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AIA Scout Blog: 4/14 - 4/18

April 21, 2025
Antonio Torres
Arizona Director

The Arizona Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Arizona Scout Blog is loaded with information and will continue to roll throughout the week, highlighting games attended by the Prep Baseball Arizona Staff.

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April 14, 2025

Willow Canyon vs. Alhambra

Player Notes: 

Juan Marrufo, 2027 OF/1B, Alhambra, Uncommitted

Juan continues to impress this spring, showing a mature approach at the plate and the ability to turn on pitches with authority. Picked up a loud standup double in the early innings and later came around to score. Stands at a strong, athletic frame with present bat speed and feel for the barrel. There’s plenty of offensive upside to follow as he continues to mature physically.

Cole Hansen, 2025 INF, Willow Canyon, Uncommitted

Hansen put a nice swing on a pitch to drive a double into the right-center gap, picking up a key RBI. Shows solid actions in the box with a simple, repeatable operation. There’s strength coming in the frame with some twitch. Good makeup kid with room to add physicality; one to follow closely down the stretch.

Omar Marrufo, 2028 OF, Alhambra, Uncommitted

Omar continues to put together quality at-bats as a freshman. Laced a clean base hit to left on his trip to the plate. The young outfielder has a compact, controlled swing and shows a good understanding of the zone. Early signs of a high-contact bat to keep an eye on for the coming years.

Malachi Lemau, 2028 OF, Willow Canyon, Uncommitted

Lemau is a freshman who looks right at home against varsity arms. Put a charge into a ball for a triple in a big spot. There’s easy athleticism in the actions with an aggressive approach. Plays the game with confidence and competes well beyond his years.

Santiago Reyes, 2027 INF/RHP, Willow Canyon, Uncommitted

Reyes came through in the clutch with an RBI line drive to center, adding to a late Wildcats rally. Compact stroke with a line drive approach through the middle of the field. Also offers some intrigue on the mound. A steady, reliable bat in the order with developing two-way potential.

Ethan Patrick, 2026 C/1B, Willow Canyon, Uncommitted

Patrick barreled up a pitch to dead center for a standup double, keeping the Willow Canyon bats hot. Sturdy frame with strength through contact and sneaky juice to the big part of the park. Handles himself well behind the plate with some leadership qualities; a solid backstop to watch in Arizona’s 2026 class.

Ricardo Fonseca, 2027 LHP/OF, Alhambra, Uncommitted

Fonseca worked his fastball at 80-84 and flashed feel for a pair of breaking balls. The curveball showed depth at 70-73 while the slider sat 73-76 with short action. Still learning to command the full arsenal consistently, but there’s plenty of projection in the frame and arm action. As the command sharpens, Fonseca’s name should climb on follow lists for the 2027 class. 

Game Recap

Alhambra and Willow Canyon traded blows Monday night in a high-energy matchup. The Wildcats ultimately came out on top, 8-7, ending the Lions’ three-game winning streak. Willow Canyon extended their home win streak to six.

 

April 15, 2025

Valley Christian vs. Seton Catholic

Player Notes:

Caleb Danzeisen, 2025 C/UTL, Valley Christian, Arizona Commit

One of the state’s top senior bats, Danzeisen delivered a no-doubt blast to dead center in the 3rd inning to spark a big Valley Christian rally. The Trojans were trailing 1-0 before the Arizona commit stepped up and unloaded on a fastball, clearing the batter’s eye for a 2-run shot. Caleb continues to show why he's one of the premier power bats in the ‘25 class, with advanced strength, leveraged loft, and barrel accuracy to the big part of the yard.

Jaxen Maxey, 2026 OF/RHP, Valley Christian, ASU Commit

Maxey turned in a quality two-way performance Tuesday. At the plate, the ASU commit roped a hard line drive into left-center for a knock, flashing quick hands and natural lift through the zone. On the bump, he worked 4 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 6. Maxey mixed a lively fastball with feel for a slider and changeup, showing the ability to land all three for strikes. With present athleticism and projection remaining, Maxey’s two-way profile makes him a high follow name in Arizona’s 2026 class.

Ryan Sanchez, 2027 INF/RHP, Valley Christian, Uncommitted

The sophomore continues to grow into his frame and swing. Sanchez picked up an RBI knock to left in the 6th, showing a balanced, compact stroke with strength to the pull-side. There’s physical upside here, and he continues to flash signs of becoming an impact middle of the order type for the Trojans down the line.

Ricardo Morales, 2026 INF, Seton Catholic, Uncommitted

Morales got into the hit column late in the game with a single to left, putting a good swing on a pitch out over the plate. The uncommitted junior continues to show a reliable hit tool and quality at-bat awareness for Seton.

