There are two very important things the Five Tool Five is going to share with readers today: one of the best swings from the fall and one of our favorite nicknames. 

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 an uncommitted 2023 hitter with some major bat speed and thunder in his bat… 

“Chewy” feasted on pitches this fall

Matthew Thomas (Cypress; California) recently turned 17 and smashed baseballs this fall thanks to his impressive bat speed and torque from the right side; it’s the type of sound and bat speed that makes spectators second-guess where to park their car because beyond left field is risky. Listed at 6-3, 185 pounds, Thomas is an outfider/corner infielder with physical projection and the power potential is obvious. I’m surprised he’s still uncommitted, but I can't imagine him being off the radar of D1 programs still searching for bats. Click his Twitter profile and you'll find lots of videos of him in the cage.

Dominic Avila was one of the top performers in our fall events

Like Thomas, Dominic Avila is a 2023 bat-first prospect who is uncommitted from California. But unlike Thomas, Avila’s swing and hitting style is more like softer, classic rock while Thomas pumps heavy metal through the speakers. A product of Carlmont High, Avila has a natural feel for hitting and is comfortable letting the baseball travel and using the entire field.

He does have some pull-side juice but is more of a gap-to-gap doubles hitter presently with the ability to annoy pitchers because he can cover the plate and I think there’s some untapped potential with more leverage added to the swing. Defensively, he’s probably a first baseman at the next level, but the bat is strong enough to find a college home somewhere. As you can see above, he had an 8-RBI game this fall. That's pretty, pretty good. 

A major D1 prospect from Las Vegas

Young hitters who exhibit controlled aggression and angry barrels in the batter’s box always grab my attention and Ben Lovering, a 2024 standout from Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, is one of those hitters. From the right side, Lovering, an uncommitted outfielder, has very impressive bat speed and steps into the batter’s box with a loose, projectable frame. 

This fall, Lovering was an extra-base machine at the Las Vegas Fall Championships and looks like a no-doubt D1 prospect with exciting tools. 

Pudge MVP adding velocity… 

Let’s check in on the MVP of the 2022 Pudge Rodriguez World Classic:

Jaxon Rickert, an uncommitted 2025 right-hander from Lake Ridge (Manfield, Texas), was outstanding against elite 2024 competition this summer when he was working in the low to mid 80s with his fastball and a swing-and-miss slider with command. As most young pitchers do, Rickert is growing stronger, maturing physically and adding velocity. And you’ll probably notice some increased efficiency in his delivery, too. His arrow continues to point up and his competitiveness is outstanding. 

College coaches should pay attention to Jim Ned High School… 

A strong summer performer who racked up strikeouts without a blazing fastball, Jake Rushing was one of many talented DFW Twins players who caught my eye this summer and threw well at the DFW Twins Scout Day in the fall. 

When he’s at his best, Rushing is sinking a mid 80s fastball with some flashes of command to his arm side and spinning a breaking ball with more of a true 12-6 look; he also shows feel for a different breaking ball with more of a slider-type shape. A two-sport athlete, Rushing, an uncommitted 2024 prospect, moves and competes well on the mound and as his hand placement/movement in the back of his arm path improves, his control/command outlook could really take off. Regardless, he's a fun pitcher to watch who should be a top performer in his area this season.

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor