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2019 PBR National Championship - 17U Notebook

July 30, 2019
PBR Georgia Staff

The PBR National Championships is taking place at LakePoint in Georgia, hosting travel teams in three age groups: 17U, 16U and 15U. Prep Baseball Report will have quick notes for each level from each day during the event.

Here is more on the action from the 17U division...


DAY 6 - MONDAY

+ 2020 C Jonathan Santiago (Gatorball) is an athletically built and physical frame at 5’11 185. Defensively gifted, helped his pitching staff out all weekend long throwing out a pair of runners and holding the run game to a minimum. High energy guy that played controlled on both sides of the ball. Offensively had a line drive approach and sprayed both gaps. Will be a highly effective leader behind the dish at the next level. 

+ 2020 RHP Brandt Pancer (DRB), after closing out the semifinal matchup, dominates and goes the distance in the championship game.


+ 2020 OF Hudson Sapp (DRB)
+ 2020 C Cody Rech (DRB)


+ 2020 OF Darryl Buggs (DRB)


+ 2020 LHP Travis Burnette (Ninth Inning Royals)


+ 2020 LHP Garfield Johns (Gatorball)

 

DAY 5 - SUNDAY

+ Uncommitted 2020 Parker Brey started for 17u Arsenal and showed late life from ¾ slot on his fastball that was 86-87 with natural run to his arm side. The slider would flash bite and tilt with 10/4 shape with a couple nasty, late biting pitches at 73 mph. Also laced a double and moved with ease around the bags. The delivery is athletic and the velocity should continue to rise, uncommitted 20’ with ability on both sides of the ball. 


+ Max Luke was up to 88 mph and worked in the 85-88 range for multiple innings for DRB Elite today. The 2020 grad spun 12/6 shaped curveball with gradual downhill action, resulting in swings and misses and using as a put away pitch. 6-foot-3 frame and downhill action on the heater. 


+ Jonathan Santiago has been a standout behind the dish this week and saw more of the same today. Made a big time catch on a bunt attempt in foul territory in the 7th inning of winner moves on to the playoffs, then came up with a big RBI knock for Gatorball 17’s in the middle of a big inning which ultimately decided the game. There is some swing and miss but shows enough feel to contribute offensively, it’s all a bonus with Santiago as he handles the staff, works under balls and can get his pitchers calls with leadership qualities. 


+ Uncommitted 2020 Cedric de Grandpre has been doing it all week with the bat, but for a few hitters, we got a glimpse of him on the mound. De Grandpre is an athletic-looking kid. He’s a sturdy 6-1, 192 pounds, physical and looks the part no matter where you put him on the field. On the mound he sat 87-88, touching 89, with a slider that has shape to it. One of the better uncommitted players in the country, De Grandpre is eye-catching. He isn’t very vocal, and you don’t hear him a lot, but when he’s in the spotlight, he’s a can’t-miss player.


+ We got a better look at 2020 Georgia Southern commit Ben Johnson (Ninth Inning/Providence Christian) on Sunday, as he came out of the pen for a second time this week. Once again he was living 87-89, but didn’t have much feel or his breaking ball. It’s got the spin, and at times it bit, but there’s nothing to be concerned about. At 6-4, 165 pounds, Johnson is likely going to bloom into a very good arm, and he’s exciting to watch on the mound.


+ 2021 OF Denzel Boston (Sox Baseball), a 5-foot-8, 145-pound outfielder for Sox Baseball was a spark plug during the first game of the day. Boston runs well, and covers ground in the outfield. His speed translates to the base paths as well, and late in today’s showing he beat out a close play at first; getting down the line well. At the plate, his bat works through the zone with some whip, it’s a line-drive stroke where he looks to utilize his speed by getting the ball on the ground. Boston showed well during the course of the game, and has put up a solid week.


+ 2020 INF Cole Yeager (Team All American), a 5-foot-10, 170-pound infielder for Team All American impressed for his club today. It’s a compact, rotational swing with some bat speed and a strong finish through the zone. There’s rhythm and he gets his bat going early, allowing him to get out front. He drove a pitch deep to left-field in the contest; resulting in a double. Yeager is an interesting follow in the 2020 class.

+ 2020 OF Taylor Shahan (Tennessee Raiders) an outfielder for the Tennessee Raiders came up huge for them this morning. In the outfield, Shahan covered ground, making a diving catch to his left and firing off an accurate throw to first-base for a double play. At the plate, it’s a strong, compact swing and the ball comes off the bat well. He drove in a run with a single through the hole to score the first Raiders run of the day. Interesting player who has ability on both the offensive and defensive side of the game.


+ 2020 C/RHP Luke Childers (Indiana Mustangs), a 6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher/right-hander showed well at the plate today. It’s an athletic setup, he stays closed and lands in a balanced position. He displays bat control and does a really good job of staying through the ball. He knocked in a few runs in today’s contest for the Indiana Mustangs, keeping his hands inside and using his strength to take a pitch he was beat by and still send it into the outfield. 


+ 2020 Pat Holloman (Georgia Jackets) put together a solid game at the plate and off the bump this afternoon. From the left-side of the box, Holloman features a smooth left-handed swing with bat speed that plays. He looks to elevate to the pull-side as he did in today’s game when he socked a ball off the right-field fence. After pitching in last night’s game, he was 88-90 mph with his fastball, and mixed in a curve that had depth. Two-way player who should be impactful for UGA at the next level. 


+ 2020 RHP Duncan Howard (5 Star Carolina), a 6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed pitcher for 5 - Star put together a good game against a strong team. The righty is long and lean with a projectable frame. His arm works cleanly without a lot of effort and he finishes with good extension out front. He worked 84-86 mph, and spun a curveball that had 11/5 shape and generated swings and misses. He minimized damage, staying poised with runners on base in intense situations. Howard is a Presbyterian commit who has lots of upside on the mound. 


+ Uncommitted 2021 Kyler Kerlin (Elite Squad/Hutto) is a kid who doesn’t get enough love, and it’s probably because he’s 5-4, 145 pounds. He doesn’t draw your attention off the bus, or even when he’s warming up. But if we had to urge something to colleges it’s this - the kid can flat out play. Defensively he’s the shortstop on a strong team, he’s got quick feet, hands work and his arm plays on the left side of the diamond. Then he flipped to catcher, where he received extremely well, showed flexibility, and showed twitch and arm strength again. Offensively, he’s a switch-hitting leadoff man-type player, he takes aggressive hacks, he works counts, drag bunts, shoots the gaps and finds ways to get on. All in all, Kerlin is easily one of the most underrated players in the tournament, but if you afford yourself the opportunity to watch him, you’ll likely find your diamond in the rough. 

+ 2020 SS/RHP Tyler Shelnut (Gatorball) a 6-foot, 150-pound Florida commit was outstanding on both sides of the ball in Gator Ball’s win. Shelnut went the distance, sitting 84-86 mph with a curveball that displayed 11/5 shape and depth. At the plate, he went 3/4 with two hard hit singles and a line-drive home run off the bat at 97 mph. It’s an explosive swing where Shelnut looks to do damage, there’s some swing and miss but the reward is evident. 


+ 2020 OF/2B Cole Williams (5-Star), a 2020 Infielder/outfielder hit well for 5-Star in tonight’s game. From the left-side of the box, Williams displays a short, smooth swing through the hitting zone. In today’s showing, he hit a triple in the RCF gap, and later an RBI single up the middle. He is still Uncommitted and an interesting player to follow during the course of his senior year. 

 

DAY 4 - SATURDAY

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Griffyn Shelton (5 Star Carolina / Oak Grove HS, NC), a 6-foot-1, 180-pound athlete, is a premium arm still on the market. He came in to close out the victory in the final two innings, and sat 88-90 with at times a sharp, tight 73-74 slider. The arm is quick and athletic, compact in the back and aggressive out front. Threw a high-volume of strikes and has a competitive mound demeanor. 


