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Freshmen Free Central Quick Hits

March 3, 2021
Jason Burton
Richmond Scouting Coordinator

 

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Saturday morning, over 80 players from all corners of DC and Virginia, as well as North Carolina and New Jersey, descended upon Rock-It Sports in Richmond, Virginia for the Freshmen Free Showcase and Junior Future Games Trials Central. Today, we take a little more in depth look at a few players that stood out to our staff.

2024 Quick Hits:

Giovanni Briggs 1B / LHP / Cosby, VA / 2024

Solid all around day and one of the better defenders at the event. At first base Briggs worked well around the bag. Got eyes under the catch and was comfortable moving coming off the bag working laterally to start the double play. Is athletic enough to where I think he could contribute in corner outfield too. At the plate it is a toe tap to stride, level path to contact, and had line drive tendency to the swing. Briggs also got on the mound getting up to 80 mph and flashed a solid breaking ball that had late 1/7 bite.   

 

 

 

Colin Bunch RHP / 2B / King George, VA / 2024

Bunch is a Junior Future Games alum from 2020 and had his biggest impact on the mound. Saturday he showed that he has really taken to that role and made some big strides on the mound. The fastball was up to 85, which was an uptick from his 82 mph max fastball this summer at LakePoint. The secondary has advanced as well landing 75% of his curveballs for strikes. The curveball has 12/6 shape and sits 67-68, which is a 3-4 mph jump from this past summer. He worked both ends of the zone and stayed out of that middle third which will be an asset if he can continue that into the spring and summer. 

 

 

 

 

Trey Gauch RHP / 3B / Deep Run, VA / 2024

Projectable 6-2 frame that has lots of room to add strength to it. Showed the ability to throw from multiple slots in the infield and had no issue throwing on the run. At the plate there was carry off the bat to the pull side and he sought contact out front. Best place that Gauch stood out was on the mound. Fluid mover on the mound. Loose arm circle and throws from a three-quarter arm slot. Fastball was up to 82 and with added strength I could see Gauch being a 84-86 guy in the next 12-18 months. The breaking ball had 12/6 shape and got up and down, but think it could develop even more with some enhanced arm speed on that pitch. 

 

 

 

Justin Gunter RHP / 3B / Buckingham County, VA / 2024

If you have never been to Buckingham, VA you may need to take a trip now to see Gunter. Strong physical kid that has room to add even more. At the plate he tended to lift it a little more than I would like, but it just comes off different and you can tell that there is something there offensively with the way it jumps off the bat. I am not sure long term he is a bat, but he definitely will be a high school middle of the order run producer for the next 3+ years. Long term I think it is on the mound where Gunter projects. Full whippy arm from a three-quarter slot and he did a nice job staying behind the ball and locating down in the zone. Secondary flashed as two solid offerings and as he continues to develop control of those two pitches the sky is the limit for this arm.

 

 

 

Jacob Lee C / RHP / Matoaca, VA / 2024

Loved how the body has filled out and grown over the last 18 month and it still has projection left to it. Legitimate two-way talent with some positional versatility in the field. Defensive future is C/1B/LF/RF and the swing is going to allow him to stay in a lineup. Controlled aggression to the swing and barrel stays in the zone through extension with an explosive lower half. 

 

 

 

Matthew McGovern OF / SS / Thomas Dale, VA / 2024

Athletic makeup with quick twitch in his actions. Hard to argue that there were many others at the event that had better measurables than McGovern. Offensively he worked a little too uphill for the speed that he has on the bases. Would like to see him work more of a line drive gap to gap approach, but the ability to rotate quickly and efficiently into the swing is undeniable. Above average hand speed and higher end bat speed will allow him some time to recognize pitches which should allow for a higher contact rate. If he can stay within himself at the plate, I think he has the twitch and athleticism to be a guy who hits for high average and shows sneaky pop. Range in the outfield and the arm strength to play all three positions. 

 

 

 

Tucker Swails RHP / SS / Patrick County, VA / 2024

Swails is an outstanding young man with a bright future. I am not sure whether that future will be on the mound or positionally because he does both really well. Defends up the middle with a SS/3B profile and flashes doubles power at the plate. On the mound it is an easy effortless delivery with a lot of projection left in the velocity department. His bullpen on the day almost seemed like a touch and feel bullpen as it was nice and easy. Would not be surprised if we saw him this summer and he was in the 83-85 range. 

 

 

 

Chase Swift LHP / OF / Thomas Dale, VA / 2024

Arguably the best and most complete BP round on the day. Leg lift and got the front foot down on time, strength through contact, and doubles power to all fields. In the outfield he worked through the catch and had arm strength and range to play all three. On the mound it was a full free arm swing throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. The fastball worked to both ends of the zone getting up to 84 mph. Really liked the all around day from Swift.

 

 

 

Seth Truesdale C / RHP / Cosby, VA / 2024

Truesdale had a compact 5-10 frame with a solid base. This young man seems to do everything really well. Doubles power at the plate with a simple efficient swing working gap to gap. Sound defender in the outfield that would project to the corners and a quick clean exchange behind the plate with accuracy around the bag. Got on the mound and pumped the strike zone with two pitches and a fastball that was up to 77 mph. Arm strength is average right now in all areas, but as the arm strength increases the pop will lower and his positional versatility could expand. 

 

 

 

Jack Weight RHP / 3B / Cosby, VA / 2024

Durable frame with a strong base. Weight had arguably the best secondary offering on the day. The slider showed tight 12/6 shape with arm speed and intent and has the makings of a legitimate secondary pitch. The fastball missed arm side, but was firm out of the hand and if he can sure up the command it will allow the slider to play even better. 

 

 

 

Jack Wells SS / 2B / Dinwiddie, VA / 2024

Wells is an athletic defender with positional versatility and solid barrel to ball skills. I think long term he contributes at 3B/2B/outfield, but that just shows his athleticism and versatility as a player. At the plate it is a slight uphill path to contact, works gap to gap in approach, and the barrel stays on through extension. On the mound Wells filled up the zone with three pitches including a slider and changeup that he was able to locate at the bottom of the zone. 

 

 

 

Jackson Whaley 2B / RHP / Fuqua School, VA / 2024

Durable projectable frame that seems bigger than his 6-foot listing. Solid base with strength in actions. Power potential in the swing at the plate and projects more at the corners. I really liked Whaley on the mound. Off of one look I would say there is a relieve profile. Whaley works from a lower three-quarter arm slot and offers distinct arm side run. The secondary needs to sure up in terms of consistency, but is it can this becomes a legitimate bullpen arm that could see his stock take major jumps over the next two years.