Preseason All-State: Quick Hits

Power Arms

+ Despite the temperatures, a real feel of around 30 degrees, Auburn commit RHP DJ Radtke (Blessed Trinity, 2021) looked like he was in midseason form. He sat 89-90 with his fastball, peak spin rate of 2307 rpm. He has a legit sinker that came in at 87-90 and showed some power action. Radtke’s go-to offspeed pitch is his slider, which has sharp downer action. The pitch is a swing and miss offering as it dives into the zone at 77-78. He also has a changeup at 80-81. Given the temperatures and the projectable 6-foot-4, 200-pound build of Radtke, opposing batters could be looking at some high velo this spring.

+ Georgia State commit RHP Jeremiah Newman (Mays, 2021) came out and showed a short, explosive arm action, working out of a high ¾ slot. Newman has a four pitch arsenal. His fastball sat 86-89. He throws his curveball aggressively. The pitch takes an 11/5 shape and has some bite with a spin rate of 2339 rpm. Newman also has a cutter that works 84-87 and a fading changeup at 77-81.

+ The top uncommitted arm at the event, RHP Nathan Dvorsky (Lambert, 2022) looked just as good as he did in the fall, when we saw him touching 90 on the mound. Over the past 12 months, Dvorsky has added a significant amount of strength to his frame, and has seen his fastball jump from 81 to 90. He did not have that same type of velocity on Saturday, but he did touch 88 with a 2365 spin rate. He has a big 12/6 curveball at 73-75, that he can spin up to 2470 rpm.

+ Georgia State commit LHP Tristan Nguyen (Johnson, 2022) continues to add strength to his 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame. He showed improved control on the mound of his three pitches, throwing them for strikes. The fast sat 82-83, but it has been up to 87 before. He had great feel for his curveball, which takes a 12/6 shape and is a legitimate swing and miss pitch. He also has a changeup in his back pocket at 75-77.

+ Uncommitted RHP Parker Mirick (Brookwood School) and RHP Anthonie Rodriguez (Marietta) were the top two 2021 arms that are still on the market in attendance. Mirick was up to 87 two months ago at the Fall Upperclass Games. He did not have the same type of velocity on Saturday, sitting 83-84. He did, however, have that same wipeout curveball, spinning it at 2500+ rpm and an improved changeup that showed heafy fade. Rodriguez has a quick, lively arm action. We saw him up to 88 this summer. On Saturday, Rporiguez was up to 84. He showed improved feel for his slider and changeup.

Athletic Outfielders

The two fastest prospects in attendance were the two guys we said in the event preview would be setting the track on fire: OF John Long (Glynn Academy, 2022) & Jacksonville State commit OF Will Fincher (Kennesaw Mountain, 2022). Long ran a 6.70, while Finder ran a 6.74. Conditions were obviously a factor, as both prospects have run faster in the past. Long went on to throw 90 from the outfield and record an exit velocity of 94 during batting practice. He has a gap-to-gap type swing. Fincher came to the workout still in basketball season. He is one of the most physical athletes in the state, standing 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. Offensively, he flicks the barrel through the zone with a gap-to-gap approach.

+ OF Nick Walker (Dutchtown, 2022) and OF/SS Harper McLendon (Brookwood School, 2021) are both lean, muscular athletes. Walker has run a 6.7 in the past and is mid to upper 80s from the outfield. At the plate, he has a long swing and whippy hands. He looks to lift and drive the ball with force to te pull-side. McLendon, was a 6.8 runner two months ago. He has the arm strength and athleticism to handle center field or shortstop at the next level, throwing 89 from the outfield and 88 across the infield. He has wiry strength that can generate 90+ mph exit velocities.

+ OF Connor Haynes (Dunwoody, 2022) showed an easy effort swing as he drove balls into the left-center gap. His swing works long and smooth through the zone. A 7.20 runner in the 60, he covers ground well in the outfield and has a strong enough arm, throwing 84.

+ A member of Team Georgia at the 2020 PBR Future Games, Georgia State commit OF/RHP Kameron Douglas (Woodstock, 2022) had a solid all around day. He ran a 7.30 in cold conditions, a number that he can easily improve on. During batting practice, he hit 69.2% of the pitches 90 mph or harder off the bat. In the outfield, Douglas’s throws carried at 86 mph. Look for him to continue to make jumps across the board as he continues to fill out his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame.

Big Bats

+ The most projectable frame in attendance, 1B/OF Grey Brannen (Westfield, 2022) stands a lean, athletic 6-foot-6, 215-pounds. A right-handed hitter, he creates hard line drive contact to all fields with a mostly level swing. The ball jumps off the bat. With added loft to his swing, the ball will fly out of the park.

+ Raford commit C Scott Mudler (Chattahoochee, 2021) looks to have filled out his 6-foot-1 ,195-pound frame quite a bit, resulting in noticeably more power at thep plate. He used his long swing to elevate pitches pull-side with force, posting a max exit velocity of 94.67. Defensively, he was as good as ever. He has a quick catch and throw action, recording an event best 1.92-2.00 pop times.

+ 3B Jabari Daniely (Parkview, 2022) has a strong, physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He has huge power potential at the plate, given the size of his frame and its ability to carry strength. Daniely has a gap-to-gap type swing, driving balls. He did flash juice to the pull-side too.

Twitchy Middles

+ SS Omari Daniel (The Walker School, 2022) had one of the more impressive all around performances on the day. He consistently drove pitches with force, 90.48 average exit velocity, middle/pull with quick hand speed, 27.40 via Blast, and bat speed, 78.40 via Blast. The swing works long and loose through the zone. When he gets his hands extended he showed easy pop to the pull-side. Defensively, he showed off quick feet and good range to both sides. He has plenty of arm strength, posting 89 across the infield.

+ SS/OF Christian Jackson (Dutchtown, 2022) is athletic enough where can handle shortstop or center field if he wanted to. There is little question he has enough arm strength, throwing 83 across the infield and 86 from the outfield. At the plate, his swing works short through the zone, creating hard gap-to-gap contact.

+ We have had the chance to see SS/2B Luke Starling (Hebron Christian, 2022) a number of times over the past 12 months and this past Saturday he looked his best. He did not run his fastest 60 time or post his top exit velocities, but he was consistent offensively. He repeated his swing with aggressive intent and sent pitches lining from center to left field, gaining extension each time.

+ SS/2B Joseph Glozier (McIntosh, 2022) showed us another dimension to his left-handed swing. The last time we saw him, at the Fall Upperclass Games, he hammered right field with line drives. This time out, he mostly used the middle of the field to send line drives. Occasionally, he would turn on a pitch with his quick hands. 

2024

+ The lone 2024 in attendance, Oklahoma commit SS/OF Bryce Clavon (Dutchtown) showed why he is one of the top prospects in the country. He is an elite athlete, has a strong lower half and quick twitch muscle throughout his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. At the plate, Clavon has advanced feel for the barrel. He understands how to work pitches to the opposite field, His groove is gap-to-gap through. He drives pitches with quick, athletic hands. Defensively, Clavon can easily play shortstop or outfield. He has fluid footwork, a soft glove and plenty of arm strength, 86 across infield, 89 from outfield. He is going to be a name to closely watch for the next four years.

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