A large part of scouting is simply looking at statistics on a page and watching lots of video. Hopefully, you get to see a player in person a couple of times a year, but watching from behind home plate can still leave plenty to be desired. We aren’t in players' living rooms, getting to know them beyond baseball and trying to judge qualities like character, work ethic, and other intangibles.
For those who don’t know my personal baseball story, I hung up the cleats just eight months ago. I pitched at Bellevue College just outside of Seattle, and at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon. Over the years, I played with and against a lot of talent. In high school, Corbin Carroll went 3 for 3 against me, and there’s a laundry list of current and former pro players that likely did the same.
While many of my former teammates and opponents are now in pro ball, there are a few who are draft-eligible this year. In this article, I wanted to detail former teammates with whom I shared a locker room, knowing I can speak on their character more than most others. Let’s talk about some fantastic players that I actually went to war with.
Brady Reynolds, OF -- Stanford
Brady Reynolds might be the most conventionally talented player I ever shared a field with. Ranked no. 168 on our college big board, Reynolds has a clear future in pro ball. He’s a big-bodied corner outfielder who can produce some real impact in the box. Yes, sometimes he swings and misses too much, but his flaws show something that I’ve always thought; there’s clearly untapped potential with this kid and he's only going to get better. I played with Reynolds in the West Coast League for the Bellingham Bells when he was coming out of high school. He was a mainstay in our lineup that summer and had plenty of draft buzz. Stanford wasn't always a foregone conclusion. Brady was as down-to-earth as they come. Summer ball is a beautiful experience because a junior college sophomore like myself can interact with one of Stanford’s most highly touted recruits. Brady’s infectious personality and love for the game make me believe he’ll figure it out. At worst, he’ll be a clubhouse favorite everywhere he goes. I’d bet that this spring is his true breakout.
Dean West, OF -- UCLA
Dean West was in a similar position to Brady Reynolds, playing for the Bellingham Bells the summer before enrolling at UCLA. West was a bit of an unknown, hidden on the West Coast in 2023, but he’s certainly made a name for himself now, hitting at the top of the best lineup in college baseball. I’ve already written about West’s skills earlier this year, with the SparkNotes version being that he’s one of the most unique profiles in this class. He’s got A+ bat-to-ball skills and plenty of speed out of the box. His summer in Bellingham was electric, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Brady and Dean made up one of the best outfield duos that the league has seen in recent years. While I spent less time with Dean, he was adored by everyone in the locker room. He’s an extremely smart person, and he worked his tail off to get to where he is today.
Miles Gosztola, LHP -- Oregon
Miles Gosztola spent two years at Gonzaga before transferring to Oregon this fall, putting him in the same city as me. It’s likely that Gosztola will claim a rotation spot this spring, with his true breakout coming soon. Miles has already spent two summers in the Cape with Orleans, where he showed out after his freshman season, putting his name on the map outside of the PNW. The big lefty has unique release traits and has worked into the mid 90s recently. It’s a really challenging at-bat, with plus secondaries that make his floor a really damn good reliever at the next level. Miles and I played high school baseball together for two seasons, where I was his captain, and he was better than 17-year-old me as a 14-year-old. Gosztola broke Blake Snell’s state strikeout record in his junior year, becoming maybe the most dominant prep pitcher the state of Washington has ever seen. Miles is now one of my closest friends, and the day he gets drafted will be a celebration in my house. I don’t know what to say except he has the ‘it' factor. Miles is the most competitive person I know, and he’s so damn smart, both qualities at the top of the wish list for any pitching prospect.
Felix Schlede, RHP -- Sam Houston State
Felix Schlede is one of the most talented baseball players I’ve known. His college journey has had some bumps in the road, but after finding tons of success at Central Arizona, he’s found a great home at Sam Houston State. Schlede will light up the radar gun everywhere he goes, with some of the most devastating breaking balls I’ve witnessed in person. The name of the game has always been command with him, but he’s made some huge strides in college to hone in on the strike zone. Felix was just one grade below me in high school and pitched plenty of meaningful innings as a freshman in a strong Seattle Metro conference. The first pro scout I ever saw was from the Boston Red Sox, who came to watch Felix pitch on the soccer field our high school baseball team played on. Schlede is one of the funnier teammates I’ve had, with quirks that make him a beloved member of any team. He’s worked incredibly hard the past few years, and I would love to see him get a shot in pro ball.
Ryan Lynch, RHP -- North Carolina
I played with Ryan for two years at my junior college, where he set the NWAC ERA record, and had the lowest juco ERA in the country at 0.56 in 64 innings. Lynch went out to Coastal Carolina, where he was set to be a starter before an injury ended his season after 3 innings. He came back last year and became the most dominant reliever in college baseball that nobody talks about. He ONCE AGAIN had a 0.56 ERA, this time out of the pen in 32 innings at the D1 level for the national runner-ups. He doesn’t light up the radar gun, living in the low 9’s, but he has some of the most deceptive stuff in the country. I think a pro team should take a chance on the 5th-year senior, and maybe even consider moving him back to the rotation. He has the body to withstand starting and has firmly overcome his past injuries. Ryan’s a funny guy, always down for a good laugh. I have nothing but great things to say about him as a teammate. It felt like Ryan always knew he would end up where he is today, earning every minute along the way.
Evan Holman, C -- Old Dominion
Evan Holman is an incredibly talented catcher, being a one-and-done at the juco level, where he made a huge impact for us as a freshman. Now at Old Dominion for his third season, Holman has shown that he can play at a high level consistently. He has strong control over the plate on both sides of the ball, with a sweet swing that’s built for line drives. Evan’s demand for excellence was unmatched. He was such a hard worker at the juco level, which has clearly carried over to Old Dominion. Last year, he had 28 free passes with only 20 K’s, which sums up the type of guy and player he is.
Cam Hoiland, OF -- Cal Poly
Cam Hoiland found a great home at Cal Poly after two years at Bellevue CC. Last year, he had a .333 average in 54 games, helping lead the Mustangs on a nice run. Cam was a prolific two-way player at Bellevue, with one of the most pro-ready frames I’ve seen with explosive athleticism. Cam returns to Cal Poly in his 5th year with a pretty sick baseball reference page that shouldn’t stop after this season. To describe Cam’s makeup, I have a quick story. One of our former Bellevue teammates, Josiah Santiago, passed away tragically in a car accident in the fall of 2024. Upon hearing the news, Cam was the first person to call me, asking me how I was doing despite being obviously heartbroken himself. That’s the kind of man he is, with a big heart that puts others first.
The Current Bushnell Crew
Before becoming the pitching coach at Bushnell, I was a player, which is an admittedly strange dynamic, coaching my former teammates. Let me just say this- our team is loaded with future professional talent this year. Austin Wolfe is coming off a Northwoods All-Star appearance, with plenty still to prove as a junior. Jacob Courtney is a flamethrower that nobody knows yet, but they will soon, headed to the Northwoods this summer. Albert Jennings is a familiar name in the PNW community who hit 3 home runs in our first series last week and will likely play in the MLB Draft League this summer. Kai Keamo and Tyler Biddinger are headed out east to play in the Northwoods this summer to hopefully get a shot at affiliated ball after this season. All of these guys have incredible personalities to match their talents. Our NAIA conference has had the most draft picks over the past two years of all NAIA, D2, and D3 conferences, so we’re confident in our regional skill. Scouts have already been out at our yard getting an early look at some winter baseball, with the hope of getting as many of these guys signed as possible.
