I don’t know if referring to it as a “sneaky good place for baseball” is fair, especially considering Albuquerque was rated by MaxPreps as the No. 10 city for high school baseball. But given the amount of college players and future pros it produces per capita, maybe it is. Regardless, a lot of good things are happening in the New Mexico baseball scene and it’s beginning to show on college commitment lists and in the talent that takes the field. We’re going to highlight five of those players today. 

What is the Five Tool Five? The short, succinct definition: it’s simply a look at five players who recently caught our attention. The long-winded, more detailed explanation: showcasing our coverage from around the United States and highlighting noteworthy baseball talent, skill, performances, news, uncommitted players who colleges should pay attention to and more. We plan to deliver a fresh Five Tool Five every Monday through Friday to help satisfy baseball fans’ hunger for coverage at the amateur level and welcome you to the home of what we believe is the best amateur baseball coverage you’ll find - FiveTool.org. 

Let’s begin with a 2024 right-handed pitcher who is making gains ahead of his junior season.

Welcome to the 90 MPH club

Uncommitted right-handed pitcher Zach Kmatz caught our attention with some strong fall performances in Five Tool events. Since then, he’s been hard at work ahead of his junior season and that work turned into touching 90 MPH recently. 

In addition to showing some glove side command of his sharp, biting slider, Kmatz has often thrown strikes with his sinking fastball from a low three-quarters slot. Looking ahead, there is more physical development coming to add to an already promising frame to eat innings on the mound. Performing on the mound runs in the family because Kmatz’s older brother Jacob was a standout on the mound for Oregon State last season. Younger brother is definitely on track to pitch quality college innings with a profile that suggests starter upside. 

Top 2024 two-way prospect in New Mexico?

I can’t imagine there are many 2024 two-way prospects better than Jaden Davis. In fact, there might not be any at all. On the mound this summer at the AABC Mickey Mantle World Series, the athletic, 6-1 right-hander was outstanding. He executed a sharp slider for whiffs to his glove side and touched 87 MPH with a lively heater that beat hitters in the zone. And the Cleveland High School product shows a lot of strike-throwing traits. 

Oh, he can hit and play defense in the middle of the infield, too. Unsurprisingly because of how he looks on the mound, Davis’ right-handed swing boasts smooth athleticism and looks the part of a swing that can put some line drives into the gaps. Against top competition at the Mickey Mantle World Series, Davis went 7-for-16 from the leadoff spot with seven walks, eight runs and four steals.

A talented catcher to track closely in the 2025 class

As exciting as some of the 2024 prospects are in New Mexico, the 2025 class looks like it could be even stronger. Among the reasons why is switch-hitting catcher Noah Massey (Volcano Vista). He possesses an especially promising right-handed swing on the shorter side that gets through the zone very quickly thanks to his hitting hands and he was hitting right-handed versus right-handed pitchers in late October.

Behind the plate, Massey has a strong arm, moves with some agility and shows some promising catch-and-throw traits. Also a talented right-handed pitcher with a whippy arm and a fastball that gets into the low 80s consistently, Massey could end up being a super utility player because he has the skill to profile at a number of sports. But if he continues to fill into his frame and can prove to college coaches he has a real chance to stick at catcher, he could be one of the top prospects in New Mexico. In fact, I’ll be surprised if he’s not. 

Keeping with the theme of top 2025 talents… 

If Jaden Davis is one of my favorite two-way talents in New Mexico, Adriel Figueroa-Brito is my favorite in the 2025 class. A Five Tool All-Summer selection after hitting .477 across 44 at-bats with 22 runs and eight steals, the Sandia High prospect shows an advanced feel for punishing mistake pitches by pulling them with authority - 96 MPH exit velocity verified - while also gearing his swing, which features good bat speed, to use the gaps, too. He moves well with good baseball athleticism and has a chance to stick on the dirt in the middle of the infield. 

Oh, he can also throw really hard off the mound. Here's a quick, clean arm firing a pitch up to 89 MPH and I’m a fan of the way Figueroa-Brito athletically decelerates as he releases the pitch. Yeah, major dude potential. 

Hard-throwing 2026 RHP could be the next big thing in the state

Perhaps I saved the most intriguing part of the story for last because Dylan Blomker is blowing up. We caught a good glimpse of a very bright future during the Five Tool New Mexico Fall Challenge in September. He showed up and showed out with a fastball up to 84 MPH and a breaking ball that racked up whiffs. 

Since then, the big righty, especially for his age, keeps experiencing gains in velocity. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m a sucker for Trackman data; so, looks and videos like this are especially cool to me. Here’s Blomker touching 88 MPH, although that first pitch got away from him. Sorry, hitter. Yes, the breaking ball is a work in progress to find the right shape, but throwing one for a strike at his age is promising. 

With his size, arm strength and what looks like a promising delivery for his size and age, it’s easy to bet on Blomker (La Cueva) becoming a major dude in 2026. 

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor