ACU in Phoenix Sees Four More Make Progress
On Sunday, May 3 the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout tour made another stop at an NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) member school. On April 12, the tour stopped at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, and now just a few weeks later we visited Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, AZ.
Firestorm Field (Photo credit: www.acufirestorm.com)
Firestorm Field opened in February 2012, in time for opening day of just the second season of play for the ACU Firestorm.
A pair of sophomore left-handed hitting middle infielders, one shortstop and one second baseman, were among the more well-rounded players in attendance.
2017 SS Brennan Brogni (Flagstaff HS – Flagstaff, AZ) was the better runner and had more arm strength. His left-handed stroke was short and direct, and he produced line drives to all fields. He read the hops well in the infield, and flashed the ability to cover ground to his backhand side.
2017 2B Brock Burton (Desert Vista HS – Phoenix, AZ) featured a loose left-handed stroke with good hands and coordinated move through contact that allowed for some raw power. He showed soft, sure hands in the infield along with good body control.
Top performers by measurable category appear below:
Raw Velocity
| mph | Raw Velocity Leaders |
| 94 | Andrew Frazier (2016 – SS/1B – Valley Vista HS – Surprise, AZ) |
| 86 | Michael Jones (2017 – C/OF – Red Mountain HS – Mesa, AZ) |
| 86 | Chris Morris (2015 – OF – Homeschooled – Tucson, AZ) |
| 86 | Jacob Talamante (2016 – OF – Brophy College Prep – Phoenix, AZ) |
| 82 | Jake Plecas (2018 – OF – Coconino HS – Flagstaff, AZ) |
2017 C/OF Michael Jones
We first saw 2017 C/OF Michael Jones in January 2014, at which time he posted 84 mph raw velocity along with a low pop time of 2.06. In July 2014 at the Under Armour Southwest Championships in Southern California, his low pop time was down to 2.00, though his raw velocity came in a tick lower at 83 mph.
In January 2015, at the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament at Cubs Park in Mesa, he again posted pop times between 2.07 and 2.15.
We don’t record raw velocity at the Pre-Season Tournament, but a few months later at the May 2015 Under Armour Baseball National Tryout in Phoenix, he jumped his raw velocity up to 86 mph. At the same workout, he once again posted a low pop time of 2.00.
Bat Exit Velocity
| mph | Bat Exit Velocity Leaders |
| 92 | Andrew Frazier (2016 – SS/1B – Valley Vista HS – Surprise, AZ) |
| 86 | Adrian Martinez (2016 – OF – Salpointe Catholic HS – Tucson, AZ) |
| 82 | Ivan Varela (2016 – RHP/2B – Salpointe Catholic HS – Tucson, AZ) |
60 Yard Dash
| sec | 60 Yard Dash Leaders |
| 6.85 | Adrian Martinez (2016 – OF – Salpointe Catholic HS – Tucson, AZ) |
| 6.97 | Brennan Brogni (2017 – SS – Flagstaff HS – Flagstaff, AZ) |
| 7.04 | Jake Plecas (2018 – OF – Coconino HS – Flagstaff, AZ) |
| 7.06 | Andrew Frazier (2016 – SS/1B – Valley Vista HS – Surprise, AZ) |
| 7.08 | Jacob Talamante (2016 – OF – Brophy College Prep – Phoenix, AZ) |
In January 2011, as a fifth-grader, 2018 OF Jake Plecas (at freshman at the time of this workout) ran 8.45 in the 60 yard dash. One year later, in January 2012 as a sixth-grader, he actually ran a few ticks slower at 8.72. We hadn’t seen him between then and now, and apparently he’s gotten quite a bit better in the three-plus years we missed.
Most recently, he ran 7.04 in the 60 yard dash — marking an improvement of well over a second-and-a-half. In the same period of time, his raw velocity improved by 26 mph (not a typo), from 56 mph in January 2012 all the way up to 82 mph in May 2015.
Catcher Release Time
| sec | Pop Time Leaders |
| 2.00 | Michael Jones (2017 – C/OF – Red Mountain HS – Mesa, AZ) |
| 2.12 | Brady Welch (2018 – RHP/C – Liberty HS – Sun City, AZ) |
| 2.15 | Zach Montero (2017 – C – Hamilton HS – Chandler, AZ) |
About four months ago at the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Mesa, at Cubs Park on the Monday immediately after the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament wrapped up, 2017 C Zach Montero posted a low pop time of 2.28. By May 2015, he posted a low time of 2.15 — marking an improvement of over one-tenth of a second in just under four months.
Fastball Velocity
| mph | Fastball velocity Leaders |
| 82 | Brady Welch (2018 – RHP/C – Liberty HS – Sun City, AZ) |
| 79 | Vinnie Cafarelli (2016 – LHP/OF – Liberty HS – Peoria, AZ) |
| 79 | Tyler Rapp (2016 – SS/RHP – Maricopa HS – Maricopa, AZ) |
2016 LHP/OF Vinnie Cafarelli
Almost exactly one year ago, at the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program in May 2014, 2016 LHP/OF Vinnie Cafarelli touched 78 mph with his fastball.
Later the same year, in late December at the Under Armour Recruiting Classic, he threw a high volume of fastball strikes in the 75-78 mph range, and showed the ability to locate the pitch to both sides of the plate.
Now in May 2015, he reached 79 mph with his fastball. His breaking ball and changeup velocities increased as well, moving from 66 to 68 mph and 69 to 73 mph respectively. A lot of times, sharper and firmer secondary stuff is an indicator of a future fastball velocity increase. With that in mind, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Cafarelli reach into the low 80s in the near future.
The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour is rolling through all 50 states. Tryouts are held for players ages 12-14 and 14-18. Don’t miss your opportunity to Be Discovered.
Find an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout near you and register online or call (800) 641-4487.