+ Uncommitted 2020 LHP/OF Blake Cooper (DRB Elite / Heritage HS, TN) may be listed as a primary outfielder, but it appears he has a bright future on the mound as well. Pitched well in relief, filling up the strike zone with his 85-88 mph fastball. Low-effort delivery and easy out of the hand, the fastball seemed to sneak up on hitters. He also shuffled in a highly effective power slurve that flashed depth and tight spin (up to 2500 spin, per Trackman), occasionally back-footing right-handed hitters.
+ Although 2020 3B Reuben Church (DRB Elite / Maryville HS, TN) is committed to Kentucky for his offensive prowess, the physical 6-foot-2, 195-pounder showed like he can be a highly effective closer at the next level as well. Church came out to pitch the seventh pumping 90-92 fastballs along with a short, tight 77-78 mph slider. Threw strikes coming out of a high-3/4 slot, bow-and-arrow arm action.
+ 2020 OF Hudson Sapp (DRB Elite / Dawson County HS, GA) opened the game with a bang, showing off his quick, compact and balanced left-handed swing when he smoked a triple that was 100 mph off the bat. He later showed off his athleticism by beating out an infield single, getting down the line in 4.08 seconds. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Sapp has a strong, compact frame with quick-twitch explosiveness. Committed to Ole Miss, currently ranked No.455 nationally, No. 33 in Georgia’s 2020 class. <
+ Uncommitted 2020 Darryl Buggs (DRB Elite / Heritage (Conyers) HS) is a wiry-thin, uber-athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Top-of-the-scale runner, absolutely flies around the bases. Possesses game-changing speed. … Also hopped on the mound and was 84-85.

+ 2020 RHP Ryan Ward (Lonestar Baseball / Samuel Clemens HS, TX) came out of the pen pumping 91-92 mph pellets with a spin rate up to 2500. For good measure, he mixed in an aggressive, sharp 78-79 mph slider (2400 rpm). Committed to UTSA, the 6-foot-2, 160-pound Ward has a wiry-thin frame and a fast, loose arm with high-effort at foot strike. Will continue to fill into his frame. Fastball velocity has taking a big spike since last look. Breaking ball showed flashes of being a true swing-and-miss offering.
+ Uncommitted LHP Matthew Sandoval (Lonestar Baseball / Uvalde HS, TX) yielded a lead-off triple, then proceeded to throw hitless ball against a loaded DRB offense into the seventh inning. 5-foot-8, 160-pound frame, works from an over-the-top slot, moved the ball around the zone, throwing strikes with his curveball-fastball combination. Curveball showed 12/6 action, 68-72; fastball worked in the 79-82 range.

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP CJ Harrison (Duluth Noles / Winder-Barrow HS, GA) showed off his ultra-quick arm, as he came out in the first inning sitting 90-91 mph with his fastball, and settling in at 86-88 later on. Listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds, Harrison works out of a high-3/4 slot with a stab/wrap on the backside. His arm speed enables him to get up and out with some consistency, though syncing up the delivery was at times a challenge. Fastball plays mostly true with a spin rate in the 2300s. Breaking ball had erratic shape in the mid-70s.
+ Uncommitted 2021 Jaylen Jones (Triton Rays / Thomasville HS, GA), who recently reclassified from the 2020 class, is a high-follow prospect. Strong-bodied and wide-shouldered 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame with man-strength. Started the game for the Triton Rays, and came out sitting 87-89, erratic around the zone. He has a full, fluid arm path and it’s easy out front. When the delivery was synched up, the fastball jumped through the zone. Fastball spin rate was 2300, per Trackman. Breaking ball had erratic shape at 66-68 mph. With his strength, ease and athleticism in the arm, it’s easy to speculate more velocity down the road.
+ Uncommitted 2020 C Cody Rech (DRB Elite / Cambridge HS, GA) is a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder who showed exceptionally well behind the dish. Threw two runners out; one was a block-and-recover and hosed the runner at second … the other, he threw out the runner by three feet, 2.18 in game. Quick feet and release, above-average carry, puts everything on the bag.

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Nate Kusner (Release Baseball / Solon HS) is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound strike-pumper who dots his 84-87 fastball to both sides of the plate, topping at 88. Also effectively mixed in a 66-72 mph curveball, thrown consistently for strikes. Works out of high-¾ slot, short in the back, easy out front. Delivery is simple and repeats well. Threw a high-volume of strikes and missed barrels.
+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Vincent DiMauro (Richmond Braves / Brentsville HS, VA) is a tough look for hitters. Works across his body out of a low-3/4 slot and fills up the lower quadrant of the strike zone almost exclusively to his gloveside. Fastball has some tailing action with occasional sink. Missed a lot of bats on his 82-84 fastball. Pitched nearly a flawless five innings for the Braves in their victory over the St. Louis Prospects, throwing 80+ percent strikes. Works fast and confidently. Also mixed in a 73-75 slider that had lateral sweep.

+ 2020 LHP Wesley Hancock (Hardknox / Spaulding HS, GA), an Oklahoma State recruit, came out of the pen working 81-83 from a 3/4 slot with arm-side run. Listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Hancock also mixed in a slurvy 67-68 mph breaking ball. ECB Colt 45s vs. Next Level Baseball

+ 2020 uncommitted RHP Joey Garrett (Next Level Baseball), has an aggressive delivery coming from a slew of different arm slots. Predominantly throws from a low ¾ slot but raises up to an overhand release late in counts, and goes more to a sidearm slot when throwing his SL. FB was 83-85 and got up to 86 at 1900rpm’s, showing arm side run. Had good feel of his SL, which ran 69-72, 2400rpm’s, and had 10/4 shape to it. Gets good use from his lower half as he really drives off the back side to generate power.

+ 2020 C Hayden Duffield (River Ridge HS, ECB Colt 45s) put together another strand of impressive at bats today. Short and simple swing that has shown gap to gap ability. Patient hitter with a solid approach and doesn’t deviate from it often. 6’1 170 frame showing there’s room left to grow into. 


+ 2020 1B Travis Burnette (Ninth Inning Royals), a 6-foot-5, 215-pound left-on-left first-baseman continued to hit during the first game of the day. At the plate, it’s a fluid lefty swing with natural loft through the zone. The ball jumps off his bat to all fields, and in today’s showing, he flew out just in front of the track in RCF, and pulled both a double in the gap, and a single through the hole. It’s a legit bat that will play at the next level. He also made an impressive play at first-base, utilizing his wingspan; catching an errant throw and tagging the runner in the same motion.  


+ 2020 3B/RHP Austin Warren (Indiana Mustangs) came into the game late and impressed on the mound. The arm works from a low 3/4 slot naturally with impressive arm speed and athleticism within his delivery. He was up to 89 mph, sitting 86-88 in his inning of work. He showed the ability to make some adjustments after struggling with his control during his outing. He will need to develop secondary offerings, but there is a lot to work with currently.  


+ 2020 uncommitted RHP Adam Bendoraitis (Top Tier) was really difficult to get solid contact off of with a strong FB/CB mix that kept hitters off balance. FB rung up as high as 85 and sat at 82-83 in all four innings of work. CB was one of the most impressive pitches of the afternoon, however at 71mph and 2400rpm’s. Had a firm 12/6 shape that saw a lot of swing and misses resulting from it. 


+ 2020 uncommitted 3B Corbin Shaw (Redan HS) was a big presence at the plate today. At 6’2 205, Shaw sent a pitch 102mph off the bat, that travelled 393ft for a home run in his first plate appearance. Very balanced swing, he showed a simple approach and stuck to it allowing him to see more pitches as the game progressed. Plus power and a bat worth following moving forward. 


+ 2019 3B Thomas Chandler (East Cobb Yankees), a 5-foot-10, 180-pound infielder played well for the Yankees. At third, he moved well, coming in on multiple ground balls and getting off strong throws across. The arm works, and he should still be able to add velocity with strength gains. The bat is a little behind right now, but he demonstrated the ability to lay off tough pitches and put together overall quality at-bats. He did hit a double during his last at-bat of the day. Interesting follow for the rest of the week. 

