Arizona Diamond Notes: Week 7
April 20, 2026
💎 DIAMOND NOTES: WEEK 7
Statistical standouts and notable performances from across the state. These players have produced elite numbers on the diamond during the Spring season.
The Arizona Diamond Notes is evolving. While box scores and nominations are a huge part of our process, this weekly blog is shifting focus toward what our staff sees with our own eyes.
Every week, our scouts are out at ballparks across the Valley and beyond, from the 6A powerhouses in the East Valley to the deep talent pools in Tucson and the West Valley. This notebook serves as a running log of the standout performances and breakout prospects who caught our attention in person over the past seven days.
While we continue to crown a Player and Pitcher of the Week based on nominations and statewide data, the Diamond Notes is where you’ll find the raw scouting boots on the ground perspective. If a player made an impact on the field this week, you’ll find them here.
CLASS OF 2026
Grady Pratt 3B / OF / Queen Creek, AZ / 2026Grady shows a loose, athletic look in the box with present bat speed that translates to real pull-side impact. Gets the barrel out front with ease, creating leverage and lift at contact. The swing works with rhythm and freedom, allowing him to drive the baseball with authority. Middle of the order type bat that continues to show consistent juice.
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Frank Gearhart 1B / Queen Creek, AZ / 2026Frank continues to produce with a physical, relaxed presence in the box and advanced barrel control. Shows the ability to use the whole field, driving the baseball with authority to the opposite gap. The swing stays loose and repeatable, allowing for consistent hard contact. Proven run producer that continues to stack quality at-bats.
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Marley Chancey OF / Liberty, AZ / 2026Marley plays with a gritty, competitive edge and consistently shows up in big moments. Athletic mover with the ability to impact the game offensively, delivering loud contact in key spots. Handles pressure well and competes each at-bat with intent. High motor player with tools that translate across the field.
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Layne Henry SS / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2026Layne shows a short, connected swing that stays through the zone and works to all fields. Keeps the operation simple with feel for the barrel and the ability to produce quality contact. Shows approach and awareness against quality arms, staying within himself. Offensive profile built on consistency and feel.
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Bo Shuba 1B / Chaparral, AZ / 2026Bo brings a physical left-handed presence with strength that shows up at contact. Uses the whole field with the ability to stay through pitches and drive them the other way. The swing works clean with leverage and intent. Power potential continues to trend upward with his frame and strength.
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Greyson Bott OF / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2026Greyson impacts the game in multiple ways with athleticism and emerging in-game production. Shows the ability to get on base and create pressure, while also contributing defensively with carry and accuracy from the outfield. Verified speed translates well into game action. Well-rounded profile with tools beginning to consistently show up.
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Benjamin Ball OF / Hamilton , AZ / 2026Ben operates with a simple, compact swing that consistently finds the barrel. Stays balanced and works behind the baseball, allowing him to drive offspeed pitches with authority. Shows natural feel for contact with gap-to-gap impact. Advanced offensive approach with repeatable mechanics.
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Brent Sollars OF / Sandra Day O'Connor, AZ / 2026Brent shows a direct, intentful path through the zone with the ability to drive the baseball with authority. Keeps the hands tight and works efficiently to contact. Generates solid carry on contact with a controlled swing. Offensive profile built on strength and direction through the ball.
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Zander Bratspis SS / Saguaro, AZ / 2026Zander continues to show a controlled, polished operation in the box with a strong feel for contact. Gets the foot down on time and works the barrel efficiently out front, allowing him to stay on pitches and produce quality contact through the infield. The offensive profile is built around rhythm, timing, and a dependable hit tool.
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Grady Poulsen SS / American Leadership Academy Gilbert North, AZ / 2026Grady brings present strength to the box with real pop that plays to all fields. He lets the ball travel well, stays through contact, and shows the ability to impact the baseball with leverage and extension. The physicality and in game production continue to stand out, especially with how the power has shown up this spring.
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Brayden Waggoner SS / 2B / Valley Christian, AZ / 2026Brayden keeps things simple at the plate with a clean path and quick level bat through the zone. He stays under control well and shows the ability to work back through the middle with authority. The approach is steady and repeatable, giving him a chance to consistently produce line drive contact.
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Jaxen Maxey OF / RHP / Valley Christian, AZ / 2026Jaxen continues to show why he is one of the better offensive follows in the state with an athletic, composed presence in the box. The swing works with fluidity and sync, allowing him to use the entire field with authority and produce multiple barrels in a game. There is real offensive polish here, and the production continues to back it up.
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Cameron Bergloff LHP / 1B / Valley Christian, AZ / 2026Cameron is an intriguing left handed look with a long, loose frame and more room still left to add strength. He creates deception from a cross body 3/4 slot and makes things uncomfortable on hitters, especially same side bats. The changeup stands out as a real weapon, tunneling well off the fastball with consistent action and giving him a quality secondary offering to neutralize right handed hitters.
