2018 PBR All-State: Second Team Selections

Grant Upton RHP / University Lab, LA / 2018

Southeastern Louisiana recruit. Currently ranked No. 12 in Louisiana's 2018 class. Athletic 6-foot-3. 200-pound frame, strong, durable build, long limbs with room to add strength. Medium, clean arm stroke into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed and normal effort. Quick, upbeat tempo to the delivery with fluid rhythm, level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletic. A proven strike thrower, he repeats his delivery extremely well, while also using a strong front side and long levers to create deception, hiding the release point well. Fastball sat 84-88 mph showing downward angle with heavy sinking action and late life to the arm side. Breaking ball showed 10/4 shape, flashing tight spin with depth, deception and sharp, late break at 79-81 mph. Also showed a changeup with fastball arm speed and fading action at 80-81 mph.

Thomas Wilhite RHP / West Ouachita, LA / 2019

Louisiana State recruit, currently ranked No. 3 in Louisiana's 2019 class, and No. 47 overall. Strong 6-foot-2, 189-pound frame, durable build with thick, powerful lower half. Medium, clean arm stroke into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, and little effort. Fluid, athletic delivery with level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletic. Fastball sits 89-92 mph, touching 94 mph with downward tilt and solid control in the zone. Presently, the change-up is his best secondary pitch, showing fastball arm speed, deception, and depth to the offering that flashes hard, late fading action at 79-83 mph. Breaking ball shows 11/5-shape, fastball arm speed, solid spin, and depth at 72-75 mph.

Drew McDaniel RHP / St. Thomas More, LA / 2019

Finished the season 7-2 with three complete games, a 1.12 ERA, allowing nine earned runs in 56.1 innings pitched, while striking out 75 hitters.

Mississippi recruit. Currently ranked No. 5 in Louisiana's 2019 class, No. 101 Overall. Lean 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame, long limbs with plenty of room to add strength. Although he is young for his graduation year, McDaniel is one of the top right-handers in Louisiana's 2019 class. Long arm action into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed and regular effort. Athletic delivery with rhythm, level shoulders, solid direction at times, but has a tendency to work across his body at times, falling to the first base side of the rubber. Pitches 87-91 mph with his fastball, creates deception to his delivery with his long limbs, making at-bats uncomfortable for hitters. Displays a solid 4-pitch mix, that includes a changeup with hard, late fading action at 78-80 mph, a curveball with depth and spin at 70-74 mph, and slider with tight spin and late break at 76-77 mph.

Alex Milazzo C / Zachary, LA / 2019

The top defensive catcher in the state, finished the year hitting .393 with .452 OBP, 11 doubles, 18 runs scored, and 29 RBI.

Louisiana State recruit. Currently ranked No. 4 in Louisiana's 2019 class, No. 86 Overall. Medium 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, athletic build. Premium, elite defender with soft hands, quick, athletic footwork, above average receiving ability and quality blocking skills. Extremely quick and clean transfers with short arm action into high-3/4 release with accuracy and plus carry on throws that produced a positional velocity of 82 mph and a pop time of 1.86-seconds. Right-handed hitter that hits from an athletic setup, smooth load, leg lift and quality lower half. Gap to gap type hitter with fluid rhythm, short path, advanced approach and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 90 mph. Also posted a 6.93 60 yard dash.

Collier Cranford SS / Zachary, LA / 2019

One of the best defenders in the state, finished the year hitting .393 with a .463 OBP, 13 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 32 runs scored, 37 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.

Currently ranked No. 12 in Louisiana's 2019 class, No. 384 Overall. Lean, athletic 6-foot, 162-pound frame, wiry build, room to add strength and size. Outstanding defender with soft hands, fluid footwork, quick, clean exchanges showing instincts and feel for infield play. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with quality arm strength and carry on throws across the infield, posting positional velocity of 88 mph. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, short stride and balance throughout the swing. Line-drive type approach with fluid rhythm, simple, direct path to the baseball with bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 86 mph. Showed quality athleticism, posting a 6.72 60-yard dash time.

Antonio Gauthier 3B / Barbe, LA / 2018

New Orleans recruit. Currently ranked No. 16 in Louisiana's 2018 class. Athletic 5-foot-8, 170-pound frame, strong build. Quick twitch athlete that runs well. Quality defender with actions, fluid footwork and feel for infield play. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with accuracy and carry on throws across the diamond. Left-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, short stride and explosive lower half. Line-drive type hitter with fluid rhythm and simple, short and level path. Top of the order type bat that consistently finds the barrel.

Peyton Lejeune 3B / Teurlings Catholic, LA / 2019

Louisiana-Lafayette recruit. Currently ranked No. 11 in Louisiana's 2019 class, No. 302 Overall. Strong, athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame. Quality defender with soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, and plays through balls athletically. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with carry and accuracy on throws that produced a positional velocity of 83 mph. Switch-hitter that hits from open, balanced, athletic setup, smooth leg lift load, short stride and excellent balance. Line-drive, gap to gap type hitter with smooth, fluid rhythm, strength at contact, level path and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 87 mph from left side and 90 mph on right side. Also posted a 7.05 60-yard dash.

Champ Artigues SS / St. Thomas Aquinas, LA / 2018

Finished the year hitting .453 with a .580 OBP, 15 doubles, 24 RBI, 42 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, and only struck out three times all season.

Louisiana Tech recruit. Currently ranked No. 19 in Louisiana's 2018 class. Medium 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame, strong and athletic build. Quality defender with soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, and plays through balls athletically. Long arm action into ¾ release with accuracy on throws and a positional velocity of 75 mph. Left-handed hitter that hits from a balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, solid lower half and balance. Line-drive type hitter with fluid rhythm, short, compact path and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 81 mph. Also posted a 6.97 60-yard dash.

Mason Turner OF / SS / Terrebonne, LA / 2018

Nicholls State recruit, currently ranked No. 9 in Louisiana's 2018 class. Lean 6-foot, 175-pound frame, athletic build with room to add strength. Right-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, leg lift, explosive lower half and solid balance. Line-drive, gap-to-gap type approach with fluid rhythm, level path and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 87 mph. Quality defender with average hands, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, and plays through balls athletically. Long arm action into high-3/4 release with accuracy, and carry on throws that produced a positional velocity of 92 mph. Also posted a 6.86 60-yard dash.

River Town OF / Zachary, LA / 2018

Finished the year hitting .410 with a .550 OBP, 13 doubles, six home runs, 31 runs scored, 31 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.

LSU-Eunice recruit. Currently ranked No. 23 in Louisiana's 2018 rankings. Strong 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, strong build, strength in wrists and forearms. Left-handed hitter that hits from tall, athletic setup, leg lift, smooth load, strong lower half, and quality balance. Line-drive, gap-to-gap type hitter with fluid rhythm, level to slightly uphill path that creates quality extension, and backspin on the baseball. Shows quality bat speed and strength at contact, posting an exit velocity of 83 mph. Quality defender with average hands, fluid footwork, and clean exchanges. Long arm action into over-the-top release with accuracy on throws, producing a positional velocity of 82 mph. Athletic runner with powerful strides, clocked at 6.82-seconds in the 60-yard dash.

Carter Quinn OF / Barbe, LA / 2019

South Alabama recruit. Currently ranked No. 8 in Louisiana's 2019 class, No. 243 Overall. Lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame, athletic build with room to add strength. Left-handed hitter that hits from balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, short stride, and outstanding balance. Line-drive, gap-to-gap type approach with fluid rhythm, simple, direct path that shows ability to create backspin, strength at contact, and bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 81 mph. Outstanding defender with soft hands, fluid footwork, shows advanced instincts and feel, as well as quick, clean transfers. Long, loose arm action into high-3/4 release with plus arm strength and accuracy on throws that produced a positional velocity of 90 mph. Fluid overall athlete, smooth, easy runner that posted a 6.93 60-yard dash.

Joey Blanchard 3B / RHP / Zachary , LA / 2018

Finished the year 6-2 with a 1.63 ERA, allowing 9 earned runs in 38 innings pitched, while striking out 40 hitters. Offensively, hit .345 with a .437 OBP, 11 doubles, eight home runs, 39 runs scored, 35 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.

New Orleans recruit. Currently ranked No. 27 in Louisiana's 2018 rankings. Strong 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, strong build, strength in wrists and forearms. Left-handed hitter that hits from tall, athletic setup, leg lift, smooth load, strong lower half, and quality balance. Line-drive, gap-to-gap type hitter with fluid rhythm, level to slightly uphill path that creates quality extension, and backspin on the baseball. Shows quality bat speed and strength at contact, posting an exit velocity of 83 mph. Quality defender with average hands, fluid footwork, and clean exchanges. Long arm action into over-the-top release with accuracy on throws, producing a positional velocity of 82 mph. Athletic runner with powerful strides, clocked at 6.82-seconds in the 60-yard dash.