01/18/2019 - 2019 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
Jake is a talented catching prospect who we've been lucky enough to see develop through the years. He again put his skills on display, this time at the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament. Behind the dish, he sits in well with athleticism and good sway. He tracks pitches into a soft mitt, sticks in and frames well. Throws to 2B are on the bag coming from a clean transfer and quick release (pop times at 1.95). With the bat, this righty steps into the box looking to swing it. He shows an open stance with balance. Swing is short/compact to and through the zone as he connects and barrels the ball up with pop (exit velocity = 88 mph). Sonandres has progressed into a special player who will make an impact at the next level.
07/25/2018 - Under Armour Southwest Championships 17U, powered by Baseball Factory's Team One
Jake showed solid skills and a spike to hitting grades at the UA Southwest. He is a good hitter with a smooth swing and fast bat speed. Jake has good balance, a level swing path, and he hits the ball hard consistently. Behind the plate, Jake has good footwork, strong hands, and he blocks the ball well. He has good flexion, a clean release, and a strong arm.
01/12/2018 - 2018 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
A solid 2019 catching prospect, Jake operates behind the dish currently at the collegiate level. Stays compact in his stance, can receive all pitches very well, remains agile and is very quick to block baseballs with range. Controls rebounds, he deadens tough pitches in the dirt to control the run game and not give away free bases. Works inline to his targets when throwing and flashed a 2.00s release time to 2nd base. A simple setup and swing offensively allows him to be effective at the plate while maintaining good balance. Has nice loose hands and stays inside the ball, he can drive the ball to all fields. Nice things ahead for Jake, look for him to continue solidify himself as a college catcher.
10/18/2017 - Arizona Junior Fall Classic
Jake continues to show the makings of a special type player on the diamond. Behind the plate, feet are active as he works in line to his target through a quick transfer / exchange. Pop times showed in the 2.11 with life, accuracy, and on line carry through his target. Time will continue to drop as he builds more arm strength through a long toss program. Glove action is soft / quiet and he tracks balls well through the receiving process. He shows off his athletic abilities through the blocking process in getting down quickly and utilizes his body well. At the plate, he shows an open / athletic setup. Hands are quick (85 mph exit velocity) and work through a level swing path. He stays inside the baseball, utilizing all fields through a line drive approach. Barrel accuracy is a plus and he makes consistent hard contact. Mental makeup is a plus as he has a great attitude and is very coachable as he works hard to be the best player he can be.
07/19/2017 - Under Armour Southwest Championships 16U, powered by Baseball Factory's Team One
Jake is a talented C/2B prospect who has a versatile skill set and graduates in 2019. As a right-handed hitter, Jake has an athletic stance with a firm front side and centered balance. He has smooth rhythm with a good load and short stride. Jake shows loose hands with a short swing and good separation. He is a contact type hitter who produces consistent, line drive contact. Behind the plate, Jake plays with good body control and quick footwork. He presents a low, effective target and frames the ball well. Jake has a clean exchange leading into a loose arm action throwing from a 3/4 arm slot. He plays with momentum through his release showing consistently strong throws down to 2B. Overall, Jake has a well-rounded game on both sides of the ball with good potential to be a difference maker.
01/13/2017 - Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
Jake is a talented C/2B who can play the game and continues to get even better. Behind the plate, Jake has a square, athletic setup with a solid base. He presents a good low target and receives the ball well. He is quick to his knees and stays square when needing to block. Jake has a clean exchange leading into a short arm action throwing from a high 3/4 slot. He has good momentum through his release with POP times ranging from 2.14-2.18 seconds. As a right-handed hitter, Jake has a square stance with a centered balance. He has fluid rhythm with his load and takes a short, square stride with an on-plane swing path. He stays inside the baseball and shows consistent contact. Jake is a line drive type hitter who can spray the ball to all fields. Overall, Jake is a talented prospect who can impact the game offensively and defensively.
12/27/2016 - Under Armour Baseball Factory Recruiting Classic
Jake is a 2019 C/2B prospect with a strong lower half that serves him well behind the plate. He shows advanced feel for the catcher position with an ability to call the game with a feel for his pitcher and the hitters at the plate. He shows an athletic setup with a low center of gravity that allows him to move side to side and get down quickly to block. His hands are soft to receive and stick pitches in the zone while transferring quickly to throw with accuracy to second. At the dish, this RHH shows opposite field technique, looking to hit the ball where it's pitched and driving it up the middle. His swing path is direct to the ball with a fast bat through the zone and he makes consistent, line drive contact for base hits. Protecting the plate with two strikes is the last step to becoming a complete hitter. Jake is a very exciting prospect who looks to have a bright future on the diamond.
06/25/2016 - Omaha National World Series - Session 2
Jake is a coach's dream, always hustling and making the proper adjustments to better himself as a player. A well rounded catcher, Jake shows great blocking technique and framing skills, using his quick and strong hands to be a well-rounded defensive catcher. His accurate arm is icing on the cake, as baserunners will think twice before swiping a bag off of Jake. At the plate, Jake is a tough out that shows great contact skills, with his soft and steady load and direct route to the ball that results in spraying line drives all over the field. Still an underclassman in high school, Jake shows true a ton of upside and will make an impact in a variety of ways on the diamond.