Season Review: Houston County
May 12, 2020
Kyle Colletta
PBR Georgia
Our goal at Prep Baseball Report is to promote high school players, and give them the exposure they need to be able to play at the next level. With the 2020 high school season cancelled, we want to continue to be able to promote players, even when baseball is not being played. We have sent surveys out to coaches around the state and got their input on the first weeks of the season. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight the season and standout players, team by team.
Houston County Bears
Season Record: 6-6
Despite the 6-6 record, the Bears had talent all over the field and battled through a tough early schedule. They return a plethora of young talent, from top-to-bottom, including some proven ‘21s that will look to carry the torch for Coach Hopkins next season.
Coach Notes: Had 4 seniors for the 2020 season. Had started to see a lot of positives from our younger 2022 (Gage Harrelson) and 2023 (Andrew Dunford and Drew Burress) when the shut down hit. Jaden Woods and Jacob Profit were having career seasons and felt like they were about to carry us to a special run. Hate it for the seniors, but excited to see what this group does with another year of growth.
2020 Standouts:
Jaden Woods, LHP/OF, Houston County, 2020
Georgia recruit
Season Stats: .333 AVG, .500 OBP, 3-1 record, 18.0 IP, 39 K, 1.14 ERA
2/14/20 - Georgia recruit. Wiry, athletic frame. Fastball was 85-89 with carry through the zone, garner swings and misses. Curveball had loose, 2/8 break in the mid 70s. #20 in the 2020 class.
Jacob Profit, MIF, Houston County, 2020
Reinhardt recruit
Season Stats: .469 AVG, .578 OBP, 9 SB
9/18/19 - Profit is an undersized second baseman who knows how to win. He is never going to be a big power guy, and his arm limits him to the right side of the infield, but Profit knows how to put his speed to work for him and plays the small game very well. There is a limited ceiling when it comes to rankings, but his pure ability to get to his impact tool has given him an uptick as an impact player at HoCo and beyond.
2021 Standouts:
Brodie Chestnutt, RHP, Houston County, 2021
Florida State commit
Season Stats: 2-1 record, 21.0 IP, 26 K, 7 BB, 0.66 ERA
2/14/20 - 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-handed pitcher, big, strong frame, physically advanced in all areas. Arm works long, showing low on the back-side, accelerates quickly a low ¾ slot, easy effort throughout delivery. Fastball sat 87-90, came in heavy with armside run. Slider, tight spinning, late break, 75-77. Pitched to contact more times than not, did not have many pitches get barreled up.
Trent Ringer, RHP, Houston County, 2021
Uncommitted
Season Stats: 1-0 record, 9.2 IP, 11 K, 2 BB, 1.13 ERA
EJ Lewis, OF, Houston County, 2021
Uncommitted
Season Stats: .313 AVG, .361 OBP
1/11/20 - 5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, quick twitch athlete, lean frame, ran a 7.03 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced, short hand load back with barrel on his shoulder, knee knock stride, balanced at contact. Lets his hands do the work, swing is short to the zone on a level plane creating line drive contact, 81 exit velocity. Defensively, arm plays short, over-the-top, accurate on his throws, 77 from the outfield. Athleticism plays well in the outfield, ranges with quick, easy strides, hands play softly, clean on transfers
Coleman Willis, RHP, Houston County, 2021
Georgia commit
Season Stats: 14 IP, 17 K, 2.50 ERA
2/14/20 - Long lanky right handed arm with good life on the fastball. He has been up to 91 in the past, but topped out at 89 on the cold Saturday night in the Georgia Dugout Club tournament. The arm can be long at times, but the delivery is overall repeatable. He really reaches back, and hides the ball with his arm action. When he was successful in the summer his fastball had some movement on it. It was playing fairly flat on Saturday night. He faced a strong line-up, but was still able to take care of some good hitters. The slider was still working for him. He had a few strikeouts with it. With his frame and repeatable mechanics there is more in the tank for the future Bulldog.
Underclass Standouts:
Gage Harrelson, OF, Houston County, 2022
Uncommitted
2/14/20 - 6-foot-2, 165-pound left-handed outfielder, lanky athletic frame, broad shoulders, will fill out with strength as he continues to physically mature. Hit out off the leadoff spot for a loaded Houston County. Uses the entire field with a line drive approach, loose hands at the plate, Swing will play with more power as he adds strength.
Andrew Dunford, CIF/RHP, Houston County, 2023
Uncommitted
2/14/20 - 6-foot-6, 195-pound right-handed hitting corner infielder, extra large frame, strength throughout, going to be a physically imposing and a powerful force. Keeps it simple and fundamental pre-pitch, balanced setup, short load back coupled with a short stride. Barrel works mostly level through the zone, creating hard line drive contact. As he matures, and gets a better feel for the barrel with added loft, will elevate and drive the ball.
Drew Burress, OF/INF, Houston County, 2023
Uncommitted
2/14/20 - One of the top hitters in the 2023 class, had a big first game at the tournament. 5-foot-8, 175-pound right-handed hitting third baseman and outfielder, strong, athletic build. Has confidence in the box beyond his age, open setup, hands start high dropping and extending back on load, strides to a balanced position. Has power to all fields, whips the barrel through contact, strong wrists/hands allow for him to easily drive the ball. Has an advanced feel and foundation for hitting, has a high ceiling and will only get better and better with time. In his first two at-bats of the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament, roped a two-strike line drive double to right field. Followed that up by turning on one for a solo HR over the left field fence, 96 exit velocity.
Related Content