+ 2020 3B Alfonso Villalobos (Academy Baseball Canada), a 5-foot-10, 190-pound infielder made noise with his bat in afternoon action. Villalobos is compact and direct to the baseball, and has shown the ability to get his bat head out front. He took a pitch and hit it 98 mph and off the foul pole in left-field early on, and later pulled a ball past the third-baseman displaying that same swing. It’s a definite bat to keep close tabs on going forward. 


+ Félix Robertson, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound outfielder came up big for Academy Baseball Canada in today’s game. He displayed bat control, the ability to keep his hands back and a fluid path through the hitting zone. He covers the strike zone well and is controlled with his body movements. The big hit for him today was a 2-run single that put ABC up by a large margin. 


+ 2020 uncommitted C Blake Friends (Winder Barrow; Signature Park Thrashers), proved to be a catching prospect well worth keeping an eye on in the future. Impressive performance on both sides of the ball starting off by gunning a runner down behind the plate (2.15 pop time). Very solid receiver and blocker behind the plate that really helped his pitching staff control the running game. Brings a really good approach to the plate working counts deep, and displayed gap-to-gap abilities. Athletically built at 5’9 150 pounds there’s a lot of room to grow moving forward for Friends. 

+ 2020 LHP Pat Holloman (Georgia Jackets), a long and lean left-hander for the Georgia Jackets was excellent out of the pen in his inning of work. It’s a loose delivery with arm speed and a repeatable 3/4 slot. He was all over the strike zone with a fastball that was comfortably 88-90 mph. He spun a couple curveballs with 1/7 shape and decent break. Holloman is a Georgia commit with upside who will be a must watch during the rest of the tournament. 


+ 2020 Charlie Taylor (Georgia Jackets), a Tennessee University commit was a must watch every time he stepped into the batters box. In his first at-bat, he socked a single into left-field, displaying his bat speed and strength. He followed that up with a high drive to left field that came off the bat at 89 mph for a home run. It’s clear that the bat plays and he is a legit power threat in the right-handed batters box. 


Day 3 - Friday

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Joel Sarver (Top Tier Americans / Champaign Central HS, IL), an athletically built 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-hander, pitched a complete-game gem to lead Top Tier to a 5-4 victory over Elite Squad Texas. Sarver held his 86-87 velocity most of the game, bumped a few 88s and topped at 89. Fastball plays mostly true, and paired it with an effective 73-78 mph slider. When he threw the slider with more conviction and velocity, it served as a putaway pitch, as he did to two batters in the final frame. The arm is clean, loose and athletic coming out of a high-3/4 slot. The delivery, too, is athletic, low-effort, on-line and repeats it well. Threw a high-volume of strikes throughout the game. More velocity seemingly is in the tank. 


+ At 5-foot-4, 145 pounds, uncommitted 2020 MIF Kyler Kerlin (Elite Squad Texas / Hutto HS, TX) may be smaller in stature, but he is an impact player on the field. The left-handed hitter plays the game fast and hard and is a difference-maker on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he has a compact, balanced approach with loose athletic hands. In his first at-bat, he roped a triple to the right-center gap, and he later singled up the middle to drive in a run, and walked. Defensively, he ranges well to both sides, has soft, athletic hands and showed plenty of arm across the diamond. In short, he’s a baller.

+ 2020 2B Antonio Brown (Top Tier Americans / Vernon Hills HS, IL), a recent Furman recruit, is a high-level athlete. He delivered the game-winning triple to left-center field and showed off his 6.6 speed on the basepaths, nearly catching the runner in front of him.

+ Uncommitted C/OF Colin Summerhill (Top Tier Americans / Loyola Academy HS, IL) ripped a double to left field - 92 mph off the bat - and also collected another single during Top Tier’s win on Friday. Athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, showed above-average arm strength behind the plate.

+ Another day, another Reuben Church (Maryville, TN) double. The 2020 Kentucky commit has been raking all week, and today was no different. In his first at-bat he launched a double to dead centre, and in his next at bat he lined out to centre. Church is a stocky 6-2, 195 who is surprisingly agile for his size as well.


+ 2020 Marshall commit Noah Arkenburg (Release/Notre Dame Cathedral) took over early in the game after Release’s starting pitcher was pulled early. Arkenburg came in with 86-88, throwing the ball on both sides of the plate. His breaking ball looks more slidier or cutter-ish based on the way it moves and bites, and it was a firm 74-75.


+ 2020 C Jonathan Santiago (Gatorball), a broad-shouldered, physical 5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher is a solid backstop in the 2020 class. From the right-side of the plate, Santiago loads back, holds his hands high, and transfers his weight efficiently. It’s a fluid line-drive swing that resulted in a crucial hard-hit RBI single through the 5-6 hole in today’s ballgame. He is steady behind the plate, the arm works, he presents a good target and handles the pitching staff well. 


+ 2020 SS/RHP Brennan Compton (Signature Park Thrashers), one of the better pitchers on his team, played the field today and came up with a huge hit for his club today. The 6-foot, 150-pound right-handed hitter to a pitch on the outer half and slapped it the other way for an RBI hit. He got down the line well and was able to advance to second on the play. He’s better off the mound, but he showed today that he can play on the position player side as well.


+ 2020 RHP John Zarzycki (Georgia Jackets), a 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander for the Georgia Jackets came out of the bullpen and impressed in a small sample size. The body plays off the mound, he gets downhill and creates extension out front. He was up in the 84-86 mph range at times, and it appears faster out of the hand. It’s still raw and his secondary stuff will need refining, but there is a lot to like with Zarzycki on the bump. 


+ 2020 RHP Dylan Gray (Indiana Mustangs), a 2020 right-handed arm for the Indiana Mustangs came out of the gates firing this afternoon. His fastball was up in the low 80’s early on with some effort. The delivery is quick-paced and athletic, and it’s fairly clean too, but at times his arm is late catching up. Gray has some upside on the mound, and could make big strides in the next year.


+ 2020 RHP Bracken Rice (Easley Baseball Club), a 6-foot, 160-pound right-hander put together a solid outing tonight against a strong club. He tempered with his delivery throughout the night, using his secondary offerings off of one another to effect hitters timings. He was 80-82, topping out at 83 mph on this night. His curve was his primary off-speed pitch and demonstrated 11/5 shaped break. 


+ Southern commit, 2020 OF/LHP Christian Davis (Duluth Noles), a 2020 two-way player was impressive in the outfield and off the bump late. He didn’t do much offensively tonight, but he displayed barrel control and uses his speed to his advantage. In the outfield, he covered ground, positioned himself well for throws and although wasn’t challenged much, showed off his strong arm. He was primarily fastball out of the pen, sitting 85-88 mph, and topping out at 89 mph. The arm is quick and the body works free and easy. Davis will be an interesting follow throughout his senior year. 


+ 2020 Radford commit Mark Petko (Richmond/Grafton) is a 6-1, 160-pound right-hander with feel for three pitches. Doesn’t overpower hitters, but he’s a strike throwing. Fastball sat in the 83-84 range early on, but in his later innings he ran it up to 86 on a couple of occasions. Petko is a twitchy pitcher, not very deliberate, and  can be jerky at times. 


+ Carson Beavers (ECB/Fannin County) has the look of a left-handed pitcher who belongs in the 1950s. The 2020 Winthrop commit has a medium build, an old-school windeup, but sat 84-86 with his fastball, running it up to 88 mph in the first. His breaking ball and changeup both sat in the 74-76 range as well. Beavers loses the ball a bit to his arm side, but given he sits on that back leg for some time, he still finds a way to get over it. From a tempo standpoint, Beavers goes at his own pace, but it makes his fastball seem a few ticks higher. 

+ Uncommitted 2021 C Matthew Strand (North Gwinnett) made tons of hard contact today.  Strong bodied, athletic prospect, with bat-speed and feel for the bathead. Good looking prospect.

+ 2020 INF Benjamin Sauvé Gebhardt (ABC Académie), a 2020 infielder performed well for ABC Académie in today’s contest. His actions in the infield are clean, he stays low and behind the ball, positioning himself well. He was challenged on multiple occasions today, and he completed each one of his plays with accurate throws across. He led the game off with a single, standing out right away with his compact left-handed line-drive swing. He uses the middle of the field and moves well on the bases. Very interesting uncommitted infielder to keep an eye on.  


+ 2020 1B/3B Cédric De Grandpré (ABC Académie), It's been an outstanding week for De Grandpré so far offensively, and it didn’t stop today. With a sturdy build and bat speed from the right-side of the plate, De Grandpré’s raw power plays. In the sixth inning of today’s matchup, he took a pitch on the inner half 335 feet away to left-field, coming off the bat at 99 mph. He is a potential middle of the order type at the next level who can change the outcome of the game with one swing of the bat.


+ Uncommitted 2020 SS Riley Cash (Launch City), medium framed sticky strong kid, that is a snarky athlete.  Has the actions to stay in the dirt at the next level and absolutely destroyed baseballs today. He is athletic in the box with some looseness to his compact direct bat path.

+ Uncommitted 2020 Jarek Wells (Lone Star/Smithson Valley) got the start in this game, and he was cruising thanks in large part to his breaking ball. While he controlled the fastball well, sitting 83-85 with some zip, his curveball at 75-77 mph is what kept hitters off-balance. With a spin rate of more than 2400 RPM, it was flat out nasty, and made his fastball look even harder. Without missing a beat, he then stepped to the plate and roped a base hit with a smooth, clean swing.


+ Similar to Well, uncommitted 2020 CJ Kowalik (Lone Star/New Braunfels Christian) was an interesting two-way player as well. At the plate he showed discipline, a smooth swing, and the ability to hit. He crushed a double to left off the base of the fence, and the ball was on a line the entire time. Then he stepped on the mound and sat around the 82 mph range. With a good frame on him, Kowalik needs to add some size and strength - and there’s room to do so. When he does, he’ll be an interesting player to follow. 


+ Something of an unknown arm this week, 2021 righty Gage Rowe (Sox Baseball/Newman) was spectacular. Rowe had a decent two-pitch combo, and while he stayed away from his changeup for the most part, his fastball maintained at 80-83 with sink, his breaking back was tight, and he kept a very potent lineup off-balance for the entire game. His only mistake was leaving a fastball up for a two-run homer - the only two runs of the game. Rowe has so much room to grow into his body, and it’ll be exciting to see how he bounces back this week. 


+ It feels like every time Freddie Reams (Holy Innocent) steps to the plate, he’s going to hit a home run, and on Day 3 he did. The uncommitted 2020 launched a no-doubt bomb to left, a two-run shot, but it wasn’t a fluke. All week he’s been finding barrel to all fields. He sets up in a strong position from the right side, he doesn’t get cheated, and he has the makings of a true power threat. The best part is this is Reams’ first year exclusively playing baseball. Reams was a football player, and has turned his attention to baseball, which by the looks of it wasn’t a bad idea.


+ Up by two in the sixth inning, Ninth Inning turned to 2020 Georgia Southern commit Ben Johnson (Ninth Inning/Providence Christian). While his outing was very short-lived, he immediately turned heads with his 6-4, 155-pound lanky frame. His fastball was firm, sitting 87-88 mph, and touching 89 a couple times. Johnson has crazy whip when he throws, and he has some deception as well. He’s clean in the back, and all in all, was one of the best pitchers on Day 3. 


+ To close this one out, Ninth Inning brought in 2020 Wofford commit Holden Wilder (Ninth Inning/Wesleyan) to shut the door. After getting the first two outs, he gave up a couple hits and a walk, before inducing the game ending flyout to centre. At 6-3, 210 pounds, Wilder has the makings of a good pitcher. His fastball sat 85-88, touching 89, but his velocity took a dive from the stretch, going down to 82-83. His curveball was in the low 70s. His stuff also isn’t swing-and-miss, and he struggles with an “out” pitch. Either way, if he matures with his pitchability, he’ll be a decent college arm.


+ Uncommitted 2020 SS Jack Gorman (Easley Baseball), medium frame with sturdy build,shows solid infield actions and enough arm, good passes at the plate with noticeable batspeed.  Good looking infield prospect at the next level.

+ Uncommitted 2020 C Kevin Okins (Easley Baseball), strong bodied medium framed backstop with significant bat-speed. Drove a ball deep off the LF wall.  Looked the part behind the dish with enough arm.

+ In a low-scoring game, Sam Tompkins (Triton/Brantley) came in hot. The uncommitted 2020 is 6-0, 175-pounds, sitting 84-86 with a clean arm action, repeatable delivery, and some late sink on his fastball that induced a lot of ground balls. He doesn’t have a ton of swing-and-miss stuff, but he’s got the stuff to break bats, and it should only get better down the road.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Braedan Alexander (East Cobb Yankees/North Cobb) isn’t an overpowering pitcher, but to say he’s crafty would be an understatement. At 5-8, 140, he kept a potent Triton offense off-balance. While he sat in the low 80s for the better part of the game, he ran out of gas late and got hit around a bit. Nonetheless, he threw strikes, pounded both sides of the plate and gave the Yankees a shot to win.

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Eric Loomis (STL Prospects) showed good arm strength at 85-89, with an effective slider 80-83 with slight tilt. Loomis has a fast arm and is competing well from his 3/4 slot vs a good left handed hitting heavy Top Tier club. The Top Tier bats showed up in this one and had tough AB’s up & down the lineup.

+ 2020 1B/LHP Keegan Rich (Sox Baseball), a 6-foot-3, 225-pound two-way player stood out on both ends in the nightcap. At the plate, it’s an aggressive left-handed swing with loft, and the ball jumps off his bat. He drove a pitch deep to RCF off the bat at 97 mph. On the mound, he was 85-87, T88. He struggled with command today, but the arm works. He will be an interesting watch the rest of the week. 


+ 2020 SS Cade Chamlee (Hardknox Orioles), a 6-foot-2, 155-pound shortstop was stellar for the Orioles today. At shortstop, he made all the plays, ranging side-to-side, and getting off throws from different slots. The bat is still a work in-progress but there’s athleticism and body control to work with. Chamlee is an interesting player to keep tabs on.


DAY 2 - THURSDAY

+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Joey Garrett (Next Level Baseball) worked with an aggressive uptempo delivery from multiple slots.  His fastball was up to 88 and pitched 84-85. He has some deception and went right after hitters with zero fear.  

+ 2020 RHP Ryan Ward (Lone Star Baseball Club), The 6-foot-2 160-pounds athletically built UTSA recuit came out throwing 89-91 with a full arm action from his overhand slot, while using an effective top to bottom breaking ball to finish hitters. After scuffling to find command early in his inning, Ward bounced back and finished off three straight hitters.

+ 2020 OF Garrett Byrd (Easley Baseball Club), a 2020 Uncommitted outfielder put together a great showing in his second game of the week. He went 2/3 with a pair of doubles and a deep fly ball out. There’s bat speed and quickness allowing him to get the bat head out front. Right now his strength is to the pull-side, but with added strength he’ll be able to drive the ball with more authority to right-field. Athletic outfielder with hitting ability to follow the rest of the week.


+ 2020 SS/3B Kevin Ortiz (Signature Park Thrashers), an Uncommitted infielder was productive on both ends of the ball. At the plate, he recorded a multiple hit game, staying inside the baseball and using the middle-opposite side of the field. The bat-to-ball abilities are evident, and he has a clear feel for hitting. In the infield, he moved well at third-base, showing the ability to gain ground and get off throws from any arm-slot. He profiles as a utility type infielder with the ability to handle both the glove and bat.


