unleashed with his quick hands and explosive bat speed. Showed advanced barrel control for the age. Defensively, he also showed good range and quick hands making a great play at shortstop. On the mound, he worked from a slightly above the belt leg-kick before showing good arm whip from a short arm action and a three- quarters slot. Gave his team a chance to win the game going four innings only allowing two runs on five hits. Showed a good fastball that was 75-79 and mixed in a slider with late bite. Used the fastball well at the top of the zone and showed good control of the mix only allowing one walk to six strikeouts. Proved to be a player to follow with a high ceiling on both sides of the ball and that projects well.

Jaxson Pinter (2027, Spring Valley, Ill.) was an extra-base machine in the top-of-the-order for Hitters 2027 UDC collecting eight hits, including five doubles and two triples. Pinter also showed off his ability to drive runners’ home and hit with runners in scoring position driving in 10 runs while scoring six himself. In the box he started from a wide base with an inverted front toe that he turned well to get the lower half involved and generating the power in the swing. Has a flat bat path and good bat-to-ball skills that were able to spray line drives from gap-to-gap. Showed good bat speed with smooth hands. More power to come as the thin 5-foot-10, 142-pound frame matures and adds strength.

Kyle Larose (2027, West Chicago, Ill.) showed up and showed off in the semifinal game for Athletes HQ in the leadoff spot, going 4-for-5 with two doubles in the game. Larose starts from an upright stance before a short stride takes him through the ball and lets him turn and impact baseballs to both gaps. Creates good bat speed for the frame with quick hands and a slight uphill plane to the swing. Impressed with good bat-to-ball skills with the ability to get on plane with pitches and the ability to turn on baseballs and drive them to the pull-side. Has a young athletic 5-foot-4, 110-pound frame with plenty of room to fill.

Noah Hallahan (2027, Geneva, Ill.) showed off a physical 6-foot, 170-pound frame and two-way upside with middle-of-the-order hitting potential for Athletes HQ. On the mound the right-hander worked from a low and long stride with a shorter arm action that was deceptive and made the ball difficult to pick up. The fastball, 71-75 and topped out at 77, showed good life through the zone and played well up in the zone to begin the game but as he relied heavily on the fastball the other team was able to adjust and create loud contact as he ended the start with five hits allowed and four earned runs. Flashed a changeup and curveball. As the secondaries continue to develop and improve there is a ton of upside as the secondaries won’t allow hitters to just sit on the fastball. In the box Hallahan showed the strength with quick hands that created good bat speed and uphill plane with power upside as the frame continues to mature. High upside in both phases of the game as the feel for the secondaries grows with big-time power potential in the box.

Kale Schneider (2027, Lodi, Wisc.) swung a hot bat all tournament for the BennieBoys Gold collecting six hits including a double and a triple while driving in four RBI and coming around to score five more himself. In the box Schneider starts from a wide, slightly open stance utilizing a toe tap before a good hip rotation and a direct hand path to get and keep the barrel in the zone utilizing the whole field. Good bat-to-ball skills with some bat speed. Some power upside as the thin and lanky 6-foot, 165-pound frame matures and adds. Also ran the fastball up to 74 to collect three strikeouts in four innings on the mound to only two runs allowed in the Championship game.
 

Richard Carlson (2027, South Beloit, Ill.) showed off a ton of two-way upside for BennieBoys Gold with easy power and middle-of-the-order hitting potential in the box. Carlson ended the tournament with seven hits, including a double, two triples, and a no-doubter home run over the left-field fence. Carlson is an imposing figure in the box with a strong and physical 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame that starts from a wide base with a leg lift for timing. Has a quiet operation in the box. Gets his long arms extended well and has whip in the barrel through the zone with advanced bat speed for the age. Has a flat bat path and easy power that can drive baseballs to the pull-side with good power projection to all fields as the frame continues to mature. On the mound Carlson was dominant working five shutout innings of two-hit baseball collecting two strikeouts. He works from a chest-high leg kick with a longer arm action and stride that lets him work downhill from the mound with a high over-the-top arm action. The fastball was 71-75 and topped out at 76 with cutting action and he flashed a slider that he is still developing feel for, showed good control of the mix only allowing two walks. A player to watch with minimal effort on the release and a lot more velocity left in the tank on the mound and with a lot more power to be unlocked in the box.

-Marcus Thomas
 
Middle infielder and right-handed pitcher Max Sinha (2027, Village of Lakewood, Ill.) had a big day on both sides of the ball against the Iowa Astros. On the bump, showed a repeatable delivery, quick arm action, and flashed a tracking slider with depth. Sat at 71 MPH with the fastball from a high three-quarters release. At the plate, displayed excellent bat-to-ball skills, 2-for-2 with a double, and developing gap-to-gap power. Stays connected with sturdy lower half. Should see continued velocity improvement and extra base hit capability with physicality.


Right-hander Brady Smith (2027, Grimes, Iowa) is a high-ceiling hurler with tremendous athleticism. Primary offering is a running fastball that can move across the plate at up to 75 MPH.  His curveball will continue to develop, a 10-4 shaped pitch from his three-quarters release, and his downer changeup has the potential to be his best secondary. Delivery is advanced for 2027 grads. Generates plenty of torque from his lower half, translating directly into healthy frontside pulldown and extension through release. As 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame fills, has a chance to be one of the top arms in his class.
 
6-foot-3, 172-pound Evan Abbott (2027, Ankeny, Iowa) comes at hitters with a slightly deceptive low three-quarters delivery. Sitting at 75 and touching 78, the righty gets good extension without seeming max effort. Moved his lanky frame downhill well and showed the ability to change eye levels while mixing in mid-60s curve. Did not allow a hit and induced soft contact over 1.2 IP. Strikeout upside, especially with continued development of secondaries. Going forward, should have no trouble building torque and maintaining arm action as shoulders fill and lower-half base becomes more solidified.

Catcher Levi Boivin (2027, Neenah, Wisc.) had one of the loudest weekends of any position player, going 5-for-8 with a double, triple, and three RBI. Used 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame to crush mistakes to the pull side, rolling two hits to the wall, didn’t bother to work counts. Bat path had healthy loft, always seemed to be on time. Also displayed above average athleticism and speed. Behind the plate, had good actions and moved well to block. Has not reached full raw power potential, can still optimize lower-half connection and increase torque.

Featuring perhaps the hottest fastball of the event, James Wasson (2027, Hinsdale, Ill.) overmatched many hitters over four innings, striking out eight. The heater touched 82 and sat in the high-70s, while a curve with good velocity separation frequently landed for strikes. Goes downhill in a controlled manner, while his arm takes a short loop directly to the ear. From there, high carry pitches explode on the hitter, making him difficult to time. 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame is excellent base, continued velocity and control improvements should be expected. High-upside right-hander.

Derrick Pomatto (2027, Shorewood, Ill.) set the table for Top Tier Americans, getting on base at a .625 clip including four hits. Got on plane effectively, showed ability to use all fields, and worked long at bats. Stayed on back foot, got front steady early, and let upper body do the rest producing consistent line-drive stroke. Drove through baseball with strong hands, still has a chance to grow past current 5-foot-10, 185-pound stature and add line-to-line pop. Received pitches athletically, has good habits behind plate.

Right-handed pitcher Alex Jensen (2027, Dallas Center, Iowa) commanded fastball and curveball over two hitless innings, inducing weak contact. Fastball touched 71 and sat 69, while breaking ball dropped in at 58. Showed especially advanced feel for curve, was able to both throw it for strikes and force hitters to chase it below the zone. Works from a shorter arm action delivery at high three-quarters, gets over front side well and uses size efficiently. Developing consistency in finish should be easy fix to increase control.

Spencer Beltram (2027, Kansas City, Mo.) showed off dominant stuff over six innings, striking out 10. Righty pounded the zone with 65% strikes, touching 78 with the fastball while averaging 74. Also mixed in breaking ball from over-the-top slot with good depth, threw it for strikes. Shows good balance, moved downhill quickly. Leveraged strong front foot plant to collapse left side. After healthy shoulder tilt, got excellent extension from 6-foot, 151-pound frame which should be base for much more physicality. Has already seen uptick in velocity in 2023.
 
Bat-to-ball machine Spencer Lind (2027, Liberty, Mo.) racked up five singles in eight at bats over the weekend. At 5-foot-4, 110-pounds, actually possesses plenty of present strength and showed a knack for getting the barrel to the baseball. Approach worked up the middle, showing off leadoff-hitter upside. Lower-half mechanics are smooth but quick, transitions effortlessly from rotation to solid front side, allowing him to get the hands out front. Displays advanced knowledge of the zone, stays within himself and doesn’t over swing. Gap-to-gap power should emerge with age.

Wiry-strong in his 5-foot-7, 135-pound frame, Will Nesler (2027, Ankeny, Iowa) shined on both sides of the ball for Iowa Prospect Black. On the bump, fired strikes at 75% clip over five innings, striking out five and allowing just one baserunner. Worked both sides of the plate with running fastball which sat 72-to-76, complemented by breaking ball with 10-4 action. Did not seem max effort, instead attacking hitters with downhill drive, great extension over front knee. Delivery was repeated well, showed excellent presence. In the box, went 5-for-9 with a double, two walks, and three RBI. Right-handed hitter did not strike out. Begins at wide base before straightening up with toe tap, times front foot plant well. Exhibits good hip rotation and gets hands on plane early. Led to consistent hard contact in game. Intriguing two-way talent as physicality comes.

Left-handed hitter Dustin Cook (2027, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) did not let any opportunity pass him by, going 2-for-4 with a walk and five stolen bases in his two games. At 5-foot-4, 140-pounds, Cook made hard contact in every at-bat thanks to a steady approach and instinctive hands. Sets up with shoulder-width base, then doubles width while lowering hands. Shows athletic hip turn and generates plenty of torque, helping him get extended consistently. On the bases, demonstrated high baseball IQ by reading dirt balls and getting good jumps. High foot speed. Also tossed a scoreless inning, struck out three.

Bennett Link (2027, Robins, Iowa) created chaos on the bases and at the plate for Saints Silver. Reached base six times and stoles seven bases over three games, also scoring six times. Demonstrated an advanced knowledge of the zone. Swing is fluid, beginning from a solid base with high hands. Keeps head steady with short stride, showed ability to pull hands down quickly and get on plane, resulting in line-drive stroke. Gets out of the box in a hurry. On the bases, had excellent instincts and read pitchers well for a ‘27. Plenty of spark plug potential, power may come when 5-foot-9, 135-pound frame fills out.

-Alex Bires
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