Georgia 2020 Rankings: Newcomers

September 6, 2019
By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Friday, the PBR Georgia team updated and published the state's Class of 2020 rankings. It's been another jam-packed summer circuit, and it's made for a seismic shift throughout the '20 board. Even inside the top-10, there's been a ton of notable movement. We've already detailed, at length, the 10 best prospects in this senior class, and we covered the prospects trending north in yesterday’s Risers post, but today is for the prospects who are making their debuts on the 2020 board.

We're spending today breaking down the Georgia boys who have joined the ranks for the first time in their prep careers.

NEWCOMERS

LuJames Groover III SS / The Walker School, GA / 2020

The Charlotte commit is tooled up, at an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. His size and twitch helps him generate bat speed and strength in the right-handed batter’s box, and the bat-to-ball skills have him trending way up with a seriously interesting ceiling. Groover also looks equipped defensively to find a spot on the left side of the infield long term. He debuts higher than anyone else on the ‘20 board, at No. 38 overall.

Garrett Staton SS / 3B / North Forsyth , GA / 2020

Staton is among the more interesting prospects on this list and in this senior class. He’s billed with the tools to keep occupying the left side of the infield – he can run (6.81), throw (89 mph), and has shown us the range to glide to groundballs hit up the middle. Staton’s only getting better on offense, too. The Samford commit and North Forsyth stand-out covers the plate well from the right side and has a loud barrel, ready to do real damage. He’s athletic, versatile, and is going to be exciting to watch grow in Birmingham. He flies up to No. 46 on the Georgia board.

Garrett Staton (5/28/19)

Jake Haynes RHP / Prince Avenue Christian School, GA / 2020

Few right-handers have the kind of upside that Haynes is harboring, at an athletic 6-foot-3. He utilizes a heavy mid- to upper-80s fastball, and there’s definitely a little more in the tank, as we’ve seen him touch an 89 mph or two. Haynes has also flashed the offspeed to keep him inside a competitive rotation; a curveball with above-average shape and a changeup that pairs neatly with his sinking fastball. He debuts all the way up to No. 55 in the Georgia senior class.

Jake Haynes (5/28/19)

JD Day SS / 2B / Gordon Lee, GA / 2020

Gordon Lee prep star Day has smoothness stapled to his game, all the way around. He’s a standout defender with the hands and feet to stick to shortstop. He just makes it look easy. Day, a right-handed hitter, has above-average bat strength, too, and as he tacks on good weight to his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, his bat is bound to be even better. Day is committed to play ball this time next year at Cleveland State CC and debuts at No. 77 on the Georgia board.

William Lybrook C / 1B / The Westminster Schools, GA / 2020

The future Ivy Leaguer, Lybrook is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound backstop who’s a steady and sturdy force from behind the plate. Given that frame, the future Crimson catcher has plenty of body to fill out and that can only enhance his offensive profile from the right side of the dish. He’s already a dependable catch-and-throw prospect, so any added boost he can mix into his offense will make Lybrook a solid bet to produce at the next level. He debuts at No. 82 overall and is the No. 10-ranked catcher on the state’s ‘20 board.

Donovan Cash 3B / 2B / Northgate , GA / 2020

Cash is stocked with a compact strength from the right side. He’s a Tennessee Tech commit who has given himself a chance to play the hot corner a year from now and beyond. He’s a stocky and strong 5-foot-10, but he has solid lateral range with an arm that plays, too. Cash’s pop will play even better if he’s able to stick to third base in Cookeville. He debuts at No. 85 in the latest update.

Donovan Cash (5/28/19)

Graham Yntema LHP / Parkview, GA / 2020

Yntema pitched 13 innings for a pitching staff that powered Parkview to a 7A state title, and with all his hard work this offseason, is primed to chip in more next spring. The southpaw is already committed to Lawson State CC and is built at a projectable 6-foot-3, 218 pounds. Yntema has a smooth and repeatable motion with an effective three-pitch mix. When we saw him in May, he was sitting in the low-80s, up to 84 mph, with a curveball-changeup combo that he kept at the bottom of the zone well. His arrow’s up and he debuts on the ‘20 charts at No. 95.

Jacob Harper C / Paulding County, GA / 2020

Harper catches onto the top-100 in his rankings debut at No. 97 after a summer in which we put together a couple of notable performances in front of our staff. The uncommitted Paulding County catcher is a reliable receiver with arm strength and he even offers some sneaky pop from the right-handed batter’s box. Harper has barrel feel and rhythm, which helps him elevate his live at-bats, and he’s performed well this summer in our looks.

Jacob Harper (5/28/19)

Tanner Bastings RHP / Paulding County, GA / 2020

At No. 107, Bastings’ big frame and low slot help make him a tough look for hitters. We’ve seen his fastball up to 85 mph, and his ability to hide the ball helps it play up, especially to right-handed hitters. Couple that fastball with a deceptive slider and Bastings’ natural ability to throw strikes and there’s a recipe for next-level success here, especially in a high-leverage reliever role. His formula for success makes it easy to think he has the stuff to slip through a lineup unscathed once through.