Processing..
logo
Where MLB scouts, college coaches, and top high school prospects meet.
☰
×
player profile search
Five Tool All-Summer Team Superlatives
10/20/2021

A favorite activity of the Five Tool staff, once the digging through an endless mountain of statistics concludes after weeks, is reviewing the performance of players during months of Five Tool events. Unfortunately, every standout can’t make the first-team, a truly fun but difficult decision-making process to pick one player for each position. So, that means the honorable mention list is filled with a ton of outstanding players, including sophomores, juniors and seniors. 

In an effort to help highlight some of those players who just missed a first-team selection, we’ve chosen a list of unique standouts. Rather than offer a traditional scouting report, because many of these players already have that published during our summer coverage, we’re going to present some thoughts a little differently.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FIVE TOOL 2021 ALL-SUMMER TEAM

The Five Tool All-Summer Team: Honorable Mention Superlatives

RHP/OF – Aidan Sims (2024 – Forney; 5 Star Performance 2024 National)

Stat line: 13 IP, 24K, 6H, 4R, 4 ER (2.15 ERA), 2 BB /.310 (9-29), 3 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB

Hammer time: Sucker for aesthetically pleasing curveballs? Put Aidan Sims on your list as no-doubt dudes to follow in 2024. Perhaps the long locks and the slight tilt of the front shoulder as he sits on his back leg plays into the curveball looking so pretty. Regardless, Sims made a strong case as one of the top right-handers for 2024 and his ability to spin the baseball was a big reason why.

RHP/3B – Alex Martinez (2023 – China Springs; BLBA)

Stat line: 7.2 IP, 14K, 0H, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), BB / .520 (13-25), 6 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 8R, 10 BB, SB

Intrigue: Are we, college coaches included, sleeping on Alex Martinez a little bit? I don’t know. If his stats are a true indication, the answer is a resounding, “yes.” Regardless, Martinez touched 88 MPH, snapped off sharp, swing-and-miss curves and showed some sneaky athleticism on the mound. He can impact the baseball with some power too. Keep an eye on this guy. 

SS – Anthony Silva (2022 – Clark; Texas Twelve Maroon 2022)

Stat line: .536 (15-28), 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 19R, 7 BB, 4 SB

Solid: Rated No. 11 in the 2022 Five Tool 55, I can’t think of a better 2022 prospect in Texas who represents the word, “solid.” Silva is one of the safer bets to be a college contributor at TCU, assuming he doesn’t turn professional out of high school, because of his all-around skill set and impressive intangibles. 

RHP/OF – Andrew Isdale (2022 – Chaparral, Colorado; Slammers Blitzer)

Stat line: .543 (19-35), 5 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 14R, 4 BB

Pay the Man: Isdale arrived at the Five Tool California San Diego Show uncommitted. He then went 8-of-14 at the plate with 2 doubles, 3 homers, 17 RBI, 4 runs and 2 walks. Soon after, he committed to Northern Colorado. If you perform, they will find you. Hitting a grand slam to dead center and having some physical projection helps, too. 

MIF – Blake Brown (2023 – Lake Creek; Texas Twelve Maroon 2023)

Stat line: .500 (25-50), 4 2B, 16 RBI, 16R, 5 BB, 4 SB

Use the Whole Field: Hitters hit, and Blake Brown consistently hit at a high level this summer thanks to his swing and approach. The future Sam Houston State infielder has an advanced feel for not getting too big in the box and simply taking what the pitcher gives him. 

RHP – Brain Panneton (2022 – Tomball Memorial; Texas Twelve Maroon 2022)

Stat line: 21 IP, 26K, 9H, ER (0.33 ERA), 5 BB

Bob Ross: Some of the youngsters out there don’t know who Bob Ross is. If you don’t, take some time and do a Twitter search for ‘@PitchingNinja painted’ and you’ll see a clip of a pro hitting a corner followed by an older gentleman with 80-grade hair painting a picture. You’re welcome. 

Anyway, Panneton, of any pitcher I saw in person this summer, showed the best combination of command and control. It was a surprise when he issued a walk, which barely happened. Panneton is a future strike-throwing machine at Texas State and can execute with four different pitches. 

C/UTIL – Charlie Evans (2024 – St. Stephen’s Episcopal School; Canes Southwest Premier 2024)

Stat line: .483 (14-29), 2B, 3 3B, 9 RBI, 9R, 6 BB, 5 SB

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover: Evans lists himself at 5-10, 175 pounds. He carries himself like he’s 6-3, 225 pounds and a bad man on the baseball field. The Offensive MVP of the Alex Bregman 15U World Series, Evans, an uncommitted prospect, is a big-time competitor, gamer, oozes confidence and consistently produced at the summer’s premier 15U event. 

RHP/3B – David Heefner (2023 – Homeschool; Dallas Tigers 2023 Hernandez)

Stat line: .381 (8-21), 2B, 3B, 6 RBI, 4R, 4 BB, 3 SB / 17.2 IP, 26K, 7H, 4 ER (1.62 ERA), 9 BB

Invest in the Stock: A two-way talent who did a bit of everything this summer, Heefner is progressing most notably as a hitter and held his own as a member of the Blue Jays Scout Team this fall. The son of DBU head coach Dan Heefner, it’s probably wise to put an arrow pointing up beside David’s name. 

RHP/UTIL – Jackson Kay (2023 – La Cueva, New Mexico; ABA 2022 Lehman)

Stat line: .429 (24-56), 10 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 23R, 7 BB, 2 SB

High Leverage: When runners are on base, those are higher leverage situations because of the run-scoring environment compared to a bases empty situation. Nerdy, I know. When runners are on base, Kay feasted this summer to the tune of 20 RBI in 56 at-bats with an astounding 10 doubles. Oh, the uncommitted right-hander was also up to 88 MPH on the mound this fall. 

OF/LHP – Jake Duer (2022 – Flower Mound Marcus; USA Prime American)

Stat line: .470 (16-34), 3 2B, 2 3B, 5 RBI, 15R, 9 BB, 4 SB

Impact Incoming: Duer’s hit tool stood out his junior season and this summer, which led to a commitment to TCU. This fall, he’s beginning to show more extra-base pop and homers are becoming a more frequent part of his offensive attack. 

OF – Jordan Viars (2021 – Reedy; D-Bat)

Stat line: .442 (19-43), 4 2B, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 25R, 11 BB, 13 SB

Ahead of the Curve: Now a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization after being selected 84th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft and signing, Viars was the 14th youngest player drafted. A big-time performer in the Five Tool Collegiate League, Viars’ status as one of the premier prep bats in the country was influenced by playing with and against players older than he is. 

MIF/OF – Justin Blancaflor (2023 – John Paul II; Dallas Patriots 16U/Test Baseball 2023)

Stat line: .458 (11-24), 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 11R, 5 BB, 12 SB

Pound-for-pound Stud: Blancaflor, an uncommitted prospect who is also a standout football player, is pound-for-pound of the best players and athletes in the state. No one plays harder than this guy and he lives, eats, and breathes competition. If he gets on first base, his engine is ready to speed to second. 

UTIL – Luke Billings (2025 – Prosper; North Texas Longhorns 2025)

Stat line: .440 (22-50), 7 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 20R, 12 BB, 7 SB / 15 IP, 16K, 8H, 6 ER (2.80 ERA), 11 BB

He’s Got Next: If you’re into looking ahead, and we most certainly can’t help ourselves, go ahead and use a Sharpie for this name. Billings is an all-round megatalent making a strong case as one of the best 2025 players in the nation. 

UTIL/RHP – Mason Lampe (2022 – Brenham; Batter’s Box Majewski)

Stat line: 18 IP, 25K, H, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 5 BB

Competitive and Deceptive: Lampe doesn’t light up the radar gun and his stuff doesn’t scream ‘overpowering.’ But the right-hander finished the summer with arguably the best stat line of any pitcher in the event. He kept challenging hitters relentlessly and confidently with his three-pitch mix and kept getting results. Hitters didn’t pick him up well all summer and it showed. 

UTIL/RHP – Nu’u Contrades (2022 – St. Louis School, Hawai’i; 808 Baseball Academy and HBG)

Stat line: .472 (17-36), 7 2B, 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 10R, 3 BB, SB

Heavy Barrel: When Contrades gets his front leg down after a legkick and the barrel starts to move, look out. He swings a heavy barrel that makes the ball fly off his bat. Unsurprisingly, Arizona State noticed and landed his commitment. 

LHP/1B – Owen Proksch (2022 – Southlake Carroll; Stix 2022 Scout)

Stat line: 11.2 IP, 21K, 6H, 2 ER (1.20 ERA), BB

Funk: That’s the word I think of after Proksch put on a show at the AABC Mattingly World Series. It’s an unorthodox left-handed look that baffles hitters and can create some really uncomfortable at-bats. The Duke commitment is one of the top 2022 pitchers in Texas and his ability to repeat his unique look makes him a good bet to log a lot of innings in college. 

UTIL – Patrick Crayton (2025 – Hebron; North Texas Longhorns 2025)

Stat line: .442 (19-43), 8 2B, 3B, HR, 14 RBI, 17R, 9 BB, 10 SB

Rare Air: You’ve probably seen those two words associated with Michael Jordan before. Heck, he titled his own book Rare Air. I’m not saying Crayton is going to be the Jordan of baseball. Tap the brakes. But right now, he looks like a very rare combination of talent, physical projection, athleticism and skill. It runs in the family. His father scored 27 touchdowns in the NFL. 

RHP/UTIL – Reese Bassinger (2021 – Wylie; NTX Elite McCrummen)

Stat line: 47 IP, 52K, 34H, 17 ER (2.53 ERA), 14 BB

Workhorse: Shout out to the current Odessa College pitcher because Bassinger logged 47 innings in Five Tool events. The righty who gives right-handed hitters fits because of his sidearm approach, Bassinger showed a backfoot slider to lefties, changeup with some fade, and a heater with life. 

UTIL/RHP – Ryan Rusk (2023 – Kingwood; Dallas Patriots 16U Barras)

Stat line: .361 (17-47), 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 14R, 8 BB, 7 SB / 20.1 IP, 26K, 15H, 8 ER (2.75 ERA), 15 BB

Let it Eat: Rusk doesn’t lack gas in the tank and touched 93 MPH during an outing this summer. The stuff definitely leans towards the power side, and if he can corral it, a huge jump in production, which is already solid, will immediately follow. 

3B/MIF – Tony DeJesus (2022 – Central Catholic; LBC National Moench)

Stat line: .470 (16-34), 3 2B, 3B, HR, 13 RBI, 11R, 2 BB, 3 SB

The Beauty is the Simplicity: DeJesus, committed to the University of Incarnate Word, has a simple, easy, repeatable approach in the batter’s box and hit over and over and over again this summer. He’s another great example of perhaps the best way to describe hitters: the good ones hit every time you see them. 

SS – Uriah Walters (2023 – Rock Hill; Dallas Patriots 16U Barras)

Stat line: .428 (24-56), 6 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 29R, 18 BB, 18 SB

Do-it-all: Walters, strongly considered to be a first-team selection in the infield, can do it all. He hits; he impacts the baseball; he runs (look at those steals!); he defends and he can throw. There isn’t anything this young player can’t do on the baseball field.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FIVE TOOL 2021 ALL-SUMMER TEAM

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor
Five Tool Baseball

More Baseball News