May arrived, which means playoff baseball is beginning around the nation. There is no better opportunity for a player to emerge and establish himself as a dude, and there are still some talented 2023 uncommitted prospects who are definitely good enough to continue playing. 

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.

Let’s begin in cooler Colorado where a senior pitcher turned in a big-time performance against one of the best teams in the state and then head to warmer Arizona to get a look at four uncommitted prospects who performed well in front of our cameras. 

Uncommitted 2023 prospect gets it done on the mound and with the bat…

Against a very good Rocky Mountain squad, right-handed pitcher Noah Scott tossed a complete game with six strikeouts and gave up zero earned runs in a win for Broomfield (Colorado). From a low three-quarters slot, Scott’s fastball (86-89 MPH) attacked hitters with angle, sink and some arm side run. He routinely missed barrels by pounding the lower quadrant of the strike zone with his fastball and keeping hitters guessing with a slider and changeup. At the plate, he also hammered two doubles. 

At 6-4, Scott has strength present in his lower half but still has room to continue filling out and should profile as a physical right-handed pitcher capable of eating innings at the next level, especially with his tendency to throw strikes. Broomfield is one of the best teams in the state and Scott has been a standout performer after being a part of a state championship team as a junior. A true two-way prospect, Scott moves well on the infield dirt, especially for a young player with his size, and has quality defensive actions at shortstop. 

It’s obvious Scott can impact the game with his bat, glove and on the mound, too, making him one of the top uncommitted seniors in Colorado and a strong candidate to help a college program sooner than later.

Another name to follow at Saguaro… 

Saguaro High School (Arizona) having talent is nothing new and it looks like 2024 right-handed pitcher Billy Gregory is another name to follow. With a fastball up to 90 MPH that carried some weight and short run down and to the arm side, Gregory went the distance in an impressive complete game against Flagstaff. 

On the mound, it’s an easy operation for Gregory. He has good shoulder placement and balance at foot plant, and lands on the ball of his foot with plenty of leg strength to support his delivery and finish. Gregory rotates his shoulder well and there’s only a small head-whack. In the future, he looks like a good bet to throw harder and throw strikes. His curveball shows promise with good shape and he has some natural feel for spinning the overhand breaker. 

Cannon Peery is one of the best uncommitted bats in Arizona

I’m blindly assuming Cannon Peery doesn’t lack options currently because he plays for one of the most well-known programs in Arizona and he’s producing at a high level and his future power potential is easily recognizable. Plus, his name is Cannon. Guys named Cannon have to be able to hit and hit for power. Or they’re 80 runners. 

Anyway, Peery has a large, physical frame with more room to pack on more muscle and is a good mover for his size. In front of Five Tool Arizona, he’s covered the hitting zone, proving able to get to pitches up and down in the zone and his power showed when he mis-hit a ball to the wall in right-center field for a triple. With relaxed hands, a steady head and an approach that includes easily tracking pitches, Peery also boasts a swing worth betting on long-term. 

2025 prospect finding a way to stand out at LOADED Hamilton High School

Even on one of the most talented teams in the nation, which features 2023 studs Roch Chowlowsky, Zach Wadas, Ryan Kucherak, Cooper Brass and Josh Tiedemann, sophomore Jaylen Payne is making a name for himself. Consider this: Payne hits fifth in a lineup that includes top draft prospects and major college commitments. And it’s because he’s been very productive with the bat. 

A good athlete, Payne unleashes the type of right-handed bat speed that immediately grabs your attention as he whips the barrel through the zone. He’s a good athlete, a plus runner and he’s made several highlight grabs in center field, showcasing his speed, athleticism, range and reads off the bat. Earlier this season, Payne had one of the best catches we’ve seen anywhere this season when he ran about 30 yards or more to track down a ball hit deep into the left-center gap and made a perfectly-timed diving catch with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning. If the ball drops, the game is probably tied. 

Another 2025 hitter from Arizona to follow… 

Chaparral High School (Arizona) left-handed hitter Gavin Mesa put on a show recently. A 6-4, three-sport athlete who lists a 4.0 GPA, Mesa showed a smooth, fluid, picturesque left-handed swing to smack extra-base hits around the yard. He has a loose, projectable frame and a swing that attacks pitches with the type of angle to do damage in the air, especially as he gets stronger. A first team all-region selection, Mesa also plays football and looks to me like a future hitter in the corner infield or possibly at third base. 

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor