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Preseason All-State: Quick Hits - Pitchers

January 27, 2022
PBR Georgia Staff



On Saturday, January 15th, the PBR Georgia staff hosted the invite-only Preseason All-State at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA, for all high school aged prospects. The event brought together over 100 of the state's top prospects, who took part in a pro-style workout in front of our evaluators.

We began our event analysis by taking a look at the top statistical performers in our Statistical Analysis.

Now, at the event’s conclusion, our scouting staff has collaborated with a few notes from the day’s standouts inside this Quick Hits piece. Below you’ll find which players' performances caught the attention of our scouts and a brief nugget on them.

Southpaws

Arguably the top arm at the event, ‘23 LHP Jake Hembree (North Paulding; Georgia commit) looked every bit of the SEC recruit that he is. Working with four pitches, Hembree has great feel for his entire arsenal. There is more fluidity in his arm stroke on the back-side, allowing him to get out front on time and work down in the zone. The fastball, already in midseason form, sat 87-89. The offspeed stuff is swing and miss. His curveball takes a 1/7 shape and sits in the low 70s with an average 2,378 spin rate. The slider differs in shape taking a tighter more lateral path and comes in at 75-78 with an average 2225 spin rate. Maybe most impressive is the changeup that falls off the table at 78-80 mph. Overall, Hembree looks poised for another big spring season.

Similar to Hembree, ‘22 LHP Dawson Coe (Loganville; Uncommitted) looked sharp throughout his bullpen. At 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, Coe has strength throughout his frame with room for more. The fastball came in at a crisp 86-88 with a 2360 spin rate on a cool, windy afternoon. Coe’s ability to spin it specifically stood out on this day. He showed a tight sweeping slider at 74-76 and a 1/7 curveball with depth at 74-75. Both pitches have swing and miss qualities too. The lefty also has a fading changeup in his back pocket if he needed even more.


‘25 LHP Porter Berryman (Parkview; Uncommitted) continues to impress with his ability to spin his sharp 12/6 breaking ball, and the spin keeps increasing. Back in the fall of 2020, Berryman was spinning his curveball at a max of 2252 rpm. This time around he was up to 2713 rpm with it. While the fastball velocity came in at 80-81, Berryman is a young arm who still has years of physical development ahead.



Right-Handers

Big bodied, 6-foot-4, 220-pound ‘22 RHP Connor VanSumeren (Tift County; West Georgia commit) worked 83-86, touching 87 with a 2318 spin rate. Given his size and physicality, it is easy to assume that VanSumeren has a lot more in the tank, and we have seen him up to 90 in the past. The right-hander works with a four pitch arsenal. His curveball looked to be the best of the bunch with sharp 12/6 action.

‘22 RHP Quin McManmon (Jones County; Georgia State commit) entered Preseason All-State as an uncommitted prospect. A week later, McManmon announced his commitment to Georgia State. At 6-foot-5, 205-pounds, the right-handed is ultra-projectable. His arm works short and quick, allowing for him to get out front routinely. He showcased a fastball in the low 80s with 19.9 average IVB, has been up to 86 in the past. McManmon mixes in a tight cutter, a fading changeup and an 11/5 curveball.

One of the top performers at LakePoint in the summer of 2021, ‘23 RHP Davis Budd (North Paulding; Uncommitted) continues to steadily trend upwards. At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds there is physicality throughout his frame. Budd has feel for a four pitch arsenal, throwing all for strikes and doing a good job tunneling. The fastball sat 85-87, but there is plenty more in the tank. His curveball showed two plane break, and looked to be the favorite of the three offspeed.


One of the more projectable arms in attendance, ‘23 RHP Sims DeLong (North Atlanta; Uncommitted) is an athletic 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. DeLong impressed with his feel for his lively mid 80s fastball that featured an average of 15.8 IVB. The right-hander was able to throw to both sides of the plate. He complimented it with a big sweeping slider and a fading changeup.


Two-Way Arms

From a physical standpoint, ‘24 SS/RHP Ryan Johnson (Cartersville; Uncommitted) featured possibly the highest upside out of any prospect in attendance. Standing a long, lean 6-foot-4, Johnson has not even begun to scratch the surface of his physicality. Johnson has a long, loose arm action and quick arm speed, getting out front. His fastball came in at 84-86 and led the event for 2024s. He backs it up with a change of pace curveball at 65-70 that has depth and a changeup with late life.
‘25 RHP/3B Sinjon Lash (East Coweta, 2025) physically stands out at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, with a strong frame and broad shoulders. While still somewhat raw on that mound, Lash is equipped with a big arm, topping out at 83.

Better known as one of the top defensive catchers in the country, it should come as no surprise that ‘24 C/RHP Ariston Veasey’s (Starr’s Mill; Georgia commit) big arm translates onto the mound. Veasey ran his fastball up to 89. He also showed the ability to spin his slider up to 2450 rpm.

An arm made to get outs, ‘23 SS/RHP Payton Doyle (North Paulding; Uncommitted) attacks the zone from multiple angles. Most impressively is his command from a submarine slot. Doyle can work his fastball up to 85 from down under, and throws a frisbee like slider. When the slot rises, Doyle worked up to 86 and threw the same slider. Throw in his sinking changeup, and Doyle will give fits to any hitter.

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