+ 2020 C/OF Alex Hewitt (Indiana Mustangs), a catcher/outfielder for the Mustangs put together a display at the plate on this day. In the early innings, he took a pitch deep over the left-field wall for a home run, and later he took a pitch for a ride to deep left-centre, just falling short of getting out. It’s a physical frame which works compact and short to the baseball, he looks to get his bat head out front and let his strength take over. 


+ 2021 RHP Bradley Grasser (Sox Baseball White), a 6-foot-2, 170-pound righty was electric through five innings for Sox Baseball. With a long athletic frame, Grasser has a prototypical pitchers build. He has good tempo and balance and repeats. He worked 82-83 for the most part, and frequently used his curveball which has big 11/5 break. He threw strikes with both pitches and had success  because of it. Grasser is a 2021 arm to keep an eye on. 


+ 2020 Florida commit Tyler Shelnut (Gatorball/Fort White) was the standout in the Day 2 opener. On the mound he showed feel for three pitches, dicing up Detroit Metro Stars hitters in a five-inning shortened game. His fastball sat 85-86 mph with a few 87s mixed in there, while spotting up his high-spin rate curveball (2100 RPM) at 68-69. He used his changeup sparingly, but when he threw it, it was a firm 75-77 mph with some arm-side fade. At the plate he was aggressive, found a few barrels, and also had the day’s top exit velocity with 94 mph off the bat.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Austin Akey (Gatorball/F.W. Bucholz) isn’t the guy you fall in love with off the bus, but on the field, he’s a gamer. At 5-7, 130, there’s a reason he bats in such a potent lineup, and he showed it today. For a player of his stature, he doesn’t get cheated, but he plays the game the way you hope he would - hard. Not only that, but the swings he put on balls were controlled, aggressive, and he showed an ability to stay inside the ball and control the big part of his bat. Give him a year and some time to grow, and Akey will be a solid college ball player.


+ 2020 RHP Kendall Anthes (Metro Stars), a 6-foot, 160-pound right-hander started for the Metro Stars to start off the day. It’s a lean, loose body with a clean arm swing and body movements. He works from a ¾ arm slot and throws across his body towards the plate. He was 82-83 mph, mixing in a 75 mph breaking ball and 77 mph changeup. His secondary stuff needs refining, but there is a lot to like with Anthes.


+ 2020 Garfield Johns (Gatorball), a left-handed bat for Gatorball has been impressive in the batters box so far. In today’s affair, he put good swings on multiple pitches, but had little to show for it. It’s a simplified swing with few moving parts and bat control. He flew out deep to center off the bat at 93 mph, and with his size and strength there’s more where that came from.


+ After turning heads on Day 1 of the National Championships, uncommitted 2020 Travis Burnette (Collins Hill, GA) continued to steal the attention in Ninth Inning’s second game of the tournament. He only saw two pitches at the plate all game, the first he shot into the sky for a huge flyout to right, and in his second AB he didn’t miss it, crushing an RBI triple to right-centre (90 exit velo off the bat). To cap it off, he stepped on the mound in the final inning and sat 83-86 from the left side, while spinning at CB at 71-73. He doesn’t seem as polished on the mound as he does at the plate, but nonetheless, he’s one of the more intriguing players thus far in the tournament.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Jamie LaFramboise (Ninth Inning/Wesleyan, GA) got the start, and spun a gem before running into control issues later in the game. Standing at 5-11, 170 pounds, he was 82-85 mph, with a 70-71 mph curveball with some depth. He added an RBI single the opposite way to top it off.


+ In a tough game, 2021 LHP Drew Garth (Team All American/North Hills, PA), came out of the pen and handled a potent-hitting Royals lineup. At 5-10, 185-pounds, he sat 78-81 with his fastball, and induced a lot of swings and misses with his curveball, which sat 68-69 mph. A young lefty, he also has a decent swing from the left side, one that could develop as he gains strength and size.


+ 2020 South Carolina commit Josh Shuler (DRB/North Gwinnett), might flat out be the toolsiest player in the tournament. Standing at 6-2, 205lbs, the lefty-lefty outfielder is enormous, shows explosive tools across the board, and is extremely violent (but controlled in his movements). At the dish his hands start low, allowing him to get under the ball slightly, while staying inside it to drive the ball the other way with authority. Shuler is a no-brainer draft pick next June.

+ 2020 Georgia commit Hank Bearden (DRB/Northwest Whitfield) turned in one of the more dominating performances in the tournament so far. Over three innings of work, he recorded six strikeouts, didn’t give up a hit, and walked two batters. His stuff is firm, with his fastball sitting 86-88 out of the gate, and 85-86 in his last inning. While he showed good command with the heater, it’s his breaking ball that made him so effective. Bearden throws it whenever he wants, on either side of the plate, it’s got tight action early, causing a lot of hitters to buckle. He’s not afraid to throw it right at the right-handed hitter, and it breaks onto the plate, just enough where the hitters can’t do much.


+ 2020 Ole Miss commit Hudson Sapp (DRB/Dawson County) proved to be one of the better leadoff hitters to date in the tournament. At 5-11, 185, Sapp’s legs look like tree trunks, he’s built like a running back, but he absolutely flies around the bases. When he swings, he’s trying to do damage, and he has a tremendous gap to gap approach, keeping his head on the ball and hitting it where it’s pitched. It’s tough not to want him atop your lineup, and he’s a tough out who can go yard to boot.


+ 2020 Kentucky commit Reuben Church (DRB/Maryville) is an imposing figure on the field. But in spite of his 6-2, 195-pound frame, he’s still got some twitch to him, and athleticism. Church is quiet at the dish, he’s the type of hitter who’s scary to pitch to inside, but he extends his arms so much that it’s also tough to pitch him away. The bat speed is clearly there, as is his power. Defensively, he can stick it at third, but he’ll need to improve his foot speed a bit, though he’s got plenty of arm to be there.


+ Uncommitted 2020 OF Darryl Buggs (DRB/Heritage) adds to the list of yet another DRB player who flat out balls. At 6-1, 170 pounds, he doesn’t look overly big on the field, but he’s twitchy, shows bat speed, and is constantly hunting for extra bases. If you’re on defense, it’s nerve wracking having him on the basepaths, having to constantly make sure he stops his feet. He’s dangerous when he gets on base, and with the combination of his plate discipline and speed, headaches happen quite often against him.


+ Another exciting uncommitted player on DRB, 2020 William Underwood (DRB/Marietta) is pretty fun to watch. Standing at 5-10, 160 pounds, the switch-hitting speedster doesn’t waste time, ambushing pitchers early in the count. He hits from a bit of a closed-off stance, but gets the barrel out. On the bases he moves extremely well, and gets jumps. Interesting ball player who shouldn’t have trouble getting a school any time soon.


+ UAB commit, 2020 C Jake Killingsworth (Headland, AL/Duluth Noles) was really exciting to watch, both offensively and defensively. At the dish, Killingsworth showed a gap-to-gap approach ripping a pair of extra base hits; one of which registering at 101mph off the bat. Had good control of the barrel as it stayed through the zone. His quick hands at the plate translated to the catching position, seeing just as fast of hands to throw out a runner attempting to steal.

+ Kennesaw State commit, 2020 RHP Donye Evans (Redan, GA/Duluth Noles) continues to show this summer why he’s one of the top prep arms in the area. Lanky and athletic frame at 6’5 195, shows there’s more left to be matured into. FB ran up 86-88 throughout all four innings of work and touched 89 at points (2500 rpm) with a lot of life behind it. SL and CH messed with hitters timing all afternoon as they were both in the 74-75 range. SL showed sharp 11/5 shape while CH had laminar movement to it, arm side. 

+ 2020 LHP Crawford Wade (5 - Star), a LHP and 2020 Air Force commit was outstanding, pitching into the 6th inning of his start. It’s a tall, 6-foot-4, 160-pound lean, long-limbed frame with plenty of room to add strength. He worked 86-88 mph with his fastball, working both sides with some intent. He displayed feel for both of his off-speed pitches; a changeup with similar arm-speed to his fastball, and fading action, as well as a 1/7 slower breaking curveball with good shape. There is lots of upside with Wade, and he will be a must watch during his senior year.


+ Liberty commit, 2020 RHP Nicholas Willard (Richmond Braves), a 6-foot-2, 150-pound right-hander for the Richmond Braves dealt over the course of his start. He was 87-88 mph, repeating his ¾ arm slot and working cleanly out front. He mixed in a curveball with 3/4 shape and decent break, recording swings and misses late in counts. He’s a strike thrower who will continue to add velocity, and should be a good arm at the next level for Liberty. 


+ 2020 RHP Gabe Buchanan (ECB Colt 45s), a 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty took the hill for the Colt 45s and pitched well over the course of his outing. The righty was in the 82-83 mph range, using a curveball very frequently; early and late in counts. He uses a large leg kick, hides the ball well, and lands open before releasing to the plate. He is still on the market as of now, and could be a useful arm for a club at the next level.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Cedric De Grandpre (ABC) got after it again with the bat on Day 2. A stocky 6-1, 192 pounds, De Grandpre works is counts, doesn’t get cheated, and shows incredible plate discipline. In this one, he had the big hit for ABC, a booming double off the left-field walk to plate two runs. An average runner, he can play either corner infield position, but he’s more suited for third base as he’s got the footwork and arm strength to do it, and the bat isn’t big enough to be at first.


+ This was our first look at uncommitted 2020 RHP Matys Brochu (ABC). A solid righty, Brochu flashed a sharp breaking ball, and while he struggled to command it at times, it was a clear out pitch when he was able to locate it in the zone. His fastball ran up to 86 mph early, though he lived in the 82-84 range for the better part of the game. Brochu has a slender build, so there’s room to add size, but right now he’s something to dream on.


+ Uncommitted 2020 LHP Justin Cooke (Launch City) wasn’t overpowering, but he got the job done against ABC. At 6-0, 250-pounds, he got hit around a bit early, he settled in, sitting 78-81 mph with his fastball, and touching 82 a couple of times. He also mixed in a slow curve to keep hitters at bay.


+ If it wasn’t enough that uncommitted 2021 Reid Hensley (Elite Squad/Lufkin) was 85-87 off the mound last night, than this will do it for you. On Day 2, Hensley was in the DH spot, and he hit not one, but two majestic home runs to left field. It’s tough to figure out what you like him as so far this week. On the mound he was fantastic, mixing his pitches (see Day 1 notebook), but then on Day 2, he barrels it up with a 95 exit velo, catching the ball on the up, and sending it into orbit. Either way, Hensley has catapulted himself into one of the must-watch players this week in Georgia, and for good reason.


+ It’s unfortunate that Hensley stole the show with his two-home run performance, because uncommitted 2020 Stefan Williamson (Elite Squad/Round Rock) has one heck of a day as well. Williamson notched three hits on the day: a single to centre, a single to right, and a booming double to left. For a guy that’s 5-10, 185 pounds, he runs extremely well, and his set up at the plate makes you feel as though he’s going to crush every pitch that gets near the plate. In today’s case, he did just that.


+ Speaking of overlooked, uncommitted 2020 Jake Soorus (Dry Pond/North Lincoln) was one of the standout players. In the mix of his team getting run-ruled, Soorus was one of the better players on the field. He doesn’t exactly turn heads with his stock 6-0, 180-pound body, but the last two innings of the game belonged to him. In the top half of the 6th, he smashed a towering double to left that was a few feet away from a home run. Then in the bottom half, he stepped on the mound and flipped an easy 86-88 mph fastball, with a biting 76-78 mph curveball. If not for nothing in this game, Soorus is a guy to watch, and while it would be nice to see him extended a bit on the mound, he did enough to warrant a follow for the rest of the week.


+ Augusta U commit Dylan Shugan (Georgia Jackets) showcased a mature and confident approach on his way to collecting 3 hits in as many at bats. A big 6-foot-2 240 pounds, his hands work well through the zone with minimal drag and the bat speed projects to play at the next level. As he gets stronger the line drive ability has the chance to turn into gap to gap power.


+ Georgia commit Patrick Holloman of the GA Jackets showcased his potential while sitting the side down in order in both innings of work. Holloman displays a compact windup with a snap of an arm. He is a moderate effort guy leaving less strain on his arm which is a good sign for durability. The velocity projects to jump from 89 with an a breaking ball (76-78 mph) that he has a feel for to keep hitters off balance.


+ 2020 RHP Reed Proctor (Sox Baseball), a 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-hander was excellent in a Thursday night pitches dual. He sat 80-83 consistently throughout the night, and from a downward angle with good extension out front; hitters had trouble catching up. He used his curveball in big spots, with the tying run on third-base late, he trusted the pitch and went to it to record swings and misses. He went the distance, allowing a hit and no runs against a strong club. His body control and fluidity in his delivery allowed him to stay consistent throughout the night. 


+ 2020 LHP Cole Anderson (Top Tier Americans), a left-hander for the Top Tier Americans threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run. A crafty pitcher, Anderson mixed in a curve, and his fastball off one another consistency throughout the night. It’s an old fashioned windup, that’s mostly quick-paced, although he varied timings and had hitters out front at times. He did a good job of tunnelling his pitches, and making the most out of his velocity based on his location. It’s a low effort delivery that holds up late; he profiles as a starter at the next level.


+ With the day winding down, 2020 Auburn commit Logan Austin was everyone’s second wind. It didn’t matter what field you were on, you could hear the grunts. And then again. At that point you’ve migrated to the Triton Rays/Next Lvl game, where Austin was pumping a heavy 90-93 mph, a breaking ball that fell off the table, and a changeup that backed up to 75-77 mph. The control isn’t always there, but it makes him wildly effective. He’s strong, 6-4, 200-pounds, physical, and pitches with a purpose. His fastballs get angrier as they get closer to the hitter, and he’s max effort, but he’s clean in the back, has a quick arm, and once he learns how to control it, he’s got a chance to be a special pitcher.



DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY

+ 2020 RHP Robert Willis (Sox Baseball/Unlimited Success, AL) didn’t have the best box score, but it wasn’t overly indicative of what he was, as the uncommitted right-hander was interesting on the mound. At 6-3, 175-pounds, Willis is long and lanky, high-waisted, and has some whip in his arm. He didn’t flash many secondary pitches, but he lived in the 83-85 mph range in his later innings. An up-tempo pitcher with composure on the mound, Willis can potentially polish himself into an arm to watch.


+ 2020 1B/3B Cedric De Grandpre (Academie Baseball Canada) is one of the better uncommitted bats in Canada in the 2020 class, De Grandpre found barrel with a hard single up the middle and shot to RCF. A sturdy 6-1, 192-pounds, he hits from a very simple approach, his timing is good, and he keeps the bat through the zone for an extended period of time. Extremely quiet, he’s been able to keep up with velo based on the bat speed he possesses and his ability to get on time with his slight leg-lift. Keep an eye on him, because there’s a good chance he hits all week in Georgia. 


+ 2019 RHP Sebastien Simard (Academie Baseball Canada) took care of business in the opener for the lone Canadian team in the tournament. The uncommitted 6-2, 175-pound RHP threw a two-hitter in a five-inning shortened game. Simard pitches exclusively from the stretch, he was all over the zone with his FB sitting in the 81-84 mph range, while spinning a breaking ball at 71-73 mph.


+ 2020 SS Jeremy Hernandez-Martel (Academie Baseball Canada) is a scrappy-type player, Martel played a big role in ABC’s win, accounting for three RBI’s on a single and a sac fly, while also showing quick hands on the front end of two double plays. He tends to sit too far on his bag leg at times, but when he drives forward he shows the ability to hit line-drives all over the diamond. While he’s not overly physical, Martel finds ways to get the job done.


