The Director's List: Prep Baseball Cup

September 26, 2024
Hudson Graham and Ian Smith
Prep Baseball Georgia

The Prep Baseball Cup is always circled on the calendar as one of the top events of the fall, this year was no different. The allotment of quality talent from across the country was evident, as well as an impressive overall showing from the state of Georgia.

In this edition of the Director’s List, State Director Hudson Graham and Assistant Director Ian Smith breakdown some of the best performances of the week as well as list some additional standouts including some high-level uncommitted 2025 and 2026 players.

Plus for even more coverage from the Prep Baseball Cup, you can find a loaded scout blog here, with new write-ups on 15+ players.

Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA)

Biggest Winner: SS Jack Dugan (Rawlings MadMavs SE)

Favorite Hitter: SS Colton Schwarz (Florida Burn 2025)

Favorite Pitcher: RHP Griffin Long (643 DP Athletics)

Sleeper Favorite: OF/1B Michael Holt (Rawlings MadMavs SE)

Jack Dugan, SS, 2026, Lipscomb Academy (TN)

From the first at-bat of the weekend, it was easy to see why Dugan is one of the top five players in Tennessee’s 2026 class. Long and lean at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, the Tennessee commit exudes real confidence in the box with an advanced approach and quality pitch recognition. Starting from a high handset pre-pitch, Dugan gets into hitting position quickly while creating good separation and showing ability to match plane throughout the zone. Feel for the barrel is obvious with plus bat speed in a compact left-handed cut that allows the shortstop to generate hard-hit contact regularly. Seven balls in play at 95+ on the week. There’s a lot of signs to point to a highest-level hit tool ceiling for Dugan. While not tasked with too many tough defensive plays throughout the week, the lateral actions stood out with the ability to cover ground in all directions with ease. The arm strength plays from multiple angles while making throws from the hole without selling out. This is also a 6.6 runner who plays even faster in-game, and it's hard to not see shades of a five-tool profile here.

Colton Schwarz, SS, 2025, Jupiter (FL)

Heavy barrels all weekend long from the Florida commit. With a physical 6-foot-0, 190-pound frame, Schwarz shows an innate ability to generate force from the ground up with great use of his lower half. A simple setup at the plate, Schwarz utilizes a slight bat wiggle with a quick-twitch toe tap that allows the shortstop to stay on-time against both velocity and spin consistently. Showed ability to create leverage in the barrel, especially to the pull-side where he unloaded a no-doubt home run to left field. Drove multiple balls into the gaps as well, with even mishits turning into 90+ exit velocities. It was an intriguing hit/power combo that has been shining throughout the fall so far. Schwarz shows actions to stick on the left-side of the infield with ability to bend and soft hands while backing it with easy arm strength across the diamond. The Jupiter high school product has a big arrow up heading into a huge senior spring and potential MLB draft interest next summer.

Griffin Long, RHP, 2026, Sonoraville

From being a Team Select member at 2024 Future Games to a recent Kennesaw State commitment, the positives for Griffin Long were everywhere heading into the fall and proceeded to have one of the most impressive outings of his year at #PBC24. Showing a bulldog demeanor, Long attacked with intent and uber-confidence throughout the outing while repeating an athletic delivery with ease. With a high-waisted 6-foot-3 frame and high three-quarters slot, Long creates some deception while working downhill with present arm speed showing. Ran the fastball up to 90, while living 87-89 with heavy sink and arm-side run and above-average command to paint the outer half to RHH. Changeup shows ability to be a plus offering for Long down the road. Working 78-80 with parachute-like tumble that creates depth to miss bats at will and advanced ability to tunnel off the fastball. What really stood out was aptitude to throw right-on-right with Long landing for both strikes and in-zones misses to nearly every RHH in the lineup. Slider continues to make strides working in the mid-to-high 70s with some late horizontal break and feel to spin (RPM 2500+). Created some swing-and-miss with the offering and flashed some confidence to throw when behind in the count. It was the type of outing that points to an even higher ceiling for Long that we haven't seen before.

Michael Holt, OF/1B, 2026, Ravenwood (TN)

It’s almost hard to even call Holt a sleeper after how impressive the uncommitted outfielder was this past week. Compact, yet extremely physical at 5-foot-10, 185-pounds, the left-handed bat showed the best bat-to-ball skills of the week with real impact in the barrel. Showing a quiet setup, Holt shows above-average pitch recognition and an excellent ability to stay balanced in a short stride to contact. Linear bat path generates hard-hit line drives to both gaps with ease, and flashes the strength to turn on balls to the pull-side with some carry. Ended up finishing the week going 8-for-13 with five walks out of the leadoff spot, and was seemingly on-base every time you looked up. A 7.0 runner at this year’s Future Games for Team Tennessee but plays much faster in-game with ability to cover ground well in the outfield and an impressive 11.52 home-to-third on a triple. There’s real positional flexibility with Holt, showing the ability to play all three outfield spots with a more-than-average glove as well as plus defense at first base. This is the type of gamer profile that can help a college program at the highest-level.

Smitty’s Standouts

Vernon Woodard, C, 2026, Grayson

Nolan Bernard, RHP, 2025, McCallie School (TN)

KJ Hart, RHP, 2025, River Ridge

Evan Brand, SS/RHP, 2027, Kell

Rocco Bucci, LHP/OF, 2027, Olentangy (OH)

Carson Adomnik, RHP, 2026, South Paulding

Diego Becerra, LHP, 2026, Sequoyah

Michael Fredette, RHP, 2025, Mount Paran Christian

Jack Johnson, RHP/OF, 2027, Harrison

Austin Tamborra, OF, 2027, North Cobb Christian

Hudson Graham (@Hudson_PBR)

Biggest Winner: Joseph Mittiga, RHP, 2026, East Cobb Academy

Favorite Hitter: Ethan Wheeler, 3B, 2027, Habersham Central

Favorite Pitcher: Bryce Fontenot, RHP, 2027, Cherokee Bluff

Sleeper Favorite: Carson Reeves, OF/RHP, 2027, Buford

Joseph Mittiga, RHP, 2026, East Cobb Academy
Uncommitted. 6-foot 160-pounds. Mittiga was circled before the event started to be sure we got eyes on. He continues to trend upward, and we haven’t had multiple looks at him on the mound. He throws it from an intriguing high ¾ slot, and does a great job of manipulating fastball pitch shape and velocity. He touched 88 multiple times, which I believe is a personal best for him. Talking to his catchers he has an arsenal of pitches that he throws at hitters. He does a good job of distinguishing shape on each of them. The fastball was 85-87, and mixed in a slider in the mid 70’s. He creates good action with a changeup that he will throw to right handed hitters and left handed hitters. He flashed a cutter like pitch that played really well off the fastball. Above everything he competes in the zone, and forces week contact consistently.

Bryce Fontenot, RHP, 2027, Cherokee Bluff
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2 220-pounds. Fontenot proved to be a name to know over the summer both at the plate and on the mound. This was my 1st long look at Fontenot and he really impressed. He came in during a close game to try to shut the door. He battled command a little but, but managed to settle in and over power hitters with his fastball. He was 84-86 topping out at 87. He is going to be a power arm that has a ton of untapped velo left in the tank. He flashed a curveball and change up that will continue to develop with time. The fastball is high spin, and has a ton of late life through the zone that really sneaks up on hitters. He will be a steady bat at the plate with present power. Fontenot is going to be an intriguing 2 way prospect to follow into the spring with tons of upside.

Carson Reeves, OF/RHP, 2027, Buford
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11 160-pounds. Reeves has been a player that caught my eye at one of our most talented events to date over the summer, the Top Prospect Games (Underclass). He was one of the younger players there, and showed well against some of the top 2026’s and 2027’s in the state. He has added obvious strength and size, and showed off the added power at the plate with 2 loud barrels to left center and right center. He is athletic and moves really well in center field. He came in to try to close the game on the mound, and despite not the complete result he wanted, the velocity was up over 5mph. He was up to 81 in June, and ran the fastball up to 86. He was sitting 83-85, but was just missing up. He is going to be one to see at Buford this spring, and will look to have an impact on varsity.

Santos Wade, SS, 2026, Providence Christian
South Florida commit. 6-foot 185-pounds. Wade has been on tear this summer, and had a breakout year that led to his commitment to South Florida a couple of weeks ago. The athleticism stands out both in the field and at the plate. He hit a couple home runs late in the summer that really opened up eyes to his power at the plate. He plays with a ton of energy and has the actions and energy to be an everyday guy at SS. At the plate he has a smooth leg kick load that keeps him on time with easy timing and rhythm. He has a great hit tool, and is a really tough out that does not strike out often. Wade is a perfect fit for South Florida, and will be a player to keep an eye on for years to come.