By John Nolan
Virginia Assistant Director and Content Manager

and Jerry Shank
MD/VA Director

The Virginia/DC Top Prospect Games were held at Liberty University on Tuesday June 27^th. Over 50 athletes from across the state and region were in attendance to perform in front of the PBR Scouting staff and college coaches and scouts from around the region and state. Today we give you our initial thoughts on players from the event with Rapid Reaction.

The Top Prospect Games aren’t just for uncommitted prospects, our goal is to show off all the top players in the state and area. After the day was over with, committed talents 2018 Nick Biddison (North Carolina), 2018 Wes Clarke (South Carolina), 2018 Kyle Horton (South Carolina), and 2018 Callaway Sigler (James Madison) showed why they are considered some of the top players in the state.

Biddison, a St. Christopher rising senior, put on an overall show with athleticism and potential at the plate. Currently a shortstop, Biddison showed smooth actions with a quick release and life on his throws across the diamond with a shorter arm action. At the plate, Biddision shows fast bat speed with an uncanny ability to get barrel on the ball, driving the ball during his BP and then doing the same during game two of the day. Biddison shows plenty of versatility on the field and looks as if he could fill numerous positions.

Clarke, a rising senior at Liberty Christian, showed off his power potential at the plate with an impressive BP and a smooth swing and fast bat speed. He shows off advanced receiving skills behind the plate with quiet actions presenting a big target for pitchers. What creates more buzz about the top 2018 catcher is the projection as he still has room to grow and develop.

Horton again showed his plus arm strength from the outfield as well as his top end speed that separates him to a select few in the state. This day gave us the opportunity to see Horton on the mound and the righty was up to 88 on the bump with a 72 mph BB creating more intrigue in the young man.

Sigler provides an interesting option as an outfielder who will provide plenty of versatility both at the plate and in the field. Sigler could fit multiple spots in a lineup and his direct swing with uphill finish at the plate and fast bat speed shows he will pepper the gaps throughout his career and could provide some pop as well as he fills outs his frame. Another young one that is only going to continue to get better.

Reese Varley is an interesting 2018 catching prospect out of Battlefield HS. The catcher / first baseman presents a big target behind the plate with a quick exchange and release that had carry on his throws down to second. Varley was a consistent 2.0 pop and got as low as 1.99 during the workout. His slightly uphill path with bat speed at the plate shows power potential and gap ability. Varley had some of the best and most consistent at bats of the event, getting barrel on ball throughout his game.

Fort Chiswell 2018 Chance Davis put on a nice workout throughout the day, showing some bat speed at the plate with a middle approach. Davis sprayed the ball around the field in game and gives some options as a versatile position player who could play the infield, but also showed nice ability as a catcher as well.

Woodson 2018 Hunter Hoopes had a big day on the mound. He has a lanky frame with and a loose arm action and showed significant velocity jump on the day, sitting 85-88 and touching 89. He still has plenty of projection as he has a lot of room left to add strength to his frame, which will make him exciting to continue to follow.

2018 Eric Lingebach from Oakton had a spectacular high school season and followed it up with a good all-around day at the Prospect Games. During the game, Lingebach’s good approach and quick bat were on display as the lefthanded hitter took a ball the other way, one-hopping the leftfield fence and turning it into a triple with his hustle on the bases. His athleticism makes him a very versatile player.

Eastern View 2018 Zach Thomas showed well throughout the day, showcasing some a quick bat and some arm strength in the infield. On the mound, he has a quick arm and his lanky frame still offers a lot of projection as to what he could become and he showed the ability to spin a good breaking ball. Good actions all around make Thomas an intriguing two-way prospect to follow.

Colgan infielder Matt Kane was another 2018 who had a good day. He has a short simple swing and works uphill through the ball, barreling it consistently and using the entire field. He has a frame that still has plenty of projection left and had a very strong game, barreling the ball three times and spraying his three hits to all fields as well as making a few nice plays at short.

Georgetown Prep (MD) infielder Brendon Davis showed that he had some of the best power potential on display the entire day. The 2018 is quick to the ball and extends uphill through it with plenty of bat speed and strength. He showed a good approach during BP and barreled the ball in all of his at-bats during the game. His best swing might have been his triple to right-center during the game, when he pulled his hands inside of pitch that was above the belt and off the inside corner and still had enough strength and batspeed to one-hop the fence.

Madison 2019 lefthander Matt Howat had a strong season on the mound for the Warhawks and showed why during his outing at the Prospect Games. The lefty sat 80-83 on the day with a clean arm action and a frame that still has plenty of projection to it. He also threw what might have been the best breaking ball on display in a late, hard breaking curveball that he got a couple of swing throughs and threw with good armspeed at 73.

Look for our full analysis of this event in the coming weeks...

More Rapid Reaction