Baseball. 

Saturday and Monday night, I watched live Texas high school baseball. The Five Tool team is out there ready to cover our beloved game and we’re gearing up for about six months straight of action. We’re excited. We hope you are too. And today’s Five Tool Five features a couple of uncommitted prospects from Smithson Valley who impressed me, a top 2023 talent riding some MLB Draft helium that we’ll see in the Five Tool Festival, and a couple of uncommitted prospects from California and Arizona I’m a fan of. 

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 multiple times each week 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. 

We always talk about the physical gains that can happen during the offseason. Well, the guy leading the way today is an excellent example of that. 

Someone spent time in the weight room

After a couple looks during the high school season and again in the summer, I always left intrigued by Zach Gingrich’s long-term upside, physical projection and athleticism. Well, after seeing him again this past Saturday, it’s obvious a lot of the upside and projection has turned into reality. Gingrich, an uncommitted prospect in the 2024 class who plays for the Texas Angels during the summer, has added about 30 pounds onto a great frame without sacrificing any of his impressive athleticism. The projected leadoff hitter for a loaded Smithson Valley lineup, Gingrich should perform well with the bat and can run, too, with a promising defensive profile in the outfield. But I might like his upside more on the mound; emphasis on "might" because I reserve the right to change my mind since he's such a talented hitter.

Up to 88 MPH with a quick arm and easy, repeatable delivery, Gingrich fired heaters with some flashes of glove side command and downward angle. His sharp, short curveball showed what looked like good spin rates, was thrown with conviction and racked up whiffs. The right-hander will continue to add velocity this season as he builds up and the weather warms up. And he’ll add even more next season. I’d be surprised if Gingrich doesn’t take a major step all-around this season but especially on the mound because his athleticism and upside are apparent on the mound as he still learns how to pitch. College coaches should get some eyes on him quickly. 

Impressive 2023 start for uncommitted LHP

Baylor signee Jackson Elizondo will serve as the ace for Smithson Valley and once MJ Espinoza returns from an injury, he’ll add some exciting depth and talent to an embarrassment of pitching riches. But don’t sleep on uncommitted 2023 left-hander Seve Martinez. 

Like Gingrich, Martinez is a two-way prospect who should hit near the top of the lineup. However, there’s no doubt in my mind his upside long-term is on the mound. A high-waisted athlete who isn’t done filling out and maturing physically, Martinez easily fired fastballs 86-88 MPH for strikes, especially to his arm side, and appeared to be in mid-season form. It’s impossible to know for sure without Trackman data, but my eyes saw the type of lower slot and vertical attack angle (VAA) that should create some ride/carry through the zone and help the heater play up. 

Martinez’s breaking ball appeared like a slower, slurve-type offering at 68-70 MPH he can throw for strikes. He showed one changeup at 72 MPH that had some splitter-like spin and tumble. There’s a lot to like about the future strike-throwing because of the delivery and the fastball gives Martinez a great base to work with now and in the future. 

Cooper Pratt gaining some MLB Draft helium

As the high school season gears up, so does MLB Draft season. Obviously, scouts have been out for weeks seeing JUCO games, college and high school scrimmages, prep workouts and more. Accompanying that is chatter about which high school players have made gains after strong summers and are poised for even more scouting attention than maybe anticipated. Magnolia Heights (Mississippi) shortstop Cooper Pratt is among those high school players generating buzz and rightfully so. 

An Ole Miss signee, Pratt has always impressed viewers with his rare athleticism and defensive skill because he’s a taller shortstop and now he’s growing into that frame, as expected, and his right-handed swing is poised to show even more impact after proving it can handle big-time stuff this summer. Our list of teams for the inaugural Five Tool Festival is loaded and I can say that without bias. Pratt might be the player I’m most excited to see. 

A summer favorite from California is going to be a good get for a college program

I think it’s just a matter of time until a college secures a commitment from Benicia High School (California) product Matteo Copp. Looking back at some clips and reports from this summer, Copp, a right-handed hitting infielder who likely profiles best at second base, didn’t just show up to the AABC Don Mattingly World Series and hit. He pounded extra-base hits and hit two homers, including one on his birthday. 

Copp has a good understanding of leveraging his lower half into his swing and getting the barrel, in an aggressive yet under control way, in a position to drive the baseball. 

Young do-it-all 2025 prospect was a hitting machine this fall

During the final days of fall events in Arizona, Adreano “Nano” Lopez became a hitting machine. Scroll through the Five Tool Arizona account during a weekend event Baseball’s Next Level played in and you’d see Lopez smacking hits over and over and over again; it felt like he never got out. 

A right-handed hitter with a do-it-all defensive profile, Lopez has advanced bat-to-ball ability and naturally creates good paths to the baseball. He’s still a young prospect. So, it’s tough to peg where he’ll end up defensively because his body will change dramatically in the coming years and he can play all over, including catcher. 

Lopez moves well behind the dish with a quick transfer and intriguing skill. As he fills out and matures, a lot of those line drives he hits will carry even more. He’s certainly one to follow in Arizona and figures to eventually become another standout from well-known Cienega High School. 

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor