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16U National Championship: Scout Blog

June 30, 2023
PBR Georgia
Staff

Emerson, GA: The 16U National Championship is always one of the more anticipated events of the year at LakePoint. Teams from coast to coast descend on LakePoint in efforts to claim the title. The 16u year is always exciting, because there are high level committed players, and loads of uncommited talent that has yet to be discovered. Our scouting staff was in attedance all week, and have added a ton of notes and videos on players that you are not going to want to miss. 

Nathan Nance, SS/OF, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. Very athletic, energetic player with lockdown defense, impressive base running, and a quality bat. Athletic, medium build with proportional strength. At the plate, he has a minimal negative move with present bat speed and stays linear through the zone, finds barrels and displays that in his first National Championship game with a double (95 EV) and a triple to deep center. Quick, short swing with good fluidity and delivers barrels to all fields. He has above average speed with a 6.88 60 time and is a smart, aggressive baserunner. Impressive defender with smooth, athletic movement. Can play just about anywhere. Has been putting a show in Georgia this June and will continue to display his skills and abilities.

 

Brady Saxton, OF/LHP, 2025 (MS)
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 178 pounds. Saxton is ranked 5th in Mississippi’s 2025 class and 26th overall. Stocky, athletic frame with a strong lower-half. LHH that showed well in the 16U National Championship. Slightly open stance that has a small leg-kick in order to start the load. Saxton has a smooth, fluid load while keeping his hands back on his forward move. Shoulders and hips work on the same plane to generate power as the bat moves through the zone. Quick hands allow him to catch up to the fastball and stay back on the breaking ball. Saxton does well to hit the ball to all parts of the field. He also shows off his athleticism while tracking down balls in the outfield. Saxton will be a fun one to watch from the 2025 class.  

Jack Griffith, RHP, 2024 (MI)
Butler Commit. 6-foot-6, 215 pound right handed pitcher. Tall, athletic frame with long limbs. Griffith is ranked 10th in Michigan’s 2024 class and solidified this with a solid performance at the 16U National Championship. Athletic, smooth arm-action, low ¾ arm slot, long and loose. Large frame will likely lead to durability in long outings. Consistently threw well-located strikes that hitters were unable to catch up to. Heavy FB sat 88-90, topping out at 92. Slider was 80-83 with hard biting action. Changeup sat 83 and was effective off of the hard fastball. Griffith was dominant in his outings while recording an 8-inning CG, with 11 K’s. 

Ethan Garrett, RHP, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 160 pound right handed pitcher, lean, wiry-strong with plenty of room for continued physical development. Garrett is one of the top uncommitted pitchers coming out of the 2025 class. He solidified this with a solid performance in the 16U National Championship. Clean, athletic, smooth arm-action, ¾ slot, long and loose. Smooth delivery that explodes downhill. FB sat 85-87, topping out at 88 with some late arm-side run. Garrett caught hitters looking with this late run. Changeup was 82-84, located well down in the zone. Forced lots of whiffs coming off the fastball. Slider sat 68-75 with 2-plane break. Garrett will be a fun pitcher to watch as he continues to develop. 

Lincoln Causero, RHP, 2025 (IL)
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. Skinny, lean, projectable frame with a strong lower half. Causero is the 14th ranked pitcher in the state of Illinois and 64th overall player in the state. Causero had a dominant start at the 16U National Championship. He has a two-pitch mix. His FB sat 85-87 (T88) with life through the zone as it produced some rise to it and got onto hitters in a hurry. While his SL sat at 73-74 (T75) with short, aggressive bite as he mostly used it against RHYE's and worked it toward his glove side. His SL is one of if not the best pitch in his arsenal as it was the cause of many swing and misses. Causero has a clean, quick arm action with his 3⁄4 arm slot release. Causero worked those two pitches in any count and had all the confidence in the world as soon as he was on the mound. He has a very repeatable operation with aggressive intent as soon as his front foot strikes the mound. Very impressive young arm with room for continued growth & development as his frame fills out. Causero will be a fun player to watch throughout the summer. 

Brady Martin, RHP, 2025 (FL)
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 180 pound right handed pitcher. Stocky, strong, compact frame. Martin is ranked as the 15th best pitcher in Florida’s ‘25 class and the 78th overall player in that ‘25 class. Martin had a very efficient start against the Ohio Hitmen. He went 4 strong innings, gave up only 3 hits, and struck out 4. He has an above-average two-pitch mix that consists of a FB that sat 84-86 (T87) and a CB that sat 69-71 with 12-6 actions. He has a H3/4 arm slot release with deep arm action. The CB was the best pitch in his arsenal due to how many strikes, grounders, and pop-ups he got on that one pitch alone. He also heavily relied on it as it was always around or in the zone. His FB was used occasionally as he primarily used it to set up his CB while also trying to keep the hitters guessing. Martin has a very smooth, repeatable operation and moves down the mound really well. Even though the hitters knew that the CB was coming they still couldn't get consistent, hard contact on it. Therefore, his 4 strong innings were very effective and ultimately helped seal the win for the Aces. Martin is a player that will only continue to get better as he adds more muscle to his frame. Good player to follow throughout the summer! 

Frank Wells, 2B, 2025 (AL)
Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. Compact, well-proportioned athlete with strength throughout. His hips start his load, minimal sink before hip hinge. Shoulders, hips, and bats all start to work in a positive stride on the same rotational plane. The knob leads his bat path all the way throughout contact with the ball. Wells has a smooth, well-connected, swing as he maintains great balance throughout extension. Wells does a great job of making hard contact with the ball as his front foot lands and his barrel meets the ball in front of the plate and at his front foot. Another great intangible that Wells possesses is the ability to recognize balls and remain patient before barreling the pitch he likes the other way. His gap-to-gap approach was noticed throughout the 16U national championship tournament as he got on base at a high rate and was able to also drive in quite a few base runners while keeping it simple and trying not to do too much. Defensively, Wells' range is above-average due to his smooth strides and quick transitions to make multiple DP’s. Lastly, Wells is a smooth base runner with his (6.90 60 time). Overall, Wells is a really good baseball player that should only get better as he has two more years to develop his craft. Keep an eye on this one throughout the summer!


Wyatt Pennington, RHP/OF, 2025 (IN)
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 175-pounds. Pennington was extremely impressive on the mound. He threw strikes and pounded the zone while showcasing some velocity as well. Pennington was an extremely fun arm to watch as he showed two different arm slots. He showed an over the top arm slot and a low 3/4 slot. Pennington used his legs well and got down the mound with good extension. Fastball from over the top was 87-89 and 85-86 from the low 3/4 slot. His slider had good movement horizontally and solid depth to it as well. Pennington will be a fun prospect to follow in the coming years. Tools are there to be an extremely impressive arm.

Cruz Paul, UTILITY/RHP,  2025
Uncommitted, 6-foot 1, 190-pounds. Paul is a player who can do it all. He is a solid defender in the infield and the outfield, can swing the stick, has solid speed, and he can get on the mound and pitch. Paul is a two sport athlete playing QB. He is a competitor on the mound and in the box. On the mound, he got his team out of a jam. Fastball sat 84-87, slider was 77-78, and his curveball was 72. At the plate Paul showcases good timing with his hands, and uses all parts of the field smoking balls to the pull side and backside. Hands stay inside the baseball, and he does not let his hands get away from him and hook around the ball on the outer half of the plate. Paul is a fun player to watch who competes to his highest ability each time he touches the field.



Nick Yarbrough, 1B, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot 3, 175-pounds. Yarbrough put on a hitting clinic. He hit a deep flyout to the wall in his first at-bat, and then after that proceeded to drop two bombs. Yarbrough has a frame that will allow him to keep adding strength which will help the power out even more. He keeps the load short and compact resulting in a compact swing that allows Yarbrough to drive the baseball. He has a toe tap load, and drives off the backside. Drives the baseball to all parts of the field with authority. Yarbrough is a fun player to watch, and he competes in the batters box every at-bat. He has the potential to be an extremely dangerous hitter at the next level.

Cooper Jackson , OF (KY) 2025
Uncommitted, Commonwealth Express had one of the most dynamic 1/2 punches last weekend and it started with Cooper Jackson. Jackson is a prototype lead off man at the next level and possesses the ability to impact the game in a multitude of ways, with his + run , innate bat to ball skills and the ability to play the short game. The swing is built on hand eye coordination with strong wrists and quick hands which ultimately allows for consistent contact and turning in QAB’s regularly. I watched Cooper lay down a bunt , turn in a 3.74 home to first and then swipe second base and score on a single. He showed the ability to work long at bats and was not scared to see pitches and hit with 2K’s and rarely swung & missed. This is a great follow in the Kentucky 2025 class as he continues to mature physically and the tools continue to advance.


Tyler Baird, 2025 RHP (NC)
Uncommitted, One of the top arms in the 2025 class nationally was very impressive in his first outing of the summer this past Tuesday for the South Charlotte Panthers. Showing his ability to mix 2 quality secondary offerings and consistently repeat his delivery. What stood out for me was his ability to supinate and pronate as he showed he could turn over his CH at 80 MPH and rip his 79 MPH SL both with ideal arm speed and feel. The delivery is built on athleticism with tempo down the slope and a fast arm. A FB that sat 88/90 with live run that he located to both parts of the plate and played well with his CH. A CH sitting 80/82 that showed late depth + fade while thrown with FB arm speed got plenty of whiffs, and a 77/79 MPH SL that showed sharp sweep with depth and was used primarily away from righty’s especially with 2K’s. Overall this was a very intriguing look at one of the Nations top 2025’s and it is going to be fun watching his recruiting process heat up as the summer progresses.

Caden Shanks, SS/RHP 2024 (TN) 
Lipscomb Commit, A dynamic 2 way from the Volunteer State that has shown well all summer whether on the dirt, in the batters box or on the mound. His ability to play SS and make consistent contact from the left side along with hopping on the mound and sitting 88/92 is going to make him extremely valuable at the next level. Offensively, Shanks shows a simple & easy LH swing that packs efficient swing mechanics that will consistently give him the best chance to hit and make routine contact. His ability to hold his hip hinge in stride and control his forward move keeping his head still and “centered” allows him to see spin and adjust to different pitch locations. A clean + connected knob led path that enters from inside allows him to routinely make contact out front. On the dirt it’s an athletic MIF with the ability to range laterally and play on the run all while showing soft hands and an arm that can stick on the left side. On the mound it’s a repeatable operation with tempo throughout and controlled aggressiveness with the lead arm and stride allowing for ideal explosiveness into foot strike. A FB that jumps out of the hand at 88/92 paired with a sharp, 74/76 MPH SL with downer action that misses barrels. It will be extremely interesting to see where Caden ends up at the next level because he’s dynamic on both sides of the ball.

Hayden Frey , LHP , 2025 (OH)
Uncommitted , When talking about projection this is a guy that instantly comes to mind. Standing at 6-2 170 LBS there is considerable strength and velocity remaining. Hayden’s ability to consistently sync up his long levers and move athletically down the mound are shockingly advanced given his age and frame which ultimately point directly to a velocity jump in the near future. Something that is going to separate him whence the velocity ticks up is his ability to spin the SL at a high level and turn over his CH. He consistently landed his SL that sat 72/75 and showed sharp sweep that seemingly missed every barrel. He showed the ability to locate his 82/84 MPH FB to all parts of the plate and mix his SL/CH in all counts. There is so much to dream on which is why this is a LHP college coaches will be excited about moving forward as he continues to mature.

