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10 Players To Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2016 Grads

The 2016 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament is set to begin this Friday in Mesa, Arizona at Sloan Park, the Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs. The event gives players from around the country the opportunity to showcase their skills, make a name for themselves and get noticed by college coaches.

Some of the best players from the 2016, ’17 and ’18 grad classes will take part in this elite showcase with the chance to make their mark as a Pre-Season All-American with the ultimate goal of being named an Under Armour All-American and to play this summer in Chicago at Wrigley Field.

We are excited to see what the ’16 class brings and we have seen many of the players and know what they are capable of. Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and Chairman of the Under Armour All-America Game Committee, Steve Bernhardt gives his take on the 10 players to watch from the 2016 grad class at this weekend’s Pre-Season All-America Tournament:

Drake Durham

Drake Durham

Drake Durham (New Richmond, WI) – Durham is an exciting LHP/1B from New Richmond High School who first attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Stillwater, MN in October, 2014. His mid-to-upper 80’s fastball highlights his three-pitch mix in which he also throws a 3-9 slider in the low 70’s and a mid-70’s change. At the Omaha National World Series last June, he increased his fastball velocity to the mid 80’s with a lot of run on his pitches. In addition to being a left-hander, his ability to work quick and throw his pitches for strikes pegs him as one to watch heading into this weekend’s action. Durham has committed to Wichita State University.

Austin Franlin

Austin Franlin

Austin Franklin (Paxton, FL) – Franklin, from Paxton High School, has been to numerous Under Armour Baseball Factory player events, starting with his first College PREP event in Mobile, AL back in February, 2013. Constantly looking to improve his game, Franklin has attended two other PREP events in Mobile as well as a National Tryout in Pensacola, FL. The grind he has exhibited led to his second nod to the Pre-Season All-America event this year after previously coming to the 2014 tournament. The 6’3″ Samford University commit will definitely make an impact at the next level with a fastball that reaches 92 mph and a breaking ball that has been described as “nasty”, with sharp break that is his swing-and-miss pitch.

Hayden Freeman

Hayden Freeman

Hayden Freeman (Hoover, AL) – Freeman attends Spain Park High School in Hoover and with his selection this year, is now a four-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-American. Freeman attended an Under Armour National Tryout in his hometown of Hoover in October of 2011 and 2012 as well as being a participant of the Under Armour Futures East showcase in September, 2014. Freeman’s plus power was a solid match against the nation’s top talent in last year’s Pre-Season event as he he hit a triple and an RBI double in two of his plate appearances as well as drawing two walks. He’s a talented all-around performer that is solid defensively at third with soft hands and plenty of arm.

Declan Kearney

Declan Kearney

Declan Kearney (Pacific Palisades, CA) – Kearney, a RHP is a University of Oregon commit that attended our College PREP event in Bakersfield, CA last May. He has a lean, developing frame with loose actions on the mound. At the Under Armour Baseball Factory National West event last July, Declan threw a fastball clocked at 85 mph with slight run and a breaking ball with good 10/4 shape as he worked both sides of the plate with it. The former two-way performer excels on the mound with his repertoire and is a exciting prospect that can make an impact at the next level.

Dalton Laney

Dalton Laney

Dalton Laney (Rockville, IN) – Laney attends Rockville High School and will stay in state, attending Indiana State University to play at the next level. At our March 2014 College PREP event in Indianapolis, Laney showed as a very promising pitching prospect with a fastball that topped out at 84 mph and a feel for all three of his plus pitches. He’s a tall prospect with long arms and downhill plane to his fastball, mixing that with a sinking change and a big-breaking curve, which he constantly changed speeds with.

Tristan Peterson

Tristan Peterson

Tristan Peterson (Tucson, AZ) – Mesa will feel like a home event for Peterson, who attends Canyon Del Oro High School in Oro Valley, AZ. Tristan is making his second consecutive Pre-Season All-America Tournament appearance, one year after having a phenomenal showing in Mesa, going 6-for-7 with three doubles, two singles, a triple and two RBI. Peterson is a big body at the hot corner (6’1″, 215) and can hold his own defensively in the outfield too. In all, Tristan will be an intriguing player to watch because he hits when it counts – in games against quality pitching. He heads to Kansas State to play baseball for the Wildcats.

Ty Sawka

Ty Sawka

Ty Sawka (McKinney, TX) Sawka is headed to play at Alabama for the Crimson Tide in the ever-tough SEC and will graduate from McKinney North High School. Sawka attended a College PREP event in Plano last April and is a switch-hitting OF that has all the tools needed to be successful at the next level. In the outfield, he can get after it, running a 60-yard dash of an outstanding 6.60. His arm is outstanding and throws strong, accurate rockets to his target. This guy has top-of-the-order offensive potential and the ability to play CF.

Matt Tarabek at the 2015 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament.

Matt Tarabek at the 2015 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament.

Matt Tarabek (Irwin, PA) Tarabek enters his third Pre-Season All-America Tournament as an outstanding defender at a premium position. The Fordham University commit first attended a National Tryout in Pittsburgh, PA back in June of 2011 and then later the Vero Beach Christmas Camp & Tournament that year where he was one of the most talented players during the event. Last year at Pre-Season, Tarabek ran his best 60 yard time (7.15) and plays shorts stop with outstanding dependability and has a mature, line drive approach at the plate.

Isaac Wersland

Isaac Wersland

Isaac Wersland (Cle Elum, WA) Wersland attended our National Tryout in Bellevue, WA last September and is a big, physical young prospect who has the ability to stay behind the plate at catcher because of his durable frame. His hands are strong and can throw the baseball well, firing to second with a pop time in the 1.9’s. At the plate, he’s got some power and is a polished hitter.

Aaron Weseman

Aaron Weseman

Aaron Weseman (Frisco, TX) Tall and lean, this lefty has a polished delivery and the ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes. The Dallas Baptist University commit attends Frisco Heritage High School and attended a National Tryout in Oklahoma City back in September of 2014. He’ll be making back-to-back appearances at the Pre-Season Tournament, after throwing a fastball in the mid 80’s and a breaking ball with late break. He’s a prospect to watch as there’s big upside with this 6’6″ lefty.


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