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Top 10 2017 Grads – 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament

Of the first ten players selected for the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game, four were in uniform in Mesa and two more were present for the opening ceremony on Friday evening at Sloan Park. Not surprisingly, the top four spots on this list are occupied by players already on the UA Game roster, with many others still in consideration and thirty roster spots still open.

The top two spots are held down by Cole Turney and Jack Conlon, both of whom earned top 10 honors one year ago at the 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament. Turney and Conlon were both top performers the UA Futures Texas Showcase in November 2015, placing them among eight players to matriculate from the Futures Series to the UA Pre-Season top ten. The UA Futures South Showcase produced four players on this list, while the UA Futures East and UA Futures West Showcases produced one each.

Below are the top ten prospects from the class of 2017, as selected by our scouts, with capsules written by Steve Bernhardt (Chairman of the Under Armour All-America Game Selection Committee).


COLE TURNEY

OF — 6’0″/190 — L/L
Fort Bend Travis HS — Richmond, TX
Univ. of Arkansas commit

After receiving Top 10 recognition at last year’s Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, Cole returned this year and grabbed the #1 spot on the 2017 list. He has established himself as one of the elite hitters in the entire country and he showed his hit/power combination in Arizona. Cole has a distinct presence in the box, exuding confidence and showing rhythm, early pitch recognition and the ability to really impact the baseball with a loose, quick swing. He has legitimate power, especially to the pull side and has a patient, advanced approach that allows him to stalk his pitch. On top of the offensive prowess, Cole ran a 6.71 in the 60 and showed solid defensive skills in the OF with enough arm to play all 3 spots. Committed to Arkansas, Cole is already high on the 2017 draft radar and will be competing in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field in July.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
— Cole Turney’s Baseball Factory Experience Paves Way For All-America Selection
— Road To Wrigley — Cole Turney
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— First 10 Players For 2016 Under Armour All-America Game Announced
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
— 2015 Under Armour Futures Texas Showcase: Top Performers
— 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament: 2017 Top 10


JACK CONLON

RHP — 6’4″/215 — R/R
Clements HS — Sugar Land, TX
Texas A&M Univ. commit

Another two-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament participant, the 6’4” Conlon is an imposing figure on the mound and he backs it up with quality stuff. In his brief two-inning stint in Arizona he showed the quick, clean arm stroke that we’ve seen in the past as well as the aggressiveness with his fastball that you like to see in young arms. He held the opposing team hitless strictly using his fastball and hard breaking ball that had good downer action. We’ve seen a change in the past, but it wasn’t needed at this event. Jack’s frame, delivery and arm speed have the look of a RHP who will throw very hard in the future. We look forward to watching another outing in July at Wrigley Field in the Under Armour All-America Game.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top Fastball Velocities
— Jack Conlon Draws Inspiration From Younger Brothers
— Road To Wrigley — Jack Conlon
— Top FB Velos — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— First 10 Players For 2016 Under Armour All-America Game Announced
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
2015 Under Armour Futures Texas Showcase: Top Performers
— 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament: 2017 Top 10


GARRETT MITCHELL

OF — 6’2″/195 — L/R
Orange Lutheran HS — Anaheim, CA
UCLA commit

Garrett is one the most quick-twitch and explosive players in the country, regardless of grad year. We’ve had him at 6.40 in the 60 (he ran 6.45 at this event) and he broad jumped a jaw-dropping 10 feet. Combine that athleticism with a 6’2”/195-pound frame and the ability to find the barrel from the left side and you have a special talent. Garrett is one of the rare prospects who projects to stay in the middle of the diamond, has an advanced hit tool and can impact the game on both sides of the ball with useable speed. This UCLA commit continues to open eyes and will be on the biggest stage in July when he plays in the Under Armour All-America Game.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
— Facing Top Pitchers Impactful In Garrett Mitchell’s Development At The Plate
— Road To Wrigley — Garrett Mitchell
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— First 10 Players For 2016 Under Armour All-America Game Announced
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
2015 Under Armour Futures West Showcase: Top Performers


COLE BRANNEN

OF — 6’0″/170 — L/R
Westfield Schools — Elko, GA
Georgia Southern Univ. commit

Our first look at Cole was back in June of 2013 and that earned him an invitation to our Rookie Pre-Season All-America event. His steady climb has continued since then, as he has turned himself into one of the top players in the entire 2017 class. The most recent invitation he earned was to the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field this summer where this talented OF will perform on a Major League stage. Cole has the rare combination of elite speed (6.41 in the 60 in Arizona) and plus raw power to all fields making the Georgia Southern commit an extremely intriguing prospect. A great young man off the field as well with an excellent work ethic, there is no telling how good this young player can ultimately be.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
— From Tryout Participant to All-American, Cole Brannen’s Journey An “Unbelievable Experience”
— Road To Wrigley — Cole Brannen
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— First 10 Players For 2016 Under Armour All-America Game Announced
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
2015 Under Armour Futures South Showcase: Top Performers
— 2014 Baseball Factory Rookie Pre-Season All-America Tournament: Top 10


BRADY MCCONNELL

SS — 6’2″/170 — R/R
Merritt Island (FL) HS
Univ. of Florida commit

Brady is an impact player at a premium position. The tall, lean University of Florida commit has a very complete all-around game with some loud tools and the ability to use them. He has a simple offensive approach with rhythm and a short stroke that whistles the bat through the zone. He drove a double to left-center field and tripled over the right fielder’s head in game action in Arizona, showing the way he can impact the ball despite having more physical maturing still to do. As a defender Brady has smooth, athletic actions and his speed (6.60 in the 60) translates to first step quickness and very good lateral range. He has a clean exchange and a quick release, which coupled with his good internal clock, allows him to be an advanced, poised infielder who can make all the plays. Young players who can stay at SS and be a major offensive contributor are hard to find – Brady is one of those rare prospects.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
Top Exit Velocities
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— Top Exit Velocities — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament


JOSHUA HATCHER

1B — 6’2″/175 — L/L
Lee County HS — Albany, GA
Kennesaw State Univ. commit

Hatcher can just flat out hit. His left-handed stroke is pretty and fluid and he always appears confident and relaxed in the box. The approach is advanced with great knowledge of the strike zone and he seems to see the ball very well out of the hand. It is rare to see young hitters that can handle velocity without issue and react well to off-speed stuff, but Joshua is one of those guys. At 1B, he is one of better defenders you will see at the high school level with soft, sure hands and an excellent feel around the bag. He is athletic enough and has enough arm to play the corner OF spots as well. Overall, this is well-rounded player who is a mature hitter and seems to have a quality at bat every time we see him step in the box.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
2015 Under Armour Futures South Showcase: Top Performers


CHRISTIAN SANTANA

RHP — 6’2″/190 — R/R
Mater Lakes HS — Hialeah, FL
Florida Atlantic Univ. commit

Christian performed well in the fall when we saw him at the Under Armour Futures in Florida, but his outing at this event in Arizona was on another level. He was outstanding, throwing a high volume of strikes with all three of his offerings. His fastball touched 92 with lots of life at the plate and outstanding downhill plane from his high arm slot. His breaking ball had hard, late bite and works as his out-pitch. It is good enough that it should continue to get swing-and-miss results at higher levels. Christian also showed an excellent feel for a sinking change that he has plenty of confidence throwing at any time. Overall, this is a long, loose and athletic RHP with big upside – he needs to be followed closely.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top Fastball Velocities
— Top FB Velos — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
2015 Under Armour Futures East Showcase: Top Performers


DREW WATERS

OF — 6’2″/183 — S/R
Etowah HS — Woodstock, GA
Univ. of Georgia commit

Drew possesses a skill set that is hard to find, and always in demand. He brings to the table useable speed, the ability to switch-hit, and an aggressive energy on the field that is outstanding. He ran a 6.65 in the 60 at this event in Arizona, and it plays. He has instincts on the bases and no fear which results in constant pressure on the defense and plenty of stolen bases each time we see him. At the plate, Drew swings with authority from both sides of the plate and flashes the ability to drive the ball in the gaps. This strong, athletic young prospect also has a great motor making him a premium outfield prospect in the deep 2017 class.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— 10 Players to Watch During The Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2017 Grads
2015 Under Armour Futures South Showcase: Top Performers


AUSTIN BATES

C — 5’11″/160 — R/R
IMG Academy — Ossining, NY
Univ. of North Carolina commit

A unique find in today’s game, Austin is an outstanding and polished catch-and-throw guy behind the plate. His athleticism (6.82 in the 60), flexibility, hands and feel for the game are on display when he catches. He is the type of backstop that pitchers like to throw to, with strong, sure hands and the ability to block balls in the dirt to either side. He also controls the running game with a quick release and plenty of arm leading to times to 2B on the bag and as low as 1.86. At the plate, Austin has a line drive stroke and is comfortable using the whole field. He has very good strike zone awareness as well, and was on base in 6 of his 7 at bats at the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. It’s hard to find prospects that project to stay behind the plate at higher levels, but this UNC commit should have no problem staying at that premium position for the duration.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top Pop Times
Top Pop Times — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament


ZACHARY DANIELS

OF — 6’1″/180 — R/R
Eagles Landing Christian Academy
Stockbridge, GA

It doesn’t take long to recognize Zachary on the field, as he has several stand-out tools and already possesses the body of a player you usually see in a professional uniform. He is a quick-twitch athlete throughout – from his 6.50 in the 60, to his hands at the plate, to his jumps in the outfield. As a hitter he is most comfortable spraying hard line drives between the gaps, and he also shows very good discipline at the plate. He really impacts the ball as evidenced by his exit velocity of 100 mph. Defensively, Zachary’s range and reads should allow him to stick in CF at the next level making him an attractive prospect as a potential top-of-the-order bat playing a middle-of-the-field position.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Top 60 Yard Dashes
Top Exit Velocities
— Top 60 Yard Dashes — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
Top Exit Velocities — 2016 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
2015 Under Armour Futures South Showcase: Top Performers


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