Top performers from Rancho Cucamonga PDP Event

July 16th, 2018

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -- Many of the top high school baseball players from Southern California and Nevada showcased their skills on Sunday morning at MLB's Prospect Development Pipeline Premier event.
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The Prospect Development Pipeline is a collaborative effort between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball to establish a player development pathway for amateur baseball players in the United States. The players participated in an athletic assessment, a vision test, batting practice, infield and outfield work, and bullpen sessions.
Sunday's workout was held at LoanMart Field, home of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The bats are what stood out the most at this particular event and a number of big league scouts in attendance said they were impressed by the raw power on display during batting practice.
Here are some names to know from Sunday's event:
Joe Naranjo, 1B/LHP
Naranjo shined during batting practice, with multiple scouts reporting that they were impressed by the left-hander's raw power. Committed to Cal State Fullerton, Naranjo sprayed the ball around the field and made solid contact. He also showed some good footwork during infield drills.
Cody Freeman, SS/2B
Freeman looked comfortable throughout the workout, and made the most of the showcase held in his hometown. Multiple scouts raved about Freeman's defense, and said he projects as a middle-of-the-diamond player. One scout said Freeman, who is committed to Baylor University, was the best defender at Sunday's showcase. Freeman comes from a baseball family, and his older brother, Tyler, was the No. 71 overall pick by the Indians in the 2017 Draft.
Darius Perry, C/1B
Perry was locked in during batting practice, and he put on a show with power to all fields. Scouts said they were impressed by his ability to consistently hit the ball hard. Perry also garnered high reviews for his pop time and overall work in catching drills. He's yet to commit to a college as he prepares for his senior season at La Mirada High School.
Jake Skipworth, 3B/1B
Skipworth was another player who stood out because of his power display in batting practice. One scout said the right-hander had some of the best power in the group from that side of the plate. Skipworth also fielded his positions well during infield drills. He is committed to Cal.

Jordan Keller, 3B/SS
Not to be outdone by the other sluggers on Sunday, Keller put himself firmly in the mix for the best power bat with his performance in batting practice. The San Diego State University commit squared up several balls and showed above-average power to the pull side. He also displayed a strong arm from the left side of the infield.
, SS/2B
Flaherty's solid showing during infield drills caught the attention of multiple scouts. Flaherty has the tools to remain in the middle of the diamond. He displayed the necessary arm strength and footwork to play shortstop. Committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Flaherty was at his best when coming in to the infield grass make plays on short-hops.