Will Holder, RHP, 2025 (GA)
The ease of operation and effortless delivery and tempo is what stands out the most about Holder. The frame is projectible, and the arm action is primed and ready for more velo with added strength. He throws 3 pitches for strikes and can command the fastball at 83-85 on both sides of the plate. He led his team to a state championship appearance, and has been throwing since February. The curveball was 73-75, and he could throw it for strikes early in the count or throw it back good for swing and miss. The change up was my favorite pitch from Holder. He threw it back foot to rightys, which is a pitch most RHP’s do not throw confidently. He missed barrels with it at 77-78. He is going to a RHP to know in the class, and projects as a starter at the next level.

Marco Nunez, C, 2025 (GA)
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 185 pounds. Athletic build and quick player. Nunez keeps his head still and has a powerful swing. He has a solid hip shoulder separation setting him in a good position to drive forward. Keeps his back elbow tucked to create a connected swing with his shoulder plane and bat aligning. Turns his front knee into a coil to produce more power. Nunez does a great job seeing the ball and adjusting his swing as needed. He was able to make constant contact with the ball. Making multiple impressive stops throughout the weekend a player that is able to control the game as a catcher. He is a quick and agile player able to move around the field quickly both offensively and defensively. Overall, Nunez is an impressive player to keep an eye on throughout the summer.

 Alec waller, OF, 2025 (GA)
Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 145 pounds. Waller has a tall and athletic frame. He is tall, quick and grabs your attention easily on the field. He is ranked 11th in his position for the state. He launched an opposite side inside the park home run making it look easy. He has been someone to watch this tournament. He perfectly sinks into his lower half to then create power in his shoulder knee separation. He has a connected swing which allows him to launch the ball over the outfielders. He is a quick runner and able to easily get an extra base. Waller was able to make many plays and stop multiple extra base hits in the outfield. He does well on offense and defense. He is an athletic player who can be useful at almost most positions on the diamond.

Collin Ewaldsen, RHP, 2024, (GA)
Uncommitted. Has another impressive outing this summer. He seems to always produce quick outs with soft contact. His short and quick arm is really deceiving for all hitters. With an upper 80’s fastball topping out at 88 plays really well in the zone, have seen him up to 90. He is able to flip in a breaking ball to keep hitters off balance. His ability to command the bottom half of the zone is a real tool of his with both pitches. Has good explosive movements down the mound. Exciting arm in the 2024 class. 
 

Ryan Whitley, RHP, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-9 155 lb. Whitley is quickly making a name for himself with another stellar performance with SEB Prime. Whitley possesses a 4 pitch mix that is among the top in his class. His fastball has some serious life to it. The curveball and slider play very well off the fastball. Whitley’s best pitch is his change up, he can throw it in any count, he can throw it to any spot. He can do what he wants to with that pitch. That 4 pitch mix makes it almost a guessing game for hitters at the plate. He is very proportionally built with more to come as he fills out his body even more. Whitley is definitely one to follow throughout the summer and going into his junior year of highschool.

Cooper Moss, RHP, 2025 (FL)
Florida commit. 6-3 217 lb. Moss had an outstanding week at the 16U National championship. He was a tough out at the plate but an even bigger problem on the mound. He pitched the quarter finals game in 4 inning run-rule. 1 of 3 on the weekend for the Aces National. Moss topped out at 94 on his fast ball and the curveball was spinning it very well. The two pitches combined was enough to put away his opponent. The Big Righty has a very tall, lean but athletic build. He moves his big body smooth, quick, and easy down the mound while still creating explosiveness.

Ben Fussell, MIF, 2026
Uncommitted. 5-10 165 lb. Fussell came to swing it this weekend. A very tough in the box! Came up clutch in multiple situations. Very mechanically sound and knows the game of baseball. Also came into pitch and just threw strikes. Came into a very tough situation with the bases loaded and 1 out and got his team out of a jam in 4 pitches. Aggressive in the box on the basepaths. Swiped multiple bags this weekend and contributed to the team's success. Athletic build with more to come. Great one to follow through the summer.