Game Recap:

Valley Christian came into Tuesday’s matchup riding a seven game win streak and left with even more momentum, defeating Seton Catholic 10-1. It was the Trojans’ second win over the Sentinels this season, having already claimed a 4-0 victory back in March. Carson Grier was a standout on both sides of the ball, working three scoreless innings with six punchouts while also contributing a hit and a run scored. Offensively, Caleb Danzeisen crushed a go-ahead home run in the third, while Brayden Waggoner added a long ball of his own. The Trojans now improve to 20-2 on the season and have averaged 15 runs per game across their current five game home win streak. Seton Catholic saw their impressive 11 game road win streak dating back to last season snapped, dropping to 16-8.

April 16, 2025

Mountain Ridge vs. Liberty

Player Notes:

Joe Forbes, 2025 C, Mountain Ridge HS, Arizona Commit

Forbes continues to be one of the more reliable power bats in the Mountain Ridge lineup. He showed off his strength again by sending a solo shot over the left field wall at Brazell Field in the second inning. It’s a compact, powerful swing with lift, and he continues to display advanced feel for the barrel and solid plate coverage. 

Tank Castillo, 2027 C/INF, Mountain Ridge HS, Uncommitted

The sophomore backstop came through with a clean single to left field, and it wasn’t just the hit that stood out. Castillo carries himself like a leader on the field and handles the staff with poise. Hitting .339 on the year, he’s consistently competitive in his at bats and looks the part of a young catcher with varsity polish.

Marley Chancey, 2026 OF/RHP, Liberty HS, Uncommitted

Chancey was a spark for Liberty on both sides of the ball. He flashed athleticism in center field with a diving catch coming in on a tough liner, showing great first step quickness and body control. At the plate, he finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base, proving to be a tough out and a run threat anytime he reaches.

Jaggar Wethington, 2027 RHP/INF, Mountain Ridge HS, Uncommitted

Wethington turned in a gutsy performance on the mound, going 5.2 innings while allowing just two runs and punching out five. The sophomore sat 82-85, touching 87 mph with his fastball, and paired it with a sharp 73-75 slider and a changeup in the low 70s. Showed good pitch ability, mixing speeds and staying composed in tight spots.

Abram Sherrin, 2026 SS/RHP, Liberty HS, UCSB Commit

Sherrin made his presence felt both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, he drove a double past the right fielder, showcasing a quick bat and ability to drive the ball the other way. On the mound, the UCSB commit worked six innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five. Fastball was up to 92, sitting 86-90, and he effectively changed speeds with a 72 75 curveball, 77-81 slider, and 79-81 changeup.

Game Recap:

Mountain Ridge avenged a previous six-run loss to Liberty by flipping the script in a 4-2 win at Brazell Field. The Mountain Lions have now rattled off six straight wins, fueled by steady pitching and timely power. Joe Forbes’ early home run set the tone, and Jaggar Wethington’s poised outing on the mound kept Liberty’s bats at bay. For Liberty, Marley Chancey’s two-hit day and highlight-reel grab weren’t enough to stop their recent slide. Mountain Ridge improves to 12-11, while Liberty drops to 14-8, now on a three-game skid.

 

April 17, 2025

Centennial vs. Kellis

Player Notes:

William Strand, 2025 OF/1B, Centennial HS, South Mountain CC Commit

Strand put on a show on senior night, leaving the yard for back-to-back home runs to follow teammate Isaac Flores (’25). The right-handed bat has always shown good raw power, and he turned it into loud game production here. Fun senior campaign for a hitter with some juice.

Cohen Baack, 2025 OF/P, Centennial HS, Utah Valley University Commit

Baack had a solid night at the plate, staying back on an off-speed pitch and driving it the other way into right field for a couple of RBIs. His approach was balanced, and the swing played with quick hands through the zone. A steady contributor to this Centennial lineup, Baack continues to show mature at-bats with situational awareness.

Joseph Talas, 2025 RHP/1B, Centennial HS, Yavapai College Commit

Talas handled business in his two innings of work, racking up five strikeouts and pounding the zone. The fastball sat 85-87 with some late life up in the zone, and he paired it with a 74-77 mph slider and a fading changeup in the mid-70s. Clean mechanics and a projectable frame make him an intriguing follow as he heads to the next level.

Game Recap:

Centennial closed out senior night in dominant fashion, putting up a season-high 19 runs while blanking Kellis 19-0. The Coyotes’ bats were on fire early and often, highlighted by William Strand’s pair of home runs and a perfect 3 for 3 night from JT Price. Joseph Talas kept the Cougars off balance in his two innings on the bump, striking out five with a solid three-pitch mix. Centennial extends their win streak to 12 and improves to 16-7 on the year, while Kellis falls to 3-15, now mired in an 11-game skid.