Boras Classic Arizona Coverage Part 2
The 2020 Boras Classic took place in Tempe, Arizona with some of the top high school teams from throughout the western part of the country. Below are some of the standouts from Mountain Ridge HS and Nogales HS:
Mountain Ridge HS (Glendale, AZ)
2020 3B/1B Keegan Stancato (Portland Commit)
One of the premier athletes in the state at 6’5 205 pounds, Stancato starred on the gridiron for the Mountain Lions as standout QB and a threat in the box for the baseball program. With his physicality being a given, the two-sport star shows present athleticism at the plate. Stancato has a slightly open stance with a high hand set, toe tap trigger to start. Uses some bat waggle for rhythm and timing. His strong hands and bat speed with excellent posture produces pop to the pull side. Will be very interesting to see the development if he get a full fall of baseball at the next level
2021 LHP Gray Bailey (UT- Arlington Commit)
In the world of velocity, tools, and physicality, Gray is the outlier in the sense he is a pure pitcher. Currently listed at 6-0, 165 pounds. The UTA commit stifled a very tough Copper Hills (Utah) lineup for five plus innings, fanning seven. A rarity at the high school level, Bailey is able to command all three pitches. The fastball isn’t overpowering, usually in the low 80s but the arm action provides some deception and pin point accuracy which induces soft contact. His fastball plays up with the ability to spin it and change speeds. The curveball has great shape and effectively uses it for a get me over and chase pitch. The change up is a nice compliment to his other offerings with some good fade while keeping consistent arm action. The lefty isn’t one to sleep on, look for him to pitch and win some big games down the road.
Nogales HS (Nogales, AZ)
2020 RHP Matt Bachelier (Gonzaga Commit)
Bachelier is a physically imposing figure on the mound, standing at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. Bachelier has a high knee lift with an up-tempo delivery and his long stride allows longer arm action with slight wrap to arrive on time for a repeatable delivery on a downhill plane. In his first inning of work the future Bulldog looked to establish his slider which sat at 77-79 mph with some bite, which he used east and west within the zone. In his second frame he showcased a heavy dose of the fastball which has some life that sat at 87-89 mph touching 91 a few times. Bachelier was around the zone throughout his outing. Big arm to follow.
2020 INF Brayan Espinoza (Uncommitted)
A highlight waiting to happen, the uncommitted senior is a rare blend of style and substance at the high school level. Espinoza is very athletic in the box with some movements that are similar to Javy Baez. Very aggressive within the zone, leg kick starter with some bat waggle with no shortage of intent to do damage to the baseball. He did show some maturity with an evident two strike approach where physical adjustments such as a wide base and lower leg kick were present. Defensively, the arm strength is above average along with a solid glove and footwork that can have him excel in any position on the infield.
2020 C Kenneth Jimmenez (Yavapai JC Commit)
A true dual threat both at the plate and behind it. With the gear on he is solid defensively who had no problems handling upper 80’s, low 90’s offerings from battery mate Bachelier. Jimenez possesses a strong arm with decent footwork and a solid transfer that will keep opposing baserunners at bay. At the plate, Jimenez has a slightly open stance with a low handset. Low leg kick into stride with controlled linear movement maintaining balance and staying in his lower half. Shows some looseness at the plate with good bat to barrel skill, swings with intent without sacrificing swing and miss. The future Roughrider has a tool set that can produce a high level of productivity in the ACCAC which can catapult him into some big time college baseball post JUCO.
2022 SS Demterio Crisantes (Uncommitted)
This is a name to remember over the next couple years as one of the state’s best players. The sophomore shortstop is next in line of what seems to be a long lineage of quality ball players churning out of the baseball factory known as Nogales HS. The talented infielder handles a key position on a loaded team that very few players his age can. He is a sure handed, steady eddie type player defensively with some defensive acumen. Cristantes reads hops well with good footwork and timing. Arm plays from the position now and will only continue to improve as he physically matures. The uncommitted sophomore has a chance to be really special at the plate. He has a slight leg kick starter that lands him in a good 50/50 position with a clean, efficient path with some hand speed. The barrel is in zone for a while and he has a two hand finish with excellent direction that will produce consistent, hard contact. Could produce into a legit gap-to-gap threat as he continues to add physicality to his 5-foot-10 frame.
