Maryland Preseason All-State Session I: Rapid Reaction

JB Berry RHP / South Carroll, MD / 2020

The 6’2’’, 215 pound 2020 RHP from South Carroll threw a nice bullpen at this year’s Preseason All-State. Berry showed a controlled side-step wind-up and delivery with sound arm actions and strong lower half drive. His fastball sat 82-84 mph and touched 85 on a couple occasions. Change-up sat 75-77 with some drop and breaking ball showed both tight 11/5 and 12/6 action at times at 73-75 mph. Looks like there is more velocity in his strong frame and will be an interesting righty to watch this spring in Carroll County.

Tyler Blittersdorf C / OF / John Carroll, MD / 2019

The 2019 Harford CC commit doesn't get cheated at the plate. Blittersdorf recorded a 91 mph exit velocity and showed massive strength and pull side power during his BP. The 5’10’’, 195 pound John Carroll C/OF showed controlled movements at the plate and a newer more uphill swing path from the left side. He also recorded and event best 82 mph positional velocity from behind the dish with pop times ranging 1.95 - 2.08.

Jack Bussard LHP / 1B / McDonogh, MD / 2022

The projectable 6’2’’, 165 pound 2022 LHP from McDonogh threw another impressive bullpen after jumping onto the scene most recently at our Freshman Free Showcase in late January. Bussard has a controlled wind-up and delivery with sound arm action and showed great command of all his pitches. With a strong down to out lower half drive, Bussard gets over his front side well and throws with long arm action and easy effort from a high three-quarter slot. Fastball sat 72-75 mph, touched 76 mph and he also threw a 2-seamer with nice arm side run. Slider showed tighter 1/7 break at 65-66 mph while his breaking ball had bigger more 12/6 shape at 60-61 mph. Change-up sat 5-68 mph with slight drop. 

Maverick Durant 3B / SS / Damascus, MD / 2021

Durant jumped onto the scene at this year’s Preseason All-State ripping balls left and right during BP. The 5,10’’, 175 pound Damascus infielder showed some strength at the plate and fast bat speed. Durant uses a high leg kick load and creates nice hand separation, attacking the baseball with intent. He gets the bat on plane early and recorded a 91 mph exit velocity. 

Wyatt Griffith RHP / 3B / Glen Burnie, MD / 2021

Griffith is a RHP/3B from Glen Burnie who made really a name for himself at this year’s Preseason All-State. The highly projectable 6’3’’, 170 pound, long, lanky 2021 was up to 83 mph on the bump and sat 81-82 mph. He pounded the zone with a three pitch mix and showed a controlled wind-up and delivery. Griffith throws with shorter arm action and easy effort. His breaking ball showed tight, sharp 11/5 break at 63-68 mph and change-up had slight fade at 65-68 mph. At the plate, Griffith stays behind the ball well and showed a short, compact, gap-to-gap line drive type swing from the left side with a slightly uphill path and some pop.

Tyler Hargus C / 1B / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2020

Hargus recorded a 75 mph positional velocity and pop times ranging 2.00 - 2.07. He is quiet and comfortable behind the plate, sticks pitches very well and showed quick, clean exchanges on throws to second base.  The uncommitted 2020 C from Archbishop Spalding showed lots of pop at the plate hitting from a balanced, slightly open stance with a smooth back load and medium sized leg kick. Hargus attacks the baseball with intent and showed quick bat speed and strong lower half involvement in his swing recording a 94 mph exit velocity. 

Thomas Joseph OF / 1B / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2021

The 6’3’’, 200 pound 2021 OF/1B out of Archbishop Spalding showed present strength and power at the plate. He’s worked really hard over the course of the past couple months since we saw him last, freeing up his lower half and it showed in a big way with several very impressive rounds of BP. Joseph has more fluidity in his swing now and recorded a 93 mph exit velocity at the event. His ceiling continues to grow with his strong work ethic and physical frame. 

Mason Levin RHP / Walt Whitman, MD / 2020

Zach Martin OF / RHP / Middletown, MD / 2021

Our number four ranked player in the class of 2021 and University of Maryland commit Zach Martin was flat-out impressive in his first appearance in 2019. Martin recorded and event high 98 mph exit velocity and annihilated just about every ball he swung at during BP. The 6’0’’, 165 pound Middletown OF/RHP showed explosive lower half movements, fast bat speed and big time pop at the plate. Martin also threw 88 mph from the outfield with clean actions and was up to 83 mph off the bump. 

Ethan McCormick SS / RHP / Archbishop Spalding , MD / 2020

The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Futures Game member and Liberty University commit also had an all-around solid outing at this year’s Preseason All-State event. McCormick was smooth in the infield recording an event best 83 mph infield positional velocity. At the plate, he gathers himself nicely with a smooth back load and small leg lift. He attacks the ball with a compact slightly uphill swing path, fast bat speed, and strong lower half involvement. On the mound, McCormick sat 81-83 mph and touched 84 with a smooth wind-up and delivery. He pounded the zone and featured a 70-71 mph breaking ball with tight spin and sharp 11/5 break and a 69-70 mph change-up.

Sam Merchant C / Arundel, MD / 2020

Merchant is as solid as they come behind the dish. The 2020 catcher from Arundel recorded a 74 mph positional velocity and event best 1.90 - 2.02 pop times. Defensively, Merchant has quick footwork and clean exchanges on throws to second base while showing the ability to stick pitches quietly behind the plate. Offensively, Merchant showed a loose, level swing path, quick hands and quick bat speed. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter who squared up a bunch of balls in BP.

Jaden Shea 2B / OF / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2020

Shea continued to show his development at this year Preseason All-State event recording a new personal best exit velocity (81 mph) and positional velocity (74 mph). We really liked his swing and approach at the plate. Quiet body and short, quick, compact swing with a slightly uphill path. Uses his lower half very well and showed excellent balance throughout his swing. He showed the ability to consistently barrel up balls during every round of BP and moves well in the infield with quick footwork, smooth actions, and soft hands. 

Nate Vermillion RHP / 3B / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2020

The 6’2’’, 220 RHP/3B from Archbishop Spalding raked in his BP rounds. Small leg kick load and nice hand separation; Vermillion showed a controlled swing and massive present strength and power in the bat. He recorded a 87 mph exit velocity with some quick hands and bat speed. 

Mitchell Wittkamp SS / RHP / North Harford, MD / 2021

Projectable 6’2’’, 145 pound, long, lanky frame with room to fill out. Witkamp showed quick bat speed and explosive lower half involvement in his swing. The 2021 SS/RHP consistently barreled balls during BP and showed pop to the gaps throughout. On the mound, Wittkamp touched 80 mph with long, loose arm actions and creates some serious arm speed through release. He gets over front side very well and showed good command of three pitches also featuring a breaking ball with tight 12/6 action at 65-68 mph and 69-70 mph change-up to go along with the fastball.