Talon
Cloward

Has battled through an injury last year that cut into his spring season, but is healthy now and looks to rebound and hopefully have a strong senior season to catch recruiters eyes. Will serve a 2 year church mission after he graduates next spring, returning for the fall of 2027 on campus. An NWACC type or D2 AZ JUCO type ceiling that has the temperament of a ball player and comes from a baseball family, as his father Casey was a standout catcher in the mid-2000’s at Spanish Fork HS and onto BYU. Talon is also a mid 80’s K thrower in the mound and shows potential there, besides the corner profile of 3B/LF moving forward. A 6.8-7.08 runner with a strong gate to move and cover ground with an inline solid running form and solid athleticism. From the OF shows a fringy arm at 84 mph and comes through the ball and hesitates just a bit with his transfer to throw as he gets set to throw and it’s caused by fielding off the right leg out front, and needs to be off the left foot as he is new to the OF with a middle INF background. Can easily be corrected now that it’s been observed and pointed out. This should keep his feet more in sync, allowing for the arm to play up better. The bat is a slight rock back to set his bat angle and sets the foot down softly at foot strike after a slight raise of the toe to get into the launch position. The bat has some whip out front as he shows 79 mph max bat speed and meets the ball in front and to the pull side, providing the bat speed out front in giving him a higher score. The bat path can be smoothed out further with focus at a 52% avg clip of online approach through the ball. A solid student and can get some academic money as well.

A lean medium athletic build with fair growth factors left, but strength still remains and comes from bloodlines, as his father Casey Cloward was the starting catcher for a number of years in the mid 2000’s at BYU, after a stellar HS career at Spanish Fork HS. Talon is a multi dimensional two way player, as a MIF and now as a green RHP with the potential to do both for sure at the next level. As a MIF, the feet are educated and receive the baseball and play ground up and out front, with the ability to play on the run, coming in and side to side with one hand and showing solid movement patterns. The arm is 82 across the diamond with the strength to come to reach the mid to upper 80’s. The bat comes from a solid 45 degree load and from a conventional RHH even prop stance, that stays inside the ball and is compact to and has some length through, into a high one hand finish at release. Cloward looks to be a big factor moving forward as a rising junior at Salem Hills in 2024 and should provide a spark, with quality makeup and a strong baseball IQ, due to his love and learning of the game and his baseball background.

Positional Profile: SS/2B Father was a very good baseball player and played 4 years from 2000, 2003-2005 at BYU. Casey is athletic and has bloodlines to playe the game as his grandfather also played at BYU. Needs to get stronger and place an emphasis in the weight room and develop overall body mass and strength. Has the bat path, mechanics and movement patterns to play at the next level. Played at the JV level, and will get his shot at the varsity level in '23. I will be following him closely.
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Lean proportioned athletic, streamlined look
Hits: RHH. Even proportioned square stance, with his weight distributed 60/40 Rocks back into a knee kick and gets separation with a med turn of the barrel in back. Takes a compact, tight fluid path, through the zone into a full compact whippy finish.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 77.7 MPH. 250' max distance. Limited power now and is more a line drive straightaway to the pull hitter.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph.Well below avg arm that needs to gain arm strength through the gym, and long toss moving forward. The arm path is proper and fluid, just lacks online carry through the bag.
Defense: Wotks out front and has avg balance while approaching the ball on the balls of his feet. Works ground up and under the ball w/avg agility side to side.

Positional Profile: SS/2B

Hits: RHH.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 80 MPH. 266' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-79 mph .
Defense:
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 74.98 Edge Score