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Luke Hutton 3B / OF / Desert Vista, AZ / 2026Luke shows some twitchy actions in the box with quick hands and a simple overall operation. He works well inside the baseball and can turn on velocity, as shown by the way he drove the RBI double down the line. The swing is compact and efficient with traits that give him offensive value.
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Aaden Lopez SS / 2B / Crismon, AZ / 2026Aaden continues to put together quality at bats with a mature offensive approach and advanced zone awareness. He works deep counts, stays disciplined against spin, and limits swing and miss in a way that really stands out. The physical left handed frame and consistent offensive performance make him one of the more interesting uncommitted senior bats in the state.
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Preston Hammond OF / 2B / Crismon, AZ / 2026Preston showed up with a pair of quality swings and a steady offensive presence in a big matchup. He continues to compete well in the box and finds ways to impact the game, both with contact quality and run production. The offensive game is trending in the right direction with more confidence showing up.
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Kristopher De Santiago C / SS / Hamilton, AZ / 2026Kristopher continues to look like a dependable impact bat in the middle of the order with a knack for rising in big moments. He put together four quality at bats and delivered the walk off in extras, showing both poise and feel for the barrel. The offensive profile is built on competitiveness, timing, and the ability to handle pressure.
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Ryan Fesperman 1B / LHP / Brophy Prep, AZ / 2026Ryan shows a clean left handed swing with present strength and the ability to drive the baseball loudly into the gaps. He keeps the hands tight and gets through contact well, creating hard contact with backspin when extended. The bat projects as the carrying tool with clear extra base impact.
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Kyan Sims LHP / 1B / Verrado, AZ / 2026Kyan continues to trend up with improved pitchability and a more complete mix than he showed last summer. He maintains velocity, commands the baseball, and does a nice job manipulating shapes to keep hitters uncomfortable throughout an outing. The repeatable operation and sharper offspeed feel point to a left hander whose arrow is still moving up.
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Kale Thorson 3B / SS / Red Mountain, AZ / 2026Kale shows athleticism in the box with quick hands and enough bat speed to impact the baseball to the pull side. He stays short to contact and works with a compact move that gives him consistency. The swing and body control both point to a player who can continue producing against quality competition.
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CLASS OF 2027
Luke McNabb OF / RHP / Crismon, AZ / 2027Luke delivered one of the biggest swings of the year with the walk off grand slam, but the broader takeaway is the offensive upside in the profile. He shows real competitive toughness and the ability to come through in leverage, while the bat speed and strength give him impact potential. Six RBI in that type of game speaks to both confidence and growing offensive presence.
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Robert Villa III SS / Liberty, AZ / 2027Bobby continues to look every bit like the top shortstop in the class with an impact presence on the offensive side. The rhythm, timing, and bat to ball skill are advanced, and the power continues to show up with authority from both sides. There is real polish in the operation, and the upside remains extremely high.
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JJ Utash OF / RHP / Williams Field High School, AZ / 2027JJ brings an imposing offensive presence with strength and power that play to all parts of the field. He stays behind the baseball well and can drive it with authority the other way, which is a strong indicator of how advanced the bat is. The combination of physicality and offensive feel keeps him firmly at the top of the class.
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Easton Townes OF / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2027Easton showed a calm, competitive presence in a huge moment with the walk off RBI in extras. He keeps the operation simple and finds ways to get the job done without trying to do too much. The approach and game awareness both stand out as qualities that help him win at bats.
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Sam Jenkins RHP / 1B / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2027Sam is a physical right hander with a big frame and confident mound presence. He attacked the zone early, mixed four pitches effectively, and generated plenty of weak contact by staying around the strike zone. The size, mix, and ability to control an outing all make him an interesting follow moving forward.
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Trace McDonald OF / Highland, AZ / 2027Trace swings with intent and keeps the barrel through the zone well, allowing him to impact the ball to the gaps. He showed that with the triple to left center and the way he got underway out of the box. The profile is built around athleticism, effort, and an offensive approach geared for damage.
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Will Parker OF / C / Desert Ridge, AZ / 2027Will continues to show consistent extra base impact with a strong offensive profile that keeps getting better. He handled the elevated outer half pitch well and drove it the other way for two RBI, a sign of how comfortable he is using the whole field. The production, strength, and power numbers all point to a bat that deserves real attention.
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Enzo DiVito SS / C / Notre Dame Preparatory, AZ / 2027Enzo showed clean rhythm in the load and got the head out on a heater to produce a quality double down the line. The swing works with timing and balance, giving him a chance to produce hard contact when he is on time. There is feel to hit here with room for more impact to come.
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Cory Wuttke OF / Hamilton, AZ / 2027Cory is an athletic mover with a feel for the barrel and the ability to use the entire field. He stayed on the baseball well and drove the leadoff triple the other way, showing both balance and direction through contact. The profile is built around athleticism, barrel feel, and steady offensive actions.
