Burton's Best: USG Part 2
August 17, 2023
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Last week, over 70 players from the all corners of Virginia, DC, and Delaware descended on the Pitt Field on the campus of the University of Richmond for the 2023 PBR VA/DC Unsigned Senior Games. In today's story, PBR VA/DC Scouting Director Jason Burton breaks down 10 players who popped for him at last week's event. Look for Part 2 tomorrow and notes on 10 more players.
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Nick Capps LHP / OF / Langley, VA / 2024Capps was one of the more intriguing arms on the day. Left hander with a longer arm path, rides the backside down the mound, and has a quick three-quarter, to slightly lower three-quarter arm action. While it was a low 80’s fastball, it came out of the hand and seemed to get on hitters quicker than some of the other arms in that same range. Capps averaged 14.8” of induced vertical break and -11.9” of horizontal movement, creating some ride and run that worked especially well versus right handed hitters. Kind of a late burst down the mound and has some deception with a later, quick arm circle through release. Serviceable breaking ball that he got a few swings and misses on, but it was the fastball and his ability to miss bats with it that gives him some upside for me.
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Landon Griffin 2B / 3B / PDG Academy , VA / 20246-foot-1, 175-pound frame with proportional strength. Average to slightly below average runner, hit tool, and flashes some occasional power, especially to the pull side gap. Simple and repeatable at the plate. Shorter path, slightly uphill, length out front, and stays over the back side. Doubles power in both gaps and has the ability to hit for average as well. Defensive profile is still up for some debate. Solid defender in the infield, but the footspeed could move him more corner/corner with potential first base/corner outfield. Left handed hitter who has a chance to hit at the next level.
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Luke Harnishfeger C / OF / Washington-Liberty, VA / 2024What a day for the rising senior catcher. 5-foot-11 with compact strength. The arm strength behind the plate was down just a tick from what we have seen, but it was still a quick exchange to release and accurate around the bag. Harnishfeger was strong behind the plate in game as well. My biggest question coming in was would he hit enough to add to his value behind the plate. To answer that question, he had a really solid day on Wednesday. Above average hand speed, stays inside at contact, and has some adjustability in the swing. When I saw him a few weeks ago, he had a hard time getting it going forward in the swing, but thought he made a really nice adjustment in this event. Got an elevated pitch, got down a touch early, but kept the hands back for just a touch longer and leveled out for a line drive into center field. Very solid all around day for the Washington-Liberty product.
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Ryan Henson 1B / RHP / Paul VI, VA / 20246-foot-4, 210-pound XL frame. Wider setup at the plate, simple operation, hands drop slightly on load, and gets to the barrel on time. It is a repeatable operation with some power potential in the swing. Was consistently on barrel last Wednesday with some loud contact during the game and BP. First base profile with some two-way potential, but the bat and ability to impact the baseball carry the intrigue for Henson. Had a really strong showing with some solid offensive output.
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Carson Lucy C / OF / Arcadia, VA / 20246-foot-1, 175-pound athletic frame. Average to slightly above average runner. Behind the plate it is average arm strength, but a quick high exchange to release gets it out of the hand quickly and Lucy is accurate around the bag. Slightly wider base in the box, gets into the lower half, and has a short load to trigger the swing. Whippy barrel and was pretty quick out of the zone during BP, but showed some adjustability in game on an elevated pitch on the outer half, driving it into right center for a double. Lean strength, some athleticism, and can offer some defensive versatility.
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Dawson Newman LHP / OF / Great Bridge , VA / 2024As this is being written, Newman made his commitment to Longwood. What a day Newman had at Unsigned Senior Games. 6-foot-2, athletic, lean, and competes on the mound. Slower paced delivery that builds some intent as he moves towards the plate. Quick, full arm action that works from a three-quarter slot. Front side will run away from the arm at times, but the arm was quick enough to get out front. The mid 80’s fastball got up to 87 mph and tended to work to the arm side, partly because he has a tendency to fall off of the front side. The breaking ball is low 70’s with some depth and got some swings and misses in the zone. Quality pickup late in the class for the Lancers with an athletic left hander that competes in the zone and his best days are still in front of him.
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Charlie Overman OF / OF / Hampton Roads Academy, VA / 2024Solid day for the Hampton Roads Academy outfielder. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with proportional strength. Ran a 6.88 60 showcasing his run tool. The load and swing have a little bit of funk to it, with a short quick swing that gets in and out of the zone quickly. Regardless of the aesthetics, Overman produced multiple barrels in game, spraying it around the field, including a ground rule double to deep right field.
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Malachi Paschal RHP / 1B / Charlottesville, VA / 2024This is an arm that I was itching to see, and he did not disappoint. The 6-foot-6 right hander from Charlottesville dominated a very solid Bo Jackson Elite team at the 17U National Championship. I wanted to see if he could follow up his performance versus, what turned out to be, an offense first type of event. Long limbs, normal effort, and works from a three-quarter slot. Nothing about the delivery, or the way the ball comes out says wow, but the production is there. It is a low to mid 80’s fastball that he essentially says, come and get it. Has a low 70’s breaking ball that is more get over with softer shape and uses more so to keep hitters honest on the fastball. The fastball has slightly above average spin and above average IVB, creating some ride at the top of the zone, and is able to use some of those traits to get swings and misses in the zone. There is ceiling left in this arm, and while there is some pitchability present, I think there is still a ton of room to add polish.
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Daniel Junior Powell C / OF / Randolph Henry, VA / 2024Outstanding for the Randolph Henry senior. I have not seen Powell in a while, but he has made some really nice strides in his game. Average arm strength, quick release, and was around the bag. While he was solid behind the plate, the offense is what jumped out for me. Consistent barrels during BP, worked gap to gap, and stayed within himself in his approach. Matched planes on pitches and turned around some pitches for loud barrels. It is a repeatable load and stride that will allow him to get to the barrel on a consistent basis. Level path with some length out front. Just really solid all around day for Powell.
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Claude Ranson SS / OF / Matoaca, VA / 2024I don’t believe there was a player there last Wednesday that got me fired up as much as Ranson. Had an unbelievable day and really opened some coaches eyes that were in attendance. We had a chance to see him play a little bit this year at Matoaca, but it was some spot time. In the few AB’s and innings that we got to see, you could tell that there was something there to like. Athletic, hands work, feet work, and plays with some energy. In game, he did a little bit of everything. Absolutely picked it in the infield. Made all three outs in one of the middle innings where he had basically every type of ball an infielder could get and he made it look easy. At the plate he had multiple in game hits, including a double to deep center field. Short to contact, flatter path, and gets out the box well, playing a tick faster than his 60 time. Probably more suited for second base at the next level, but after what he showed last week, he is more than capable on the left side. Infectious guy that you want in your dugout and clubhouse.
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