By Shooter Hunt
National Crosschecker

The World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter, FL is usually a platform used by high school seniors to cement themselves as high draft picks to follow in the spring.  However, Day One in Jupiter saw multiple underclassmen step forward as stars to be noted for the 2018 and 2019 draft classes.

The marquee match-up of the day came in the final time slot with a star-studded Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad Prime facing off against Chicago Scouts Association.  Pitching for the Astros was 2018 RHP Cole Winn (Silver Creek HS, CO), a Notre Dame recruit, who looks at least two inches taller on the mound than his listed 6-foot-1 with wide shoulders and long legs.  Winn squared off in the first inning against PBR’s number one overall 2018 OF Jarred Kelenic (West HS, WI), and after falling behind 2-0, came back for three straight strikes at 91, 90, and 92 to strike out the stellar Kelenic.  Winn sat 90-91 in the first while sprinkling in 92-93 to put hitters away from a high ¾ slot.  The wiry right-hander struck out eight in three innings of work allowing no hits and walking one.  Under the lights and watchful eyes of a sea of scouts, Winn’s electric arm ripped through a short arm stroke as he drove his front hip towards the plate.  While his fastball garnered whispers among the onlookers, it was his slider that drew a few gasps.  The pitch reached as high as 79 with tight, high spin rate, and was thrown for strikes in the zone, but used even more effectively to put away hitters outside of the zone.  Winn’s stuff was unquestionable on the night, and will stick in scout’s heads for a long time.