+ 2020 3B Alfonso Villalobos (Academie Baseball Canada) has been a hitter everywhere he’s gone. A stocky 5-10, 190-pounds, the uncommitted third-baseman showed some pop with hard barrel all over the field. He’s quiet at the plate and violent through his swing and shows power potential to his pull-side. Villalobos is the type of player that colleges should hunt for on their team, because he certainly helps the ball club win. 


+ 2020 RHP Tate Marks (Duluth Noles), a right-hander for Duluth Noles came out of the pen during the first game of the day on Wednesday. Marks makes good use of a sturdy 5-foot-10, 165-pound build, getting into his lower half, dropping and driving towards the plate. He throws from a high 3/4 arm slot, repeats, and gets out front freely. He sat 83-86, mixing in a curveball with 11/5 shape, using the pitch off of his fastball to freeze hitters. Marks impressed over the course of his outing. 


+ 2020 OF Christian Davis (Duluth Noles) a 6-foot, 165-pound outfielder for the Duluth Noles put together a solid showing in game 1. From the left-side of the plate, Davis put together multiple long at-bats, displaying a selective approach, and the ability to fight off borderline pitches. With bat control, Daivs was able to stay on pitches and shoot balls both the other way and to the pull-side. He moves well down the line, and although wasn’t challenged much in the outfield, got a couple solid jumps and tracked down balls without a problem. He will be an interesting player to follow throughout the course of the week.


+ 2020 RHP Brennan Compton (Signature Park Thrashers) started the game and pitched well throughout the game. The right-hander maxed out at 77 mph, but he showed some feel to pitch and utilized his off-speed stuff well. He got ahead in the count and induced a lot of weak contact. It’s a low-effort delivery with some deception created from a closed front side. 


+ 2020 3B Thomas Latham (Richmond Braves National) has a medium frame, strong R/R 3B handles himself well around the bag at 3B and offers significant pull power. Highlighted today’s game by going deep to LF almost finding the trees deep over the left field fence. Also joining the hit parade was 2020 Seton Hall recruit Dane Hoggard (3B/C) who drove a majestic homer in out to LF, it left the bat at 95 mph. 

+ 2020 CF Zavion Mouton (Coastal Stars Navy) is a long, rangy CF Prospect who glides to the baseball with good angles.  Plays CF easy and covered both gaps. He got a workout today and showed significant defensive ability as Richmond Braves National club hit the ball all over the park.

+ 2021 RHP/3B Caleb Logerwell (Prime Time Aces) will be one to see at the upcoming Future Games for Team Georgia. Logerwell showed impressive stuff today. his fastball was up to 90 and sat in the 86-88 range. His breaking ball was wipeout at times at 74-76 with a 2800 spin rate.

+ South Carolina recruit 2020 C Alek Boychuk (DRB Elite) is widely regarded as aglove first catcher, but put his bat and strength on full display today. He launched a homerun and double early in Wednesday’s action. Boychuk has plenty of strength and when he gets the bat head out, he is proving to be a dangerous bat at the plate.

+ Uncommitted 2020 SS Jarrett Burney (EC Colt 45’s) is an athletic shortstop that can run, with soft hands and plenty of arm.  Burney has a chance to stay at shortstop and excel at the next level. Offensively he shows solid bat-speed and strength when he stays over his legs. Interesting looking uncommitted SS Prospect with plenty of unreachables. 

+ Uncommitted 2020 Blake Leadford (STL Prospects) is a lean 6-foot left-hander comes from a ¾ slot with a fast one piece type arm action. His fastball sits 80-83 touching 85. Plenty of strength gains remain for Leadford and could see a up tick in velocity as he matures due to natural hand-speed.

+ Uncommitted 2020 Nic Roma (Ninth Inning/Parkview, GA) was stellar in a run-rule shortened game. Roma didn’t need much time to work through the order, working his fastball in the 80-81 mph range, while mixing in a curveball at 70-73 mph. While he wasn’t overpowering, he worked quick, spotted on both sides of the plate, showed clean actions on the mound, and kept hitters off-balance all game. 


+ Of all the hitters in a potent lineup, Uncommitted 2020 Travis Burnette (Ninth Inning/Wesleyan, GA) was the one who stood out the most. Standing at 6-5, 215-pounds, Burnette has a sweet swing from the left side. He stands upright, keeps his body loose, and seldom ever swing and missed, if at all. He puts hard barrel on the ball, showed power to all fields with a double to right-centre, a single to centre, and a lineout to left field (sac fly). Burnette also showed tremendous plate discipline, didn’t get cheated, and was a must-watch every time he stepped to the plate. For a player his size, he moves well, shows a ton of coordination and has an advanced feel for hitting.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Gabe Howard (Ninth Inning/Johnson Ferry, GA) was the leadoff man for a volatile lineup, and for good reason. Aside from getting on base in every plate appearance, he showed a clean swing from the right side, the ability to drive the ball, and some wheels on top of that. Howard didn’t get a ton to hit, but he was strong, balanced, and under control at the plate. At 5-11, 160, he’s got the build you want to see in a player, and with some added size, he has a chance to stay in the leadoff spot at the college level.


+ Originally from California, uncommitted 2021 RHP Luke Drzemecki (Launch City) got hit around quite a bit, but all in all, he had the looks of a pitcher that has a chance to be pretty good. At 6-0, 175, he’s got a lot of room to grow and put on some muscle. His fastball lived in the 80-81 mph region with a couple 82s mixed in there, while his changeup sat 70-72. For a younger arm, he’s got downhill action, and he doesn’t have an advanced feel for pitching yet, but he has a shot to be good down the road. 


+ 2019 RHP Ahmad Harajli (Arsenal Baseball) , a 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander was impressive in his Day 1 start. On the mound, he utilizes his size with a tall and fall delivery towards the plate, He releases from an overhand slot with a short arm circle and extension out front. He was 89-92 mph, topping out at 93 mph in his third inning of work. His curveball had 11/5 shape and displayed tight spin, but lacked consistency as the game went on. He’s still raw and lost the strike zone at times, but the frame, and stuff when on, make for a tough matchup for an opposing team. 


+ 2020 RHP Chris Coll (Triton Rays), a 2020 right-handed pitcher shut down the opposing team in his team’s first start of the week. He located in the strike zone all game, pitching to both sides, and mixing in secondary offerings. His curveball worked well for him on this day, and he kept the pitch down in the zone. He went deep into the game and maintained his stuff throughout his start. 


+ Eastern Michigan recruit, 2020 Mark Kattula (Arsenal Baseball), a right-hander/corner infielder was productive on both ends of the field. At the plate, he made loud contact on multiple occasions, scorching line-drives to the pull-side. He gets on plane and out front, using his strength to his advantage. On the mound, he was in the low 80’s with a curveball that worked for him on this day. He commanded the zone and pitched to both sides of the plate. A two-way player with physicality to his game. 


+ 2020 SS Dylan Stanton (Detroit Metro Stars), a 6-foot-1, 180-pound Michigan commit showed well in his club’s first game. In the infield, Stanton displayed a good first step, clean glove actions and a strong arm when challenged. It’s an aggressive right-handed swing with bat speed that produces hard contact and potential power. There’s some swing and miss in his game, but it’s an exciting bat that should play at the next level.  

+ 2020 LHP Colton Presley (Easley Baseball Club), a 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed arm went deep for Easley Baseball Club in his outing on the bump. Presley was up 86 mph, sitting 84-85 mph through his first couple of innings. He used his slider frequently, a sweeper that generated swing and misses. He will add strength and velocity and could be a useful two-pitch arm at the next level.


+ 2020 SS Jack Gorman (Easley Baseball Club), a 5-foot-10, 175-pound infielder displayed an all-around solid toolset. In the infield, he moved well side-to-side, while transferring and getting throws off with plenty of time to spare. His body control transferred at the plate, it’s a compact, line-drive swing with some whip from the right side of the box. He moves well, and plays hard, making the most out of his ability of the field.