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Ricardo Yuriar Jr 3B / 1B / Canyon View, AZ / 2027Ricardo continues to stack quality at bats and looks like one of the more polished offensive follows in the 2027 group. He controls the zone well, limits swing and miss, and drives the baseball to all fields with present strength. The rhythm, timing, and approach all give confidence in the long term offensive profile.
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Beau Zacher SS / 2B / Verrado, AZ / 2027Beau is an athletic mover who uses the lower half well and swings with clear intent. He stays inside the baseball and has shown the ability to drive it to the opposite field while keeping the operation under control. There is a nice blend of body control, athleticism, and offensive upside here.
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Devin Dekavallas 3B / 1B / Perry, AZ / 2027Devin showed the ability to capitalize on a mistake and did not miss the middle pitch, unloading for the three run home run. He uses the lower half effectively and transfers weight well through contact, which helps the power play in game. There is real strength in the operation with offensive impact potential.
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Anthony Renda 1B / OF / Desert Vista, AZ / 2027Anthony brings a loose look in the box with present bat speed and feel for the barrel. He extended well through the baseball and drove the home run deep over the right field wall, showing the strength and leverage in the swing. The offensive profile points to a bat that can keep producing with power.
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Diesel Lund SS / C / American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North, AZ / 2027Diesel put together a strong all around day with quality at bats and a steady offensive presence throughout. He battled through a seven pitch at bat for the first inning double and reached base in three of four trips, which says plenty about the competitiveness and approach. The overall game looks mature for the class.
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Dre Ethier SS / Brophy, AZ / 2027Dre turned in one of the better all around performances of the week by hitting for the cycle and showing impact in every phase offensively. He plays with confidence, has smooth actions, and gets moving quickly, which helps the tools show up naturally in game. The combination of athleticism, bat speed, and feel makes him a high end follow in the class.
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Tate Clarkson OF / American Leadership Academy Gilbert North, AZ / 2027Tate showed some sneaky pop in the barrel and got all of the home run ball for three runs. He has a relaxed, loose operation in the box that allows the bat speed to show up naturally. The athleticism and offensive upside make him a name worth continuing to monitor.
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Jaxon Bondra SS / 2B / Crismon, AZ / 2027Jaxon put together a strong offensive night with three hits and showed a nice ability to make adjustments within at bats. He stayed on the baseball well and drove the double to left center, showing feel for contact and direction through the zone. The bat to ball skill and competitiveness continue to stand out.
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Luke Genet 1B / OF / ALA Gilbert North, AZ / 2027Luke showed strength in the hands and body by getting to the pitch in and lifting it out to deep right center for the home run. There is some present physicality here, and the power flashes when he gets extended through contact. The offensive upside is tied closely to the strength and leverage in the swing.
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Nikolas Ramirez SS / 2B / Williams Field High School, AZ / 2027Nikolas continues to show a smooth left handed swing with simple, repeatable actions. He stays back well, controls the barrel, and works through the middle of the field with ease. The hit tool traits stand out here, especially with how calm and under control the swing remains.
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UNDERCLASS STANDOUTS (2028-2029)
Troy Tewers 3B / RHP / Liberty, AZ / 2028Troy showed some real competitiveness with the way he adjusted within at bats and kept fighting to get the job done. He drove one to left center for extra bases, came back later to push across a run, and continued to show steady defensive value at third. The overall game looks mature, and he remains one of the top follows in the class.
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Bryant Provencio SS / 2B / Desert Ridge, AZ / 2028Bryant turned in a quality two way look with impact on both sides of the ball. He sat back and drove the double for insurance, then showed range, body control, and arm strength with an active night at shortstop. There is a lot to like here in the overall athletic profile, and he is clearly a name to know in the 2028 class.
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Conner Hansen OF / 1B / Saguaro, AZ / 2028Conner had an impact day at the plate, going three for three with five RBI and showing real strength with the home run. The frame is already physical, and the bat speed allows the power to show up in game. Offensive upside is obvious here, especially as the approach continues to develop.
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Nate Danzeisen SS / 2B / Valley Christian, AZ / 2028Nate continues to show a mature offensive look for the class with a short, rhythmic swing and steady approach. Multiple barrels in one night speaks to both barrel accuracy and comfort in the box. The actions are advanced for his age, and there is a strong foundation to build on.
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Mattox Murray SS / RHP / Canyon View, AZ / 2028Mattox was one of the more impressive all around follows from the group, impacting the game as both a hitter and pitcher. He is a lean, athletic mover with quick hands, a short stroke, and a line drive approach, while the athleticism shows up on both sides of the ball. The performance only reinforced that he is a strong up arrow name in the 2028 class.
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Sammy Garcia SS / RHP / Hamilton, AZ / 2028Sammy shows twitchy actions with a quick first step and the type of athleticism that plays well on both sides of the ball. He already looks like one of the better middle infield follows in the class because of how clean and natural the actions are. The defensive tools stand out early, and there is clear upside as the offensive side continues to develop.
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