By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

Since its inception in 2012, the USA Baseball National High School Invitational has proven to be a premier high school event and a big draw for scouts as several top prospects compete against each other just a few months before the draft. Given the talent on the teams participating, underclassmen can stand out too, making it a must-see event. The 2014 NHSI featured 11 players (two of which were injured and didn’t play) from the National Top 50, published in November. RHP Dylan Cease (Milton HS, GA) was shut down the week before the event with arm trouble and recently learned that he has a small tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. LHP David Peterson (Regis Jesuit HS, CO) broke his leg before the season even started and was in a walking boot while in North Carolina.

Below you’ll you find 15 players, listed alphabetically, that stood out at the NHSI with no restriction on class. Most are seniors, but a couple underclassmen are sprinkled in. OF Michael Gettys (Gainesville HS, GA) was the only Top 50 prospect to miss the list. He has very good tools, but remains raw and scouts question his ability to hit. He collected just one hit in 11 at-bats and struggled to make hard contact. Also, be sure to check out past articles on the NHSI by going to our new event page.

Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF, Roberson HS, NC (2014)
Scouts zeroed in on Davidson, one of the top hitters in the class, as he faced premium pitching in highly competitive games. While he didn’t blow evaluators away, he didn’t hurt himself either. He went 4-for-12 with a double and five walks, continuing to show his feel for the barrel and patience at the plate. He has a balanced setup and takes a medium stride with a short, direct swing.