+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Austin Warren (Indiana Mustangs/Crawfordsville) showed a loose, quick arm on Day one, running his fastball up to 89. Early on, he hung in the 86-88 mph range, but as the game went on, his velo dropped down to 83-85, and even more so from the stretch. In his later innings he was able to flash a couple 86’s and 87’s, but couldn’t quite sustain it. Warren starts off closed, and lands that way as well, throwing across his body, which gave him some deception on his fastball. He’s very max effort, which is a huge contributor to his inability to keep up his velocity.


+ Uncommitted 2020 Cole Yeager (Team All-American/Penn Hills) was probably the best player on the field. At a thick 5-10, 170 pounds, he made a few tough plays at 3B, showing arm strength across the diamond. Then he got on the mound, and it translated well. His fastball sat 82-84, curveball at 70-72, while showing a high degree of confidence and poise on the mound. 


+ Uncommitted 2020 Vince Dant (Indiana Mustangs/Newpalstine) was impressive on the mound, sitting 82-84 with his fastball, while flashing his curveball in whatever count he wanted. While he’s not very physically imposing, the 5-10, 150-pound pitcher was all over the strike zone, competed, and pitched much bigger than he was. 


+ Uncommitted 2021 Hayden Soley (Allatoona/NextLvl) is one of the younger players on the roster, but he plays the game the right way. The 5-8, 150-pounder doesn’t have much pop right now, but his swing is clean, bat stays through the zone, and he has a knack for fighting off good pitches and barreling up mistakes. He moves well around the bases, he’s athletic and should be an interesting follow this coming year as he gets stronger.


+ Uncommitted 2021 Brett Blomquist (Allatoona/NextLvl) is a hard-nosed player who caught our attention on Day 1. He’s physical at 6-2, 171 pounds, runs hard all the time, including a steal of second, third and home on the same play, and then he came in relief at the end of the game, sitting 81-83 with good arm action and downhill plane. 


+ 2020 RHP Hunter Harritan (Dry Pond), a 6-foot-3, 165-pound right-hander was outstanding in his afternoon start. It’s a lean, athletic frame with plenty of room to add strength. He was 86-89 mph for the most part of his complete game. He generated lots of swings and misses and used his curveball frequently. His curve flashed ideal shape with some depth at times, but was an inconsistent pitch for him. It’s an exciting build with a quick arm, he is a 2020 grad to keep an eye on.


+ 2020 LHP Joseph Shapiro (Top Tier Americans), a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander for the Top Tier Americans put together a solid showing on the mound. It’s a smooth, consistent delivery, allowing Shapiro to locate in the zone. He’ll throw his curveball for strikes, allowing him to throw the pitch at any point in the count. He’ll continue to gain velocity, but he’ll always be a finesse pitcher, relying on his abilty to locate and mix his pitches to be effective.


+ 2020 RHP Ryder Willard (GA Jackets), a Northgate HS product, put together a solid showing against Next Level this evening. 3 strong innings in which he dominated from start to finish. FB/SL mix that produced a lot of swing and misses. FB was 85-87 with arm side run to it, paired with a sharp SL at 73 and was up to 2400rpm. An athletic frame that projects for there to be more in the tank as he continues to mature. The addition of a third-pitch will make Willard a very interesting arm moving forward. 


+ 2020 RHP John Garner (Next Level Baseball), a 6-foot-4 190-pound RHP out of Bishop Snyder HS (Tallahassee, FL) was a really intriguing arm this afternoon. FB 81-83, 84 with a lot of run to it and was complimented with a CB at 73mph. Breaking ball was loopy with a lot of depth to it and saw a lot of swing and misses on it. Really lanky frame that has a lot of room to grow into. Works from an overhand slot, and gets good use of his lower half; as he develops into his body, velo will likely see an uptick.

+ 2020 SS Sterlin Thompson (Gatorball 17U), a left-handed hitting infielder for Gatorball displayed his all-around toolset in his club’s first game. At the plate, he put together multiple productive at-bats, walking with the bases loaded, and pulling a single to right-field. It’s a loose athletic stance, his hands work to the ball with ease, and stay through the ball with a one-handed finish. In the infield, he works low and behind the ball, he does a good job of setting his feet, and his arm plays on the left-side. It’s a body that will fill out and add strength; power could become a component of his game down the road. The Stetson commit has the tools to impact the game at the next level.


+ 2020 RHP Nick Scroppo (Lou Collier), a 5-foot-11, 150-pound right-hander took the hill for Lou Collier and minimized damage against a strong hitting team. He worked up to 81 mph consistently, locating all over the zone. He worked both sides and kept the ball low. He did a good job setting the tone, and kept his club in the game all night long.   

+ 2020 RHP Dylan Mock (Gatorball 17U), a sturdy 5-foot-10, 175-pound right-hander was excellent for Gatorball this evening. He went six innings, allowing one-hit in his start. He overpowered his opponents with his 83-85 mph fastball, while also mixing in a 11/5 curveball with good shape. His durable body allowed him to go deep into the game without losing a beat, and he exited with more in the tank. 


+ Uncommitted 2021 RHP Spencer Wilkins (HardKnox) was absolutely locked in against a tough Elite Squad. Another young arm, at 6-1, 195, he wasn’t overpowering by any means, with his FB ranging from 81-83, and his CB dropping down to the 60s. While he slows his arm down for the off-speed, he still found a way to keep hitters off-balance, and he should grow into a solid arm down the road. 


+ Uncommitted 2021 RHP Reid Hensley (Elite Squad) was one of the better young arms we saw on Day 1. At 6-foot, 185, he’s got a strong, durable frame, FB sat 85-87, was heavy, and he maintained that velo through to the 5th inning, while his CB showed some depth to it as well. Hensley also doubles as catcher, so we’ll see what it looks like on Day 2. But as of now, he looks very much like a potential rotation arm at the next level. 

+ 2020 RHP Noah Sweatman (Sox Baseball), a 2020 RHP dealt for Sox Baseball all night long. Sweatman sat in the low 80’s, maxing out at 84 mph in as last as the 5th inning. He maintained his velocity, added and subtracted, affecting the timing of the batters. He changed slots, mostly releasing from a high ¾, but dropped down to the side on lots of occasions. His curveball was an effective pitch for him this evening. 


+ 2020 Matthew Levi (RBI Titans), a physical 6-foot-2. 200-pound C/3B was a must see at-bat everytime he stepped up to the plate. From the right-side of the plate, it’s a powerful swing with bat speed through the hitting zone. He gets out front and looks to pull the ball in the air, and when he does the ball carries. Interesting guy to keep an eye on throughout the week.


+ One of the better power arms we’ve seen on Day 1, 2021 Ohio State commit Jacob Gehring (Release/South Range) was tough to ht against. At 6-2, 195, early on in the game he was sitting 87-89 with a heavy fastball, and a low-70s curveball with 11/5 movement. As the game went on, he began to lose the strike zone and feel for his fastball, though he was still living in the md-80s. Gehring isn’t overly twitchy on the mound, though he has repeatable movements and a hard head-snap. If he can maintain stamina, he shouldn’t have any issues being a rotation guy, though he plays out like a relief arm today.


+ Uncommitted 2020 RHP Austin Adair (Lone Star/Hendrickson) was one of the most effective relief arms on the day. Not only is he a sidewinder with a violent delivery, but his ability to ramp up his fastball to 83 for sinking action, and pound the zone with a sweeping slider is advanced. By no means is he going to start at the next level, but at 6-1, 150-pounds, he will most certainly come out of the pen in college, and get a lot of outs. All in all, at-bats against him are uncomfortable, and you can see it with the swings he induces. 


+ Uncommitted 2020 LHP Gareth Tobias (Lone Star/Weiss) got the start for the Texas squad, and was extremely good. While his fastball sat in the 80-83 range, he was able to locate with a three-pitch mix, hold baserunners, and keep opposing hitters off balance. He tends to slow his arm down on the breaking ball, but despite standing at just 5-10, 160 pounds, he pitches with confidence and